Denver Cinco de Mayo 2023 Guide

If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.

Sharing is caring!

The Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival began in 1988 as a neighborhood street fair to showcase Mexican heritage. By 1995, the festival had grown, moving to Denver’s Historic Civic Center Park and became one of Colorado’s top 4 outdoor food and entertainment events.

All funds raised at the Cinco de Mayo Festival goes to NEWSED Community Development Corporation. NEWSED promotes economic and community programs to raise the income and education levels of Denver’s residents.

The 2023 Cinco de Mayo Festival will be celebrated on May 6 and 7. Admission is free! Enjoy live local entertainment on three stages.

The Main Stage

The Main Stage is located at the Greek Amphitheatre mid-14th Avenue. It will feature Mexican regional bands and genres, including Mariachi, Banda, Cumbia and more.

Hotels.com: $99 or Less

Saturday, May 6

  • 12 pm to 1 pm – Colorado Community Dance Extravaganza – Jeanette Trujillo Lucero
  • 2 pm to 2:45 pm – Lisa Trujillo Dance Folklorico
  • 3 pm to 4pm – Lobo Hombre
  • 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm – Retro Norteno
  • 5:30 pm to 6;30 pm – Reyes del Huepa
  • 6:45 pm to 8 pm – Nueva Estrategia

Sunday, May 7

  • 12 pm to 1 pm – Mariachi Internacional
  • 12:30 pm to 12:45 pm – Fiesta Colorado Jeanette Trujillo Lucero
  • 1 pm to 1:45 pm – Lisa Trujillo Dance Folklorico
  • 2 pm to 3:15 pm – Reyes de Huepa
  • 3:45 pm to 5 pm – Integridad Nortena
  • 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm – La Fiebre del Sabor
  • 6:45 pm to 8 pm – Nortenos de Ojinaga

The Local Stage

The Local Stage is located mid-Bannock Street. It will feature comedian Jimmy Abeyta and special guest singer John Alarid. Also featured on this stage will be local bands and performers featuring junk, pop, old school, covers, Latin and more.

Saturday, May 6

  • 10 pm to 11 am – Zumba Remix
  • 11 am to 11:45 am – Lisa Trujillo Dance Folklorico
  • 12:12 pm to 1:10 pm – Miguel Crandell
  • 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm – Stardust Band
  • 2:50 pm to 3:50 pm – Princess & the Evolution
  • 4:14 pm to 5:15 pm – DeLeon & Smooth Groove
  • 5:35 pm to 6:35 pm – Paizley Park
  • 7 pm to 8 pm – Funkiphino

Sunday, May7

  • 10:45 am to 11:45 am – Lisa Trujillo Dance Folklorico
  • 12:10 pm to 1:10 pm – Soul Food Band
  • 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm – Mighty Nice Band
  • 2:50 pm to 3:50 pm – Margarita Brothers
  • 4:14 pm to 5:15 pm – Latin Sol
  • 5:35 pm to 6:35 pm – Soul School
  • 7 pm to 8 pm – Mocochetes

The Community Stage

The Community Stage is located mid-Broadway in Lincoln Park. This is the Fiesta Folklorico Confluence Music Stage.

Saturday, May 6

  • 12 pm – Aztec Danza Huitzilopochtli
  • 12:30 pm – Colorado Mestizo Dancers
  • 1 pm – Bosma Dance & Fitness
  • 1:30 pm – Raices de Mi Tierra
  • 1:45 pm – Danzantes Y Cantores de Fiesta Colorado
  • 2 pm – Fiesta Colorado Dance Company
  • 2:30 pm – Group Folklorico Riena de La Paz
  • 3 pm – Artistico Dance Academy
  • 3:45 pm – Cultural Dance Productions
  • 4:15 pm – Ballet Mestizo Performing Arts
  • 4:45 pm – Alma Mexicana
  • 5:15 pm – Break & Set Up for Remescla Salsa Band
  • 6 pm – Remescla Salsa Band – Performing until 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 7

  • 12 pm – Beach Court Elem & Los Ninos Cantores
  • 12:30 pm – Group Tlalco Danza Azteca
  • 1 pm – No MO Violence Cultural Dance Group
  • 1:30 pm – Sangre De Mexico Folklorico
  • 2 pm – Fiesta Colorado Dance Company
  • 2:30 pm – Socafit Dance 2 Gather – Caribbean
  • 3 pm – Folklorico de Colores
  • 3:30 pm – Mexico Lindo de Mexico – Longmont
  • 4:15 pm – Mexico en La Piel de Aurora
  • 5:15 pm – Break & Set Up for Confluence Music
  • 6 pm – Confluence Music Band – Performs to 7:30 pm

The Cinco de Mayo Community Parade will be happening on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 11 am to 12 pm. Sidewalk areas along the parade route will be open to everyone. The staging area is three blocks west of the City & County Building. The parade will leave there and wind through downtown Denver and will end at Denver’s Civic Center Park area.

Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival is one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States. The vendor area is huge. You can see the work of over 300 arts and crafts exhibitor vendors. Food vendors will be there with main course, side dish items, snacks and desserts. Many of the vendors will have Mexican food available for purchase but other cuisines will also be present.

There will also be merchandise vendors and service vendors. All this will make for a fantastic shopping experience.

If you attend the festival, be sure to see the Chihuahua Races on Saturday at 1 pm. This will take place on the contest stage, south of seal pond. The Taco Eating Contest will be on that stage on Sunday at 2 pm.

The Lowrider Car Show will be on Saturday and Sunday along Cofax from Bannock to Broadway. See the best lowriders, classic cars and lowrider bikes!

Mexican Food

If you enjoyed the Mexican food at the festival and that makes you want to learn more about Mexican cuisine, try these cookbooks. Our links will show you how you can save money on them.

If you’d like another culinary celebration of Cinco de Mayo, you should try these restaurants. They were chosen as the top 10 Mexican restaurants in Denver by the users of TripAdvisor.

  1. Tacos Tequila Whiskey
  2. La Lona Restaurant
  3. Otra Vez Cantina
  4. Illegal Pete’s Lodo
  5. Tamayo
  6. Blue Agave Grill
  7. Machete Tequila & Tacos
  8. D’Corazon
  9. Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina
  10. Hacienda Colorado

If you’d like to visit Denver for the Cinco de Mayo Festival, you should consider the following hotels. They are all offering discounts which could save you money on your stay.