Guide to Cinco de Mayo

In the meantime, organizers encourage everyone to make an extra effort to enjoy the West Side: shop at stores and eat and drink at the restaurants from the West Side neighborhood during the week of May 1-9, as we look forward to 2023. Follow Cinco de Mayo - West Side - Saint Paul on Facebook for more info and updates.

#Giving Tuesday
Each Tuesday leading up to Cinco de Mayo, the Saint Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation will be making donations to local community organizations and non profits, on behalf of Cinco de Mayo West Side Saint Paul.

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Cinco de Mayo - West Side Saint Paul

When it comes to Cinco de Mayo, no one does it like Saint Paul's West Side. Here's what you need to know about Minnesota's largest Latino event.

Who

West Siders, Saint Paulites, Minnesotans and Midwesterners of all ages and backgrounds. You'll want to leave your pup at home though, as the festival is not open to animals.

What

The annual Cinco de Mayo Festival, the largest Latino event in Minnesota, celebrates the West Side community’s Mexican heritage and Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The festival features a parade, a 5K, live music, a car and bike show, an authentic "placita" market and, of course, tons of delicious Mexican food. Learn about West Side’s rich history and bring the kids to the family zone for various cultural activities and learning. If you really want to turn up the heat, partake in the Jalapeño eating contest.

When

Check here for a detailed schedule of events.

Where

Cesar Chavez Street (between Robert St. and Highway 52) in Saint Paul’s West Side.

Why

It should come as no surprise that the largest Cinco de Mayo festival in the state is held in Saint Paul’s West Side, a neighborhood with an incredibly rich Mexican heritage. The festival began in 1985 as a celebration of the community and its businesses and as a means for preserving the area’s culture and history. The festival is a gathering of local residents as much as it is an opportunity for non-residents to experience the vibrancy of Saint Paul’s West Side. Stop by the festival’s History Zone to learn more.

How

How could you not? Especially with free rides from Metro Transit! Hop off the bus at the Wabasha stop near Boca Chica (please note that this stop will be closed from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for the parade). Paid parking is also available in the Red Cross and Keefe parking lots, about a 10-minute walk from the festival. For a list of road closures, click here.

We can't wait to see how much fun you're having at Cinco de Mayo! Share with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #MYSAINTPAUL!