Cinco de Mayo might trace its roots to a single battle in Puebla, but here in the States, the celebration of Mexican culture, pride, and resilience takes on epic proportions. From California to Colorado to the Pacific Northwest, cities throw down with parades, pop concerts, lowrider showcases, and enough tacos to feed entire neighborhoods. Here are three of the largest, most vibrant Cinco de Mayo fiestas happening in 2025—and why they’re worth traveling for.
1. Fiesta Broadway — Los Angeles, CA
📍 Downtown LA | 🗓 Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
🎟 Free Admission
Go big or go home—that’s the unofficial motto of Fiesta Broadway, the OG of U.S. Cinco de Mayo festivals. Since 1993, this mega-celebration has packed downtown LA with color, music, and culture, pulling in more than 200,000 revelers to Grand Park and Broadway for a one-day blowout.
This year’s entertainment lineup taps into serious star power: Latin pop royalty Natalia Jiménez, the ever-smooth Jorge Muñiz, and regional banda faves Conjunto Azabache are just a few of the acts hitting the event’s two live stages. And if you’re into lucha libre, clear your schedule—masked wrestlers will bring the drama with all-day bouts that are as family-friendly as they are theatrical.
Add a dedicated kids’ play zone, rows of regional food vendors, and dozens of local small businesses showcasing their crafts, and you’ve got an intergenerational gathering that doubles as a cultural deep-dive. It’s civic pride, mariachi, and micheladas—Angeleno style.
2. Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival — Denver, CO
📍 Civic Center Park | 🗓 Saturday–Sunday, May 3–4, 2025 | 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
🎟 Free Admission
Denver doesn’t just celebrate Cinco de Mayo—it takes over Civic Center Park with a two-day fiesta that regularly draws crowds topping 400,000. The “Celebrate Culture” Festival lives up to its name, transforming downtown into a full-on cultural immersion zone.
The Saturday morning parade kicks things off in classic community fashion, leading into a rotating lineup of mariachi, banda, salsa, and norteño bands across three music stages. But this isn’t just a music fest—signature events like the Lowrider Car Show, Chihuahua Races, and the fan-favorite Taco-Eating Contest deliver big on energy and local flavor.
Beyond the main attractions, over 200 vendors serve up Mexican cuisine, handmade crafts, and colorful souvenirs. There’s plenty for the little ones, too, thanks to arts-and-crafts stations and cultural activities that keep the vibe welcoming for all ages. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s one of Colorado’s most beloved traditions.
3. Portland Cinco de Mayo Fiesta — Portland, OR
📍 Tom McCall Waterfront Park | 🗓 Friday–Monday, May 2–5, 2025
⏰ 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri–Sun | 4–10 p.m. Mon
🎟 Ticketed Event (Family packages available)
Oregon’s largest multicultural celebration lands riverside every year in downtown Portland—and the setting couldn’t be better. Framed by the Willamette River and the city’s iconic bridges, the Portland Cinco de Mayo Fiesta brings in 55,000+ guests for four days of performances, artisan showcases, and community pride.
Organized by the Portland-Guadalajara Sister City Association, the festival places a strong emphasis on authenticity. The Artisan Village is stocked with hand-selected craftspeople from Guadalajara and Tonalá, and the main stage will be lit up by crowd favorites like Mariachi Ciudad de Guadalajara and several ballet folklórico troupes.
Cultural programming gets a thoughtful upgrade with a U.S. naturalization ceremony, Rip City Boxing exhibitions, and a full-fledged carnival midway along the waterfront. And for families, the expanded Plaza de Niños offers free games, crafts, and face-painting. Adults can toast the festivities at Cuervo’s tequila tasting pavilion—because this is Portland, after all.
