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Baile folkl\u00f3rico dancers perform in the Mission District of San Francisco in 2023.<\/p>\n
Felix Uribe\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
Cinco de Mayo\u2019s fifth of May celebration roots lay deep in the heart of Gold Rush-era California.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The holiday got its start in May 1862, when news of a surprising Mexican military victory at the Battle of Puebla reached the small\u00a0Tuolumne County town of Columbia. The area\u2019s Mexican mining community celebrated this event with a large-scale fiesta.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today, the Bay Area continues to celebrate with the best Cinco de Mayo events featuring cultural activities, Mexican cuisine, lowriders, mariachi, ballet folkl\u00f3rico and more.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
Hayward Cinco de Mayo Festival and Car Show<\/p>\n
Community group La Alianza de Hayward will host its 41st annual celebration, set to include live folkloric dance and mariachi ensembles, a car and bike show, food and drinks, a vending marketplace, and more.<\/p>\n
10 a.m-5 p.m. Saturday, May 2. B and Main streets, Downtown Hayward. www.laalianzadehayward.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Momotombo SF<\/p>\n Redwood City\u2019s Rock the Dock presents an outdoor\u00a0Cinco de Mayo performance featuring the\u00a010-piece Latin jazz-rock fusion group, with artists from Malo and Santana. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Free-$20. Redwood City Port, 459 Seaport Ct., Redwood City.\u00a0www.rockthedockrwc.com<\/a><\/p>\n Richmond Cinco de Mayo Festival<\/p>\n Enjoy the 21st anniversary of the 23rd Street Merchant Association\u2019s Cinco de Mayo celebration with vendors, children\u2019s crafts and activities, live music and dancing, wrestling, authentic Mexican cuisine, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Free. 23rd Street, between Rheem and Clinton avenues, Richmond. www.23rdstreetmerchants.com<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Live music and baile folkl\u00f3rico\u00a0dance, lowriders, and a vending marketplace are scheduled for San Jose downtown\u2019s Cinco de Mayo festival on Sunday, May 3.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n San Jose Cinco de Mayo<\/p>\n San Jos\u00e9 Cinco de Mayo Festival<\/p>\n The community celebration is set to include a lowrider car show, ballet folkl\u00f3rico, live music, local vendors, food and live entertainment.<\/p>\n 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Free. Cesar Chavez Plaza, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. www.sjcincodemayo.com<\/a><\/p>\n Selena de Mayo Brunch<\/p>\n Celebrate with a hit of Reina del Tex-Mex energy at an afternoon party featuring mimosas, food trucks, Latina-owned vendor marketplace, Latina classics DJ sets, craft and sip activity, a Selena drag and lip sync competition hosted by Linda Summers, and more.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, May 3. $15-$30. Reservations recommended; 21 and older. Spark Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Blvd. N., S.F. www.sparksocialsf.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Sonoma Valley Cinco de Mayo Celebration<\/p>\n La Luz Center will host a family-friendly afternoon event with culturally relevant activities, handmade crafts and artworks inspired by Mexican heritage, food vendors, live Mariachi performances, folkl\u00f3rico dance, storytelling sessions and informational community booths.<\/p>\n Noon-6 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Free. Sonoma Plaza, 453 First St. E., Sonoma. 707-938-5131. www.laluzcenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n Mexican jazz vocalist\u00a0Luc\u00eda is scheduled to perform at the\u00a0Presdio Theater in San Francisco on Thursday, May 7.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shervin Lainez\/Presidio Theatre<\/p>\n Drinko de Mayo Corridos y M\u00e1s Cruise<\/p>\n Hop onboard a riverboat-style vessel for a three-hour bay cruise with live DJ dance sets, from MC Chuy Gomez and DJ Krazy on two levels\u00a0\u2014 with view decks, cocktails, tacos, snacks and festive decor.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 2-5 p.m. Sunday, May 3. $30-$160.24. Reservations recommended. Jack London Square, 1 Broadway, Oakland. www.baycelebrations.com<\/a><\/p>\n Cinco de Meow<\/p>\n The Imperial Council of San Francisco is set to host its annual LGBTQ+ community celebration that blends Cinco de Mayo festivities with a cat-themed show, including a Chika Diva and Chico Chulo contest and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4-7 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Aunt Charlie\u2019s Lounge, 133 Turk St., S.F. www.sfimperialcouncil.org<\/a><\/p>\n In the Tradition Piano Trio<\/p>\n Pianist Bill Jackman, bassist Michael Jones and drummer Albet Brooks will perform a Cinco de Mayo program featuring works by Mexican composers.<\/p>\n 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3. $25-$30. Reservations recommended. Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont. www.piedmontcenterforthearts.org<\/a><\/p>\n A Mexican flag flies from the window of a classic car at a past Cinco de Mayo lowrider car show in San Francisco.