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By Lookout Staff
May 4 -- It may be el Seis de Mayo, but
being one day late won’t stop Santa Monica from celebrating
the traditional Mexican holiday with native food, music and
a vintage car show.
The free Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Virginia Avenue
Park -- which will be held Sunday between 1 and 6 p.m. --
will showcase artists at work and features a lineup that includes
Mariachi Voz de America, Los Pochos (música norteña),
Ballet Folklorico, Danza de la Pluma (Oaxacan indigenous dance)
and Salsa music and dance contest.
Hosted by award-winning performance artist Maria Elena Gaitan,
the festivities also include children’s activities and
authentic Mexican cuisine, including carne asada, tamales
and fresh fruit juices by Mama’s Hot Tamales and Cha
Cha Chicken.
The Pico Passport will add to the fiesta with “A Vintage
Car Show,” a display of classic autos, including a vintage
fire truck and a 1913 Morgan three-wheel Racer.
Some 50 vehicles will be provided by Pico neighborhood business
owners, area residents and City of Santa Monica employees.
Winnning vehicles will be recognized with trophies and awards.
The Pico Passport will also showcase Pico Artists at Work,
featuring painters, photographers and sculptors from Pico
Boulevard.
Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo does not mark Mexican
Independence Day, which took place on September 15, 1810.
Instead it celebrates the day in 1862 when 4,000 Mexican soldiers
defeated 8,000 French troops and traitor Mexicans at Puebla,
Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City.
Virginia Avenue Park is located on the northwest corner
of Pico and Cloverfield in Santa Monica. Visitors and neighbors
are encouraged to walk, bicycle or park for free at Santa
Monica College “Structure C” at the corner of
Pico and 17th Street.
A Big Blue Bus chartered for the event will shuttle attendees
from Santa Monica College at Pico and 16th Street eastbound
and back at Pico and 22nd Street (eastbound). Directional
signs will be visible at the college on Pico and 17th Street.
Virginia Avenue Park is served by Blue Bus Line No. 7 and is
accessible for persons with disabilities. For disability-related
accommodation requests, or to request this information in an
alternate format, please call (310) 458-8688 or TTY: (310) 458-8696
by May 2, 2007. | 
