Building on the incredible success of last year?s inaugural event, the Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Balboa Park is expanding to bring even more Mexican-themed music and dance performances, arts and crafts, and family-friendly activities. Set within both the historic Plaza de Panama and Spreckels Organ Pavilion, this year?s celebration once again features colorful horseback riders, traditional dance groups, a fashion show, strolling mariachis, hands-on activity booths for kids, authentic arts and crafts demonstrations by artisans from Mexico, food trucks, and a free concert event featuring Jarabe Mexicano.
The popular local ballet folklorico group, La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego, kicks off the day?s entertainment in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 11:20 AM following the 11:00 AM opening ceremony, while Mariachi Victoria de San Diego performs in the Plaza de Panama at 11:25 AM At 12 noon, the day?s signature horseback procession, with Escaramuza Charra las Golondrinas and Asociaci?n Charros Herencia Charra led by a floreador, enters the Plaza.
Additional entertainment in the Plaza de Panama will be provided throughout the day by Mariachi Victoria and the Paris Escovedo Band, performing Latin jazz. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion will feature more dance performances by Fiesta Danzantes and Wa-Kushm? Mexican Folk Production, as well as a fashion showcase of traditional Mexican dress from various regions. At 5:00 PM the San Diego State University Drumline will lead a procession from the Plaza to the Organ Pavilion for the free concert event featuring Jarabe Mexicano. (See schedule below for details.)
Other highlights of the day include Huichol artisans from Nayarit, Mexico, demonstrating various traditional art techniques and a hands-on bracelet-making activity, sponsored by the Mexican Consulate. Additional activity booths will be hosted by Canal 12 Televisa, the Spanish Village Art Center, San Diego Public Library, San Diego County Fair, House of Mexico, San Diego Natural History Museum, and more. The Fab Trailers vintage photo booth will also be on hand to help attendees commemorate the festive day.
The day?s food offerings include a variety of cuisines from some of San Diego?s best gourmet food trucks parked along the El Prado walkway. In addition, the Prado Restaurant will host live music and family activities, and serve street tacos, margaritas, and cerveza on their Garden Terrace from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
Entertainment Schedule:
11:10 AM to 11:20 AM - Opening Ceremony in the Plaza de Panama
11:20 AM to 11:40 AM - La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego: A 20 - minute ballet folklorico performance in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of the popular community - based dance group, featuring traditional dances from Jalisco, Veracruz, Chiapas, and the revolutionary period.
11:25 AM to 11:40 AM - Mariachi Victoria de San Diego: Performance of mariachi music in the Plaza de Panama before accompanying the horseback procession at 12 12:00 PM. Mariachi Victoria is part of the City Heights Music School.
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Equestrian Procession: Four traditionally attired horseback riders from the Escaramuza Charra las Golondrinas and Asociaci?n Charros Herencia Charra travel from the Botanical Building into the Plaza de Panama. The procession will be led by floreador Miguel Jr Bautista performing rope tricks. Sponsored by Canal 12 Televisa.
12:40 PM to 1:00 PM - La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego: A 20 - minute ballet folklorico dance performance in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
1:10 PM to 1:40 PM - Mariachi Victoria de San Diego: Strolling mariachi music in the Plaza de Panama and along the El Prado walkway.
1:15 PM to 2:15 PM - Traditional Mexican Dress Showcase: A fashion show in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of traditional attire created by indigenous women from diverse regions of Mexico, including San Luis Potosi, Michoac?n, Jalisco, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, and Yucat?n, all from Olga de la Vega?s ?Weavers of Dreams? private collection. Sponsored by Canal 12 Televisa.
2:00 PM to 2:45 PM - Paris Escovedo Band: Performance of Latin - flavored jazz by the international recording artist in the Plaza de Panama. Sponsored by Univision Radio?s Amor 102.9 FM and Que Buena 106.5 FM.
2:30 PM to 2:50 PM - Kushm? Mexican Folk Production: Performances in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of traditional folk dances from Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Baja California, featuring up to a dozen dance couples.
3:10 PM to 3:30 PM - Wa - Kushm? Mexican Folk Production: Performances in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of traditional folk dances from Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Baja California, featuring up to a dozen dance couples.
3:15 PM to 4:00 PM - Paris Escovedo Band: Performance of Latin - flavored jazz by the international recording artist in the Plaza de Panama. Sponsored by Univision Radio?s Amor 102.9 FM and Que Buena 106.5 FM.
4:45 PM to 5:00 PM - San Diego State University Marching Aztecs Drumline: Performance on the Plaza de Panama stage by the 20 - member drumline followed by a procession to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and participation in a performance of the US and Mexico national anthems there at 5:00 PM.
5:05 PM to 6:30 PM - Cinco de Mayo Concert in Spreckels Organ Pavilion: Jarabe Mexicano performs contemporary and traditional Mexican music. Jarabe Mexicano is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of San Diego.
