Cinco de Mayo Fanta Festival is this Sunday

May 1, 12:49 AMCarolinas Travel ExaminerPaul McDaniel

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Cinco de Mayo (U.S. Government/Public Domain)

Although Cinco de Mayo – “Fifth of May” – is next Tuesday, Charlotte’s “Cinco de Mayo Fanta Festival” is this Sunday (May 3) at McAlpine Creek Park (8711 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC) from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM and it is FREE! 

Charlotte’s Latin American Coalition, one of the organizers of this Cinco de Mayo event, stated the following: 

“The Latin American Coalition invites you to join us for our 2nd annual Fanta Festival! This one-day, highly publicized Cinco de Mayo celebration attracts more than 25,000 children and adults from Charlotte’s Hispanic community, for a one-of-a kind family festival. The event features internationally known musical acts, celebrity appearances, children’s games and activities and folkloric dance performances.  An open-air food court offers authentic Latin American cuisine and the Latin American mercado sells hand-made, imported goods and specialty products. This family event has already established itself as one of the region's finest Cinco de Mayo celebrations- one you won’t want to miss!” 

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday originating in Mexico, particularly around the city of Puebla. The holiday recognizes and commemorates the Mexican Army defeating French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The defeat of the French forces was spectacular because the Mexican Army was outnumbered two-to-one. Also, the French were much better equipped and had not seen defeat in more than fifty years. This battle is also of historical significance because it represents the last time that an army from another continent invaded any independent country in the Americas. Although Cinco de Mayo is not even celebrated nationwide in Mexico, it is widely observed in other countries such as the United States as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. Also, one common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. However, Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16 (“dieciséis de septiembre”) and is the most important national patriotic holiday across all of Mexico. 

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