10 Free Family Friendly Cinco de Mayo Events

1. Dove Springs Recreation Center

Friday, May 4, 2012, from 5 -7 p.m. 

5801 Ainez Drive, Austin     

Free celebration with music, free food, and booths with games.

2. Metz Recreation Center

Friday, May 4, 2012, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
2407 Canterbury Street, Austin

A free celebration with games and music.  Stay for the movie The Muppets, which begins outdoors at dusk.

3. La Condesa's 4th annual Cinco de Mayo Downtown Block Party 

Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 4-10 p.m. 

2nd Street between Guadalupe and San Antonio. 

This event is free and open to all ages!

Musical performances by:

• DeeJay Honeycomb
• Este Vato
• La Guerrilla
• Mariachi Tamazula
• Bombasta
• Ocote Soul Sounds (DJ Set)
• Charanga Cakewalk

4. Tacorama and Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Saturday, May 5, 2012, from noon - 3 p.m.

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center 

600 River Street, Austin

Kick off the 2012 Austin Taco Festival, Tacorama, with a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Taco lovers will enjoy free food, refreshments, music, and activities for children including a taco piñata. There will be live performances by Southwest Key Ballet Folklorico, Tejano Star AJ Castillo, and the "Cruisin' Music King" Trampia Guzman. The Tacorama kick off event is FREE and open to the public, but guests can help those in need by bringing in a non-perishable food item for the Capital Area Food Bank.

5. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Children of Jardin de Ninos Interlingua

Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

The Hill Country Galleria Amphitheater 

12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave

Spanish immersion School students pre-school through fourth grade will celebrate the commemorative Mexican holiday through song and dance.

6. Reenactment of the Battle of Puebla
Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 2 p.m. 

Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 1 p.m.

Camp Mabry, 2200 W. 35th Street, Austin

This weekend Austin celebrates the 150th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo, a date observed here in the U.S. as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. On both Saturday and Sunday, Austinites can head over to Camp Mabry to catch the reenactment of a battle in which the Mexican army reigned victorious over French forces on May 5, 1862.  Admission is free and concession booths will be available. You will need photo ID to enter Camp Mabry.

7. Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Ritmo 3 

Saturday, May 5, from 6:30 - 9 p.m.

Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.

Ritmo 3 was born in the spring 2005 on the patios of house parties in Austin. Four young men originally from Mexico began the project by arranging musical compositions of traditional son montunos, boleros, Colombian, Spanish, and Mexican cumbia into a hot salutary electrify mix that you can't stop dancing to.

8. Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Son y No Son

Saturday, May 5, from 6:30 - 9 p.m.

Central Market Westgate, 4477 S. Lamar Blvd.

Son y No Son is a long-established Austin Latin dance ensemble led by Rey Arteaga and accompanied by some of the best musicians in Austin. This group was founded in October 1999. They perform a diverse array of Latin genres with a focus on traditional Cuban styles such as son, bolero, guajira, and cha-cha. 

9. Mel's Lone Star Lanes Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 6 - 10 p.m.

1010 N Austin Ave, Georgetown

Free Live Music from 6-8 p.m., Free Movie Three Amigos from 8-10 p.m., Drink and Food Specials, and a Pinata Party for the kids (everyone will walk away with a bundle of candy).

10. Whole Foods Kids Club

Sunday, May 6, 2012, from noon - 2 p.m.

Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd.

Ole’! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a hand made sombrero and pinata.

And one bonus event which is $5 - $8 for admission, but kids 12 and under get in free:

7th Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Presented by Fiestas Patrias of Austin

Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 10 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 6, 2012, from noon - 9:30 p.m.

Fiesta Gardens Park