Cinco de Mayo 2023 celebrations planned in southern New Mexico this weekend.
LAS CRUCES - Cinco de Mayo celebrations are just a few days away and festivities are planned across the borderland for the holiday weekend.
Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the Mexican army’s victory over France in 1862. The triumph is known as the Battle of Puebla during the Second Franco-Mexican War which ended with France’s retreat in 1867.
The May holiday is typically recognized as a minor holiday in Mexico, but is widely celebrated in the U.S. It is often confused with Mexican Independence Day from Spain, which falls on Sept. 16 every year.
Cinco de Mayo lands on Friday this year and the weekend is packed full of celebrations. Check out where the festivities will be in southern New Mexico this year.
2023 New Mexico Tamale Fest at the Plaza de Las Cruces
Head to downtown Las Cruces Friday, May 5, for the first annual New Mexico Tamale Fest. The Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St., will be packed with food trucks, market vendors and live music. Attendees will have the chance to sample more than 15 styles of tamales made by local food vendors and, to wash it down, a Mexican beer garden will be set up on site.
A night market will feature craft vendors offering various items for sale. The live music lineup includes Satisfied, DJ Aaron Scene and DJ Rob E. Other entertainment includes mariachi and ballet folklorico dancers, more dancing, games and a car show.
People of all ages are welcome. Tickets are available for purchase ahead of time online at TheTamaleFest.Eventbrite.com. Admission is $25 and includes entry to the main event, entry to the official afterparty at RAD Retrocade and four tamale sample tickets from any food truck or vendor tent.
A $5 military discount will be offered at the gate.
The New Mexico Tamale Festival will start at 6 p.m. Friday and continue through midnight. The RAD Retrocade afterparty will go until 2 a.m.
AmadorDayz at AmadorLive
AmadorLive, located at 302 S. Main St., is hosting its third annual AmadorDayz music festival Friday and Saturday this week. The event will kick off Friday, May 5 with performances by Marineros Del Norte, Conjunto Satevo, Internacional Sonora Skandalo and Mariachi Jalisciense.
Gates open at 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $50 per person and are available for purchase online at amadorlive.com/events.
On Saturday, May 6, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will finally take the AmadorLive stage. The group was originally scheduled to perform in October, but the show was rained out. Tickets purchased for the October performance will be honored Saturday.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and are available online at amadorlive.com/events.
Town of Mesilla’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Head south of Las Cruces and enjoy festivities in the Town of Mesilla Saturday and Sunday. Activities will start at noon each day at the Mesilla Plaza, located on Calle Principal. An opening ceremony will kick off the celebrations each day followed by mariachi and ballet folklorico performances every half hour or hour.
A greased pole and piñata contest sponsored by Andele’s Restaurant will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Satisfied Band will bring Saturday’s activities to a close at 6 p.m. and Los Chile Rellenos Band will continue the event Sunday at 4 p.m.
Mesilla’s festivities are free, family-friendly and open to the public.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: A look at the Cinco de Mayo events planned in southern New Mexico.
