Cinco de Mayo, which translates to the Fifth of May, marks Mexico’s surprise 1862 victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war, and its eventual independence.
To celebrate this day in history, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in Sedona is throwing a free event for the whole family that will be a tribute to Mexican art and culture featuring the best local and regional talent available.
Authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque offers one of the most distinctive shopping and cultural experiences in the Southwest with cobblestone walkways, “vine-covered” stone walls and magnificent arched entryways that transport visitors back to centuries ago.
On Saturday, May 4, the venue will come alive in high celebratory fashion with pulsating sounds of music and roaring applause, colorful dances, savory flavors and activities all day long. Celebrations will begin at 11 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m.
Get ready for enthralling Flamenco music and dancing performed by Gaetano Mosaico Flamenco. Be wowed by the talented dancers of Ballet Folklórico de Colores, a dance troupe of all ages, twirling and swirling in vibrantly colorful, time-honored costumes. Enjoy the voices of traditional vocalists ringing out throughout the village and stroll alongside the roaming Mariachi.
Indulge in traditional Mexican dishes and treats from local vendors located along on Calle Independencia throughout the event, including Los Muertos Salsa, selling elote, fresh chips and salsa, and Go Bananas, selling gourmet chocolate-dipped bananas. The authentic culinary experience continues with tacos and margaritas available at El Rincon Restaurante.
Additionally, children will enjoy a host of activities, including face painting, arts and crafts and the highly-anticipated breaking of the piñata, allowing everyone in the family to participate in celebrations.
Find the schedule of events, locations and times for the Cinco de Mayo Event at Tlaquepaque below.
At Tlaquepaque North
Ballet Folklórico de Colores
The troupe is a community, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, teaching and performing traditional Mexican folk dances, focusing on providing quality dance experiences to children in the Flagstaff community. The dances tell stories of the rituals and dramatic events from Mexico’s past. 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. performances.
Mariachi Chapala
Enjoy the music of a wonderful six-piece mariachi group that has been performing for over 30 years. 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
At Tlaquepaque South
Gaetano Mosaico Flamenco
These high-energy flamenco dancers give it their all with passion and devotion to the art, exciting their audiences to the point of happy exhaustion by just watching them perform! Backed by high-spirited musical accompaniment, these performances are something you don’t want to miss. From 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Patio del Norte.
Ritmo Latino
A Tlaquepaque favorite, Ritmo Latino will be on hand with the sensuous sounds of acoustic guitar and saxophone, the sultry rhythms of Latin percussion and the vocals of Andres Martinez. Don’t be surprised if you feel compelled to bust a move or two. From 2:30 p.m.–5 p.m. at Patio de las Campañas.
Mr. Don Julio and dos Guitarras
Enjoy the sounds of one of the finest fingerstyle guitar rhythms in the area. This group is known for their original and passionate guitar playing from their diverse upbringing in Spain, Mexico, and Latin America. From11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Patio de las Campañas.
Paloma
Teresa (Paloma) and Robert Backes are local artists in the Verde Valley. The duo relocated from Southern California to Cottonwood in 2019. Teresa, a vocalist, keyboardist and flutist, and her husband, a Classical and Neo Flamenco Guitarist, have performed extensively as a duo in Southern California for over 40 years. From 3 p.m.–5 p.m. at Patio de las Campañas.
Other events at Tlaquepaque South will include Free Face Painting (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), Piñata Breaking (12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and Free Arts & Crafts hosted by Tlaquepaque Toy Town.
Patrick Ki
Guitarist/ukulele virtuoso Patrick Ki’s passion for smooth instrumental music can be traced back to his roots growing up on the Windward side of O’ahu. Although formally trained with jazz and classical music degrees, his melodic style has always been influenced by the sounds of the Hawaiian slack key guitar. Patrick will perform from 12 p.m.–3 p.m. at the chapel.
Eric Miller
Eric Miller is a romantic Latin guitarist and a local favorite! After traveling throughout France, Italy, England, Ireland and Brazil, Eric learned each nation’s beautiful music. It was when he arrived in Spain that he fell in love with the art of flamenco. His passion for flamenco guitar stayed with him when Eric returned to the United States, where he continued to study and perform. Eventually, he was drawn to the music of Brazil and immersed himself in the bossa nova and samba, adding Brazilian Jazz guitar to his ever-growing World Music repertoire. Eric will perform from 3:30 p.m.–5 p.m. at the chapel.
Food vendors will also be set up on Calle Independencia from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the event is Free. A free trolley service is available from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from the Up Town municipal parking lot at 260 Schnebly.
To learn more, visit tlaq.com.
Photos courtesy Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