<\/p>\n Paul Chinn\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n Cotati Cinco de Mayo Celebration<\/p>\n The Rotary Club of Rancho Cotati presents its inaugural Cinco de Mayo party with live music, dancing and DJ sets, vending marketplace, Food and drinks, a Show\u00a0n\u2019 Shine car show, raffle and more.<\/p>\n 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 5. Free. La Plaza Park, 8167 La Plaza, Cotati. 707-584-1415. www.rohnertparkchamber.org<\/a><\/p>\n Chulita Vinyl Club: Chinga la Migra<\/p>\n Hang out on the decks at El Rio for a Cinco de Mayo party with live DJ sets from Malcriada, Chantilly Lace and Earth Angel.<\/p>\n 6-10 p.m .Tuesday, May 5. $5-$10. El Rio, 3158 Mission St., S.F. 415-282-3325. www.elriosf.com<\/a><\/p>\n Nightlife x Carnaval SF<\/p>\n Enjoy a colorful celebration of music, dance and soccer pride from Latin American, Caribbean, and Afro-diasporic cultures. Experience the joy of Carnaval season throughout the museum with hands-on activities, live music and dance performances, a popup marketplace, and more.<\/p>\n 6-10 p.m. Thursday, May 7. $25. California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, S.F. 415-379-8000. www.calacademy.org\/nightlife<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n D\u00fao Cascada de Flores\u2019 Arwen Lawrence, left, and Jorge Liceaga are scheduled to perform as part of the San Francisco\u00a0International Arts Festival on Sunday, May 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n SFIAF\/R+A Multimedia<\/p>\n San Francisco International Arts Fest: D\u00fao Cascada de Flores<\/p>\n Vocalist Arwen Lawrence and guitarist Jorge Liceaga will present an evening of original songs and oldies from hidden corners of the Latin American songbook.<\/p>\n 6 p.m. Sunday, May 3. $20-$30. Abanico Coffee Roasters, 2121 Mission St, S.F. www.sfiaf.org<\/a><\/p>\n Luc\u00eda Quartet<\/p>\n Keep the Cinco de Mayo spirit going with a performance from 2022 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Award-winning artist, Luc\u00eda. The Veracruz, M\u00e9xico-based performer is part of a musical family steeped in son jarocho, a traditional regional style that blends Spanish, African and indigenous Mexican influences.\u00a0<\/p>\n 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7. $39-$77. Presidio Theatre Performing Arts Center, 99 Moraga Ave., S.F. 415-960-3949. www.presidiotheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n Mariachi El Bronx is scheduled to perform at the Great American Music Hall on Thursday, May 7.<\/p>\n Randy Holmes\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Mariachi El Bronx<\/p>\n Check out a performance from a distinctly alternate, large band incarnation of Los Angeles-based punk rock band, the Bronx.<\/a> They will perform a program of music highly influenced by Latin-American\u00a0cumbia and bolero traditions, in support of a 2026 self-titled release.<\/p>\n 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7. $27-$34.43. Great American Music Hall, 859 O\u2019Farrell St., S.F. www.gamh.com<\/a><\/p>\n Cinco de Mayo S.F. Lowrider Cruise and Block Party<\/p>\n Check out cool rides on display, followed by a cruise on Mission Street between Cesar Chavez and 24th streets at 4 p.m. There will also be a popup block party on Harrison street with vendors and live entertainment.<\/p>\n 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Free. John O\u2019Connell High School, 2355 Folsom Street and along Mission Street, S.F. 415-206-0577. www.sanfranciscolowridercouncil.org<\/a><\/p>\n A family looks on as the baile folkl\u00f3rico dancers perform in the Mission District of San Francisco in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n Felix Uribe\/For the S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n Salsa on the Bay and West Coast Makers Market<\/p>\n West Coast Makers and Gold Bar Whiskey plan to host an afternoon of dancing and more. The event includes salsa dance instruction, DJ sets by Chuy Gomez, live music from Yeny Vald\u00e9s & Team Bah\u00eda and Edgardo & Candela, a local vendors marketplace, Latin-inspired food, cocktails and waterfront views.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1-8 p.m. Sunday, May 9. $10-$41. Reservations recommended; ages 4 and younger free. Gold Bar Distillery and Tasting Room, 1 Avenue of the Palms, Treasure Island, S.F. www.goldbarwhiskey.com<\/a><\/p>\n Yerba Buena Gardens Festival: Herm\u00e1n Olivera y Orquesta Ta\u00edno<\/p>\n Kick off the start of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival\u2019s 2026 season with a salsa dance party featuring a live performance from the New York sonero.\u00a0<\/p>\n Batey Tamb\u00f3, a high-energy, women-of-color-led cultural troupe grounded in bomba music and dance led by Oakland percussionist Denise Sol\u00eds and Julia Caridad Cepeda\u2019s are scheduled to perform after a 1 p.m. preshow set from KALW DJ Wonway Posibul.<\/p>\n 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Free. Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Street between Third and Fourth streets, S.F. 415-543-1718. www.ybgfestival.org<\/a><\/p>\n Calidanza Dance Company: \u2018Festejos\u2019<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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