Melody Baetens | The Detroit News | Published April 27, 2022

Technically, the reason for the Cinco de Mayo holiday is to honor Mexico’s 1862 victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla.
In Metro Detroit, however, Cinco de Mayo is a chance for folks and families to get outside and celebrate spring and Mexican culture in America. With the pandemic putting a damper on the party the past two years, this week’s celebrations seem extra special.

While Cinco de Mayo on Thursday, May 5, some parties are taking place this weekend.

“Besides it being kind of a key cultural event in the city, it’s also a rite of spring for many, many years,” said Raymond Lozano from the Mexican Patriotic Committee, which is putting on the 57th annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival in southwest Detroit on Sunday.

The 2.2-mile procession, which travels along W. Vernor Highway from Springwells to W. Grand Boulevard, is Metro Detroit’s main Cinco de Mayo event. It will be a celebration of Mexican-American pride with marching bands, mariachi bands, floats, flags and more. Wayne County Executive Warren Evans is this year’s grand marshal.

Lozano said the event is also a “much needed” economic stimulus for the community.

“When we have good weather and you have two to three miles of parade and thousands of people lining the streets, not just local folks but people come from all over to see the parade, and after that people go to the restaurants and they take in the sights.”

There will also be family-friendly programming at Plaza del Sol at W. Vernor and 21st Street from noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with taco trucks, merchandise, entertainment, dancing and speakers.

Lozano said while Cinco de Mayo is largely celebrated in Pueblo, the battle fought in there during that French intervention has significance in American history, too.

“When the French were trying to conquer the continents here, they were marching northward and if they hadn’t stalled in that little town of Puebla it’s theorized that (the French) would have continued on to link up with the Confederacy and it could have really changed the course of our Civil War.”

A man rides a horse in the 55th Annual Cinco de Mayo parade in 2019. Photo Credit: Anthony Lanzilote, Special to The Detroit News

This Saturday Lincoln Park is also celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a free, family-friendly outdoor party noon-7 p.m. Saturday with live entertainment, food trucks, restaurants and variety of vendors.

Organizer Maureen Tobin said performances include Mariachi de Detroit, Ballet Folklórico De Detroit and headliners the Santana Project.
“They are a bunch of really talented musicians that pay tribute to Carlos Santana and his music, so it’s going to be really exciting,” she said, adding that the event came together well this year. She expects local public officials to speak and there will be time given to play the Mexican and United States national anthems.

“This year’s really special because after two years of having to put it off because of COVID, the event has grown bigger,” she said. “We have more vendors and the food is going to be outstanding.”

“There’s been quite an influx of Hispanics in the Lincoln Park community,” said the city’s downtown development authority and economic development corporation director Carl E. Malysz.

He said the Latin American community in the downriver city has doubled in the past decade and now accounts for 25% of the population. “The growth in Lincoln Park, without question, is because of the growth in Hispanic population.”

Here are details on the two community events, plus some other Cinco de Mayo-related parties around Metro Detroit.

Cinco de Mayo Festival in Lincoln Park: Live bands, dancers, kids’ activities, crafters, vendors and food trucks. Noon-7 p.m. Sat. Free. O’Connor between Fort and Electric, Lincoln Park. (313) 980-6711.

Cinco de Mile 5K at Clark Park: A 5K fun run for mental health awareness before the parade starts. 10 a.m. Sun. $25. 1130 Clark, Detroit. www.runsignup.com/Race/MI/Detroit/DTLpresentscincodemile

57th annual Cinco de Mayo Parade in Southwest Detroit: Hosted by the Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metropolitan Detroit, this family-friendly community event features mariachi bands, marching bands, floats, dancers and more with grand marshal Warren Evans. Noon Sunday. Free. Vernor Hwy. between Springwells and W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. facebook.com/mexicanpatrioticcommitteeofdetroit.

Fiesta Detroit Cinco De Mayo Festival at 4132 Bagley St: A celebration focused on the Latinx millennial and Gen Z community, this event has cultural performances, a truck championship, wrestling, live entertainment, vendors, bull riding and a taco tournament. 1-10 p.m. Sun. $10 and up. 4132 Bagley, Detroit. eventbrite.com/e/fiesta-detroit-annual-cinco-de-mayo-festival-tickets-297304875887.