photo by Vivian Nieuwsma
We’ve been invited back! Last time, we focused on the midday Parade, but this time, the late afternoon revelries were our primary subject. The Cinco de Mayo Festival celebrates Mexican heritage, but also places on display the multiplicity of creative people living, working, and playing along this historic street. At this outdoor event, a throng of thousands sample delectable fare (emphasis on antojitos, Mexican street food like tacos, tamales, and tortas) from local restaurants, food trucks, and food tents, while listening to live music on three stages, and browsing through exhibits by so-called “Cherokee People” (the artists and entrepreneurs who live and/or work in the neighborhood).
photo by Steph James
photo by Ryan Stanley
photo by Ryan Stanley
photo by Isaac Richardson
photo by Sharon Keeler
photo by Monica Tirre
photo by Ryan Stanley
There are few things to say about Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street that cannot be expressed better in photographs. Still, it should be said that this street festival manages to bring together St. Louisans from all walks of life. Even our great and now venerable Mardi Gras Parade doesn’t do it quite as well, and for a city known as of late more for its divisiveness, opportunities for all citizens to come together as one are so important.
photo by Isaac Richardson
photo by Ryan Stanley
photo by Steph James
As mentioned at the top of the article, Photo Flood Saint Louis first visited Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street for Mini-Flood 6, over four years ago. If you compare the pictures of that event to this one, it is easy to see how much the Festival has grown during that time.
This year, Cinco had morning to night music performances on three stages, Lucha Libre Wrestling, a kids’ zone, tons of food and drinks, and of course, the inimitable Peoples Joy Parade, the Festival’s most popular annual event. This year even carried on the tradition of the giant Trump piñata; who wouldn’t want to take a bat to that?
photo by Isaac Richardson
photo by Vivian Nieuwsma
photo by Ryan Stanley
photo by Sharon Keeler
photo by Isaac Richardson
If you have never been to Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street, you are really missing out on one of the city’s best experiences. So put a Google calendar alert in your phone for next year (it’s not like you don’t know when it’s going to be); it’ll just be you, us and about 20,000 of our closest friends. We hope to see you there!
photo by Monica Tirre
photo by Sharon Keeler
photo by Isaac Richardson
photo by Ryan Stanley
Map for this year’s festival:
