Hello and Happy New Year everyone! Just trying to do some spring travel planning for a nice vacation to a Cinco de Mayo celebration (I love Mexican food!). Can someone tell me where to go and what day the holiday is in 2009?

If memory serves me correctly Cinco de May is on May 5th next year.

Was that a trick question?

San Antonio has a nice celebration for Cinco de mayo

Do you mean within the United States? Or Mexico?

Cinco de Mayo is always the 5th of May ;-) that's why they call it "Cinco de Mayo" (lol)

jumbonav -

That's like asking what day the 4th of July is. There's no option -it;s the fourth of July.

And Cinco de Mayo has to be the 5th of May.

To be fair, some cities do have their celebrations on a day other than the 5th if the 5th is not on a weekend.

a) you can get Mexican Food year long.

b) Cinco de Mayo is more of an excuse to go out and drink.

c) FYI: Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May) celebrates the Mexican victory over the French army at Puebla de Los Angeles in 1862 so I'm not sure what kind of celebration you're expecting to find.

"b) Cinco de Mayo is more of an excuse to go out and drink."

That is as opposed to the 4th of July???

SUZE! Happy New Year! Over the years I have really appreciated your entries and the places you have knowledge of are places that I have either been to, or are interested in going to. Thank you for all the good advice!

Do you have a generic E-mail address that I can write to you at to ask you more specific questions?

seeksocean, Sure anyone can reach me over at Trip Advisor's thru their PM as suze2you.

Or directly at [email protected]

Rich, I don't understand your question about July 4th?

But I've heard some of the best Cinco de Mayo celebrations are on the 4th or 6th of May. Is this not true?

Cinco de Mayo is on a Tuesday in 2009. So in all probability the celebrations (real parties) will be the weekend before with a few events on the day itself. San Antonio - Phoenix - a lot of cities in the Southwest have festivities.

Nope, it's not true that the best celebrations will be on the 4th of the 6th, as others have clarified depends which day of the week the 5th of May falls on, whether they might be moved to the nearest weekend.

Are we talking about the US or Mexico?

Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is celebrated at Mexican bars here in the USA by Americans.

But it is not really a big holiday in Mexico, unless it is an American touristy area that wants to increase turnout at their bars.

I may be wrong about this - but the Mexican Independance Day is in Sept.??

Mexico's Independence Day is Sept. 16th.
I found this about Cinco de Mayo:

So, why Cinco de Mayo? 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.

Correct, Cinco de Mayo is not a big thing in Mexico at all. That's why I keep asking where the OP was talking about.

I think OP is not in the US, hence the fascination with Cinco de Mayo and willingness to build a trip around it - there's always a first for everything.

Just go to a Mexican restaurant on a Saturday night and drink. You can make it your own Cinco de Mayo any time of the year!

I think the poster must be putting us on!

In places that do make a big deal of it (and agree that they are more than likely tourist oriented or marketing strategies) it is not at all uncommon for festivities to begin the evening of the 4th - CdM Eve, if you would.