This HeidiTown.com radio segment on KRFC 88.9 FM discusses where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Colorado and takes a look ahead at May, including Mother’s Day Weekend and one of the state’s most unique, and perhaps most gross, festivals.
Read the transcript of this week’s show below, or listen to the audio here.
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Hi, my name is Heidi and I’m the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about events, festivals and travel around Colorado.
Last week I had the opportunity to visit History Colorado during media day. I am very impressed with what they have done at this new facility and I have blogged about it, so be sure to go to the Museum section on HeidiTown. History Colorado officially opened to the public this past Saturday so be sure to plan a visit to this new Denver landmark.
This weekend, May 4 through May 6 is also Cinco de Mayo. This holiday is often thought to be Mexican Independence day, but that’s not true. It actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla which took place on May 5, 1862.
This year is the 150th anniversary of the battle. So why is this holiday so widely celebrated in the United States? Well, much like St. Patrick’s Day, it has become a commercial boon for liquor companies and restaurants, however, I don’t want to undermine the holiday’s significance as a celebration of Mexican culture, and there’s no better way to see this in action than at the Denver Cinco De Mayo in Civic Center Park.
This is the 25th Denver Cinco De Mayo and the two day festival is the largest of its kind in the United States. Families can immerse themselves in Mexican culture including dance, music, crafts, and of course, lots of deliciously tempting food. Get all the info at CincoDeMayoDenver.com.
Here in Fort Collins, I mentioned last week that there will be a high end Cinco de Mayo artisan show in the Agave Room above the Rio Grande restaurant. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and art lovers and collectors shouldn’t miss it.
The Northern Colorado Cinco de Mayo Festival 2012 runs Friday through Sunday with events happening in various venues, but mostly at the Northside Aztlan Community Center and Heritage Park. For the schedule go to FortCollinsCincoDeMayo.com.
Towns and neighborhoods around Colorado will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, so there may be an event near you.
As I mentioned last week, this weekend is also the Estes Park Duck Races, more at EPDuckRace.org and the 74th Annual Music and Blossom Festival in Canon City. Details at CCBlossomFestival.com.
Also, don’t forget that it’s First Friday Art Walk in communities from Fort Collins to Pueblo to Steamboat Springs, so use it as an excuse to leave the kids with a sitter, grab some dinner in your downtown with your honey and enjoy some art and culture.
And now for our planning ahead section, which will grow as the festival season starts revving up. I’m going to start telling you about events well ahead of time so that you can plan your summer travel calendar.
Mother’s Day weekend has several events that Mom will love…
First, on May 10 through 12, it’s the 9th Annual Montrose Wine & Food Festival. The festival includes cooking demonstrations, entertainment and of course, lots of wine. Learn more at MontroseWineFestival.com.
Also Mother’s Day weekend, it’s the Downtown Art & Jazz Festival in Grand Junction, which is breathtakingly beautiful at this time of year. Listen to jazz by local and national artists, watch artistic demonstrations and shop artisan booths. Go to DowntownGJ.org for details.
There are two festivals on the 3rd weekend in May that are worth the gas money.
The Wild Wild West Festival in Pueblo is an event with a nationally televised bull riding competition at the center of it all. If you like cowboys, don’t miss this festival – it’s put together with families in mind. More at WildWildWestFestival.com.
And last up, in the planning ahead section, you’ve probably heard of this festival before because it has received national and international attention. Mike was a famous chicken that was said to have lived without his head for 18 months “¦ okay, it’s sort of gross, and today I think it would be considered animal cruelty, but in the mid forties Mike became a celebrity simply by not dying when his head was chopped off.
I’m not sure how long the fine folks of Fruita, Colorado have been celebrating poor Mike, but I’m told that attending Mike the Headless Chicken Festival is a no-brainer… ANYWAAAY… this year’s event is May 18 and 19th and to learn all about this wacky celebration of a poor headless chicken go to MiketheHeadlessChicken.org.
On that note… if you missed anything on today’s show, I post the transcripts every week at HeidiTown.com.
As always I would encourage you to join the town’s block party at Facebook.com/HeidiTown.comOnFB, and follow me on Twitter @HeidiTown. You can also circle the town on Google Plus.
Thank you for listening. Until next week, I will see you online and quite possibly at a festival near you!