Location:
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA
- [Park Map]
Saturday, May 4 - 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
For more information, please visit: www.balboaparkconservancy.org
Photo by Richard Benton
The popular local ballet folklorico group, La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego, kicks off the day?s entertainment in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 11:20 AM following the 11:00 AM opening ceremony, while Mariachi Victoria de San Diego performs in the Plaza de Panama at 11:25 AM At 12 noon, the day?s signature horseback procession, with Escaramuza Charra las Golondrinas and Asociaci?n Charros Herencia Charra led by a floreador, enters the Plaza.
Additional entertainment in the Plaza de Panama will be provided throughout the day by Mariachi Victoria and the Paris Escovedo Band, performing Latin jazz. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion will feature more dance performances by Fiesta Danzantes and Wa-Kushm? Mexican Folk Production, as well as a fashion showcase of traditional Mexican dress from various regions. At 5:00 PM the San Diego State University Drumline will lead a procession from the Plaza to the Organ Pavilion for the free concert event featuring Jarabe Mexicano. (See schedule below for details.)
Other highlights of the day include Huichol artisans from Nayarit, Mexico, demonstrating various traditional art techniques and a hands-on bracelet-making activity, sponsored by the Mexican Consulate. Additional activity booths will be hosted by Canal 12 Televisa, the Spanish Village Art Center, San Diego Public Library, San Diego County Fair, House of Mexico, San Diego Natural History Museum, and more. The Fab Trailers vintage photo booth will also be on hand to help attendees commemorate the festive day.
The day?s food offerings include a variety of cuisines from some of San Diego?s best gourmet food trucks parked along the El Prado walkway. In addition, the Prado Restaurant will host live music and family activities, and serve street tacos, margaritas, and cerveza on their Garden Terrace from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
Entertainment Schedule:
11:10 AM to 11:20 AM - Opening Ceremony in the Plaza de Panama
11:20 AM to 11:40 AM - La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego: A 20 - minute ballet folklorico performance in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of the popular community - based dance group, featuring traditional dances from Jalisco, Veracruz, Chiapas, and the revolutionary period.
11:25 AM to 11:40 AM - Mariachi Victoria de San Diego: Performance of mariachi music in the Plaza de Panama before accompanying the horseback procession at 12 12:00 PM. Mariachi Victoria is part of the City Heights Music School.
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Equestrian Procession: Four traditionally attired horseback riders from the Escaramuza Charra las Golondrinas and Asociaci?n Charros Herencia Charra travel from the Botanical Building into the Plaza de Panama. The procession will be led by floreador Miguel Jr Bautista performing rope tricks. Sponsored by Canal 12 Televisa.
12:40 PM to 1:00 PM - La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego: A 20 - minute ballet folklorico dance performance in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
1:10 PM to 1:40 PM - Mariachi Victoria de San Diego: Strolling mariachi music in the Plaza de Panama and along the El Prado walkway.
1:15 PM to 2:15 PM - Traditional Mexican Dress Showcase: A fashion show in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of traditional attire created by indigenous women from diverse regions of Mexico, including San Luis Potosi, Michoac?n, Jalisco, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, and Yucat?n, all from Olga de la Vega?s ?Weavers of Dreams? private collection. Sponsored by Canal 12 Televisa.
2:00 PM to 2:45 PM - Paris Escovedo Band: Performance of Latin - flavored jazz by the international recording artist in the Plaza de Panama. Sponsored by Univision Radio?s Amor 102.9 FM and Que Buena 106.5 FM.
2:30 PM to 2:50 PM - Kushm? Mexican Folk Production: Performances in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of traditional folk dances from Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Baja California, featuring up to a dozen dance couples.
3:10 PM to 3:30 PM - Wa - Kushm? Mexican Folk Production: Performances in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion of traditional folk dances from Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Baja California, featuring up to a dozen dance couples.
3:15 PM to 4:00 PM - Paris Escovedo Band: Performance of Latin - flavored jazz by the international recording artist in the Plaza de Panama. Sponsored by Univision Radio?s Amor 102.9 FM and Que Buena 106.5 FM.
4:45 PM to 5:00 PM - San Diego State University Marching Aztecs Drumline: Performance on the Plaza de Panama stage by the 20 - member drumline followed by a procession to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and participation in a performance of the US and Mexico national anthems there at 5:00 PM.
5:05 PM to 6:30 PM - Cinco de Mayo Concert in Spreckels Organ Pavilion: Jarabe Mexicano performs contemporary and traditional Mexican music. Jarabe Mexicano is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of San Diego.
Location:
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA
- [Park Map]
Saturday, May 4 - 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
For more information, please visit: www.balboaparkconservancy.org
Photo by Richard Benton
![[Park Map]](https://ontheworldmap.com/usa/city/san-diego/san-diego-balboa-park-map.jpg){kind=link}