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Cinco de Mayo, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and the United States by Mexican-Americans, commemorates the Mexican victory over the French in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. Mexico’s victory was unexpected because they were outnumbered by more than 4,000 men. Ignacio Gonzalez led the Mexican army to this victory, giving Mexicans and Mexican-Americans today a good reason to celebrate.
Especially in Chicago, a city with a large population of Mexican-Americans and Chicanos, there are numerous ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo:
First, begin the Cinco de Mayo celebrations Thursday, May 2, by heading to the Benito Juarez Community Academy located at 1450-1510 W. Cermak Road to listen to the Mariachi Monumental de Mexico musical group. At 7 p.m., they will perform a variety of traditional and modern musical pieces to honor the Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo. Chicago Sinfonietta heads the performance, an organization that strives on its appreciation of classical music, meanwhile providing young musicians with opportunities to experience and learn such music. Tickets can be purchased on the Chicago Sinfonietta website listed as $9 for each adult and $4 for each child or student.
Next, check out the Cinco de Mayo Comedy Fiesta, Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. There, you can see Los Angeles comedian Jorge Aldama, also known as “DJ Cooch.” Other comedians, such as Michael Issac and Jaime de Leon will also be in attendance. Musical guests Las Damas del Mariachi, Janet Cruz and Sylvia Hevia too will also make an appearance. Tickets are $15 and doors open at 7 p.m.
After hearing some classical Mexican music and seeing live comedy, spend your Saturday afternoon with hip-hop DJ Prot’ÛΩg’ÛΩ and head to the REDkiva lounge on Randolph street from 2-6 p.m. for a day celebration of Cinco de Mayo. There’s no entry fee, but if you’re 21, $20 will get you unlimited margaritas. There, you can dance and enjoy both R&B and hip-hop by live DJs, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
Another option for Saturday is the Cinco de Mayo Chicago Bachata All-Stars Celebration. The celebration is being held at Club Mambo Cafe at 3336 N. Milwaukee Ave. The doors open at 10 p.m., and the first 150 tickets are $10, and after that they jump to $15. The celebration includes performances from Academia de Baile Angelitos, Bachata Rising Stars, Cumbia Allstars, Los Cinco Magnificos, Bachata Allstars, and Luis and Lorena of Mexico.
May 5 marks the actual date of Cinco de Mayo and the celebrations are sure to continue. Take a trip on the Pink Line, and see the parade at Cermak from Wood to Kedzie. The parade begins at noon and celebrates the Mexican soldier who fought off the invasion of the French back in 1862. There will be traditional Mexican regalia, floats and music, all in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
After attending a hip-hop dance, listening to Mariachi music, laughing at Jorge Aldama, seeing a parade and admiring the Bachata performers, take the night off and attend one (or all) of the bar crawls happening throughout Chicago. Clarke’s Bar and Grille offers one Saturday, May 4, from 2 to 9 p.m. Tickets range from $10-$20 for a number of possible events, with the $20 ticket providing a three-day pass to the bar’s festivities. Other Lincoln Park venues such as Hi-Tops, Halsted Harp, Glascott’s Saloon, and Dillinger’s Bar and Grill are also offering similar Cinco de Mayo celebrations. A margarita crawl is also being offered by CitySwarm, where participants can ride a trolley to and from a variety of venues on the nights of Thursday, April 25 and May 2 at 2710 N. Milwaukee Ave. The tickets are $57. For those 21 or older, check out your favorite bars for a night of tequila shots and margaritas.
Regardless of your preference in ways to celebrate the upcoming holiday, Chicago offers plenty of Cinco de Mayo options for you, your friends and family of all ages to celebrate and honor the Battle of Puebla.