Cinco de Mayo has been celebrated in San Jose with a downtown parade since 1983. The celebration commemorates the Battle of Puebla better known as Cinco de Mayo. Thousands of people come to the downtown area to view the floats, colorful costumes, marching bands, drill teams, and assortment of decorated entries vying for first, second, or third place as they march past the judges at the review Grandstand. Celebrate with entertainment, food, booths, arts & crafts, and children’s stage. Parade location: Santa Clara & Market Streets, Downtown San Jose. Festival Location: Discovery Meadow, San Carlos St. and Woz Way, Downtown San Jose.
Cinco de Mayo officially commemorates the anniversary of an early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Pubela on May 5, 1862. It is not the anniversary of the defeat and expulsion of the French forces by the Mexicans, which occurred in 1867. It is also not, as is often assumed, the day of Mexico’s celebrations of independence, which are actually held on September 16. It is believed that the origins of Cinco de Mayo celebrations lie in the responses of Mexicans living in California in the 1860s to French rule in Mexico at that time.
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