***Family fun for everyone. Joe Contreras, Alex Johns & familia***

By Joe Contreras, Photos by Alex Johns & Joe Contreras Latin Life Denver Media, ( See several photo galleries below. It may take a minute for everything to load so please be patient).

The 2024 Cinco de Mayo Festival in Denver’s Civic Center Park was another rousing success with two days of cultural entertainment, food and fun for everyone under the sun. (See People Photo Gallery Below)

Organized by NEWSED, Community Development Corporation the two day fiesta, which for years has been regarded as the largest Cinco de Mayo festival not just in Colorado or even Mexico, but in the world attracting 400,000 people annually. It is also the largest cultural festival in Colorado. Latin Life Denver was honored to be a Media Sponsor for the tenth year in a row.

As in years past, the 2024 Cinco de Mayo kicks off with a parade along Colfax from Bannock to Broadway culminating in front of the crowds gathered on the Colorado State Capitol grounds. Community groups, cultural dancers and of course dozens of lowrider cars entertained the hundreds of people that lined the parade route. **(See Photo Gallery Below)**

This years Cinco, featured three stages of top name local English and Mexican national bands along with Mexican cultural dancers, dozens of food and merchandise vendors, along with various booths of community organizations and exhibitors. **(See Photo Gallery Below)**

**The always popular Chihuahua races had nearly 50 of the creatures racing down a grassing track to see who would take home the top prize. (See Photo Gallery Below)**

(See Photo Gallery Below)

The Taco eating contest had 50 participants chowing down on some very spicy carnitas tacos ensuring that only the most brave and deserving prevailed. **(See Photo Gallery Below)**

Saturday, May 4th featured a tasting event on the beautiful seal pond plaza located at the north end of the park. Tequilas, rums, whiskeys and other top brand spirits were featured for participants to try. **(See Photo Gallery Below)**

**The Lowrider car and bike exhibition had more than 200 participants competing in various categories. There were several unique displays accompanying the cars.** A must see. **(See Photo Gallery Below)**

The King Soopers grocers proved to be extremely popular as thousands of festival goers lined up to get bags full of free giveaways, get the kids faces painted and to let the kids and adults play on the inflatable games that were made available. **(See Photo Gallery Below)**

Background info provided by NEWSED, Community Development Corporation

Historically the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates the victory of a heroic people and their struggle for freedom. On May 5, 1862 the outnumbered town of Puebla, Mexico defeated French forces which fueled the momentum and national confidence to ultimately drive foreign power completely from the country. Today in areas of Mexico and the United States this recognition and celebration of culture and freedom resonates as these values apply to everyone.

The Cinco de Mayo Denver event started in 1988 as a neighborhood street fair to showcase Mexican heritage while promoting the economic turnaround of the neighborhoods along the Santa Fe Drive corridor. By 1995, the festival had outgrown its location and moved a few blocks to Denver’s Historic Civic
Center Park where it took its place among Colorado’s top four outdoor food and entertainment events. Although the event attracts approximately 70% Hispanic attendees, a large cross section of the community is represented. Due to this, the event receives greater visibility through English and Spanish media outlets.

The NEWSED Community Development Corporation was founded in 1973. Its mission is to promote the economic success of underserved populations in the seven-county Denver metro area through community development with a focus on affordable housing, small businesses and asset creation. Visit
Newsed.org to learn more.

As of July 1st, 2019, the total Hispanic/Latino population in the United States reached 62.1 million people, constituting 18.7% of the total population, according to the United States Census Bureau (USCB).
As of today, people of Hispanic/Latino origin makeup the nation’s largest ethnic or racial minority. In Colorado alone, the Hispanic/Latino community makes up 21.8% of the total population; making it
the second largest ethnic group in the state.