Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitan will be performing at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at the Chumash Casino.
A variety of Cinco de Mayo celebrations will be found up and down the coast this week in the 805 region.
History lesson: While some may believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican independence Day, the event actually honors the day a group of Mexican patriots, led by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated a well-equipped French invasion force in the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
Oxnard College will kick off the events this week with a pre-Cinco de Mayo celebration from noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 4. The event features live entertainment and an exhibition of work by artist Agustin Bravo. For more information, call John A. Garcia at 805.204.6520 or send an email to cesarl3192@yahoo.com
El Comite Cultural Mexicano will then present a Celebration of Cinco de Mayo at 5:30 p.m. Thursday May 5 at Casa Lopez Mexican Restaurant & Banquet Hall, 325 So. A St., Oxnard. The event will include a recognition of leaders in the community. For reservations or more information, call 805.947.9187 or send an email to martinezcare@gmail.com
As part of the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Oxnard, the Mexican Consulate will present a reception for the photographic exhibit from the “Casasola Archives” on the Mexican Revolution at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at the Oxnard Downtown Management District office, 326 So. “B” St., Oxnard. For reservations, call 805.984.8738, ext. 110 or send an email to rcarrillo@consulmexoxnard.com
Just in time for the holiday, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitan will be performing at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at the Chumash Casino, 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Ticket info: $30, $40, $50. Call 805.585.3737 or visit www.chumashcasino.com
While the region is celebrating Cinco de Mayo, Oxnard College will also celebrate the opening of its new theater when Ballet Folklórico Mestizo performs at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Black Box Theater, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The event features live music from Mariachi Aguilas de México on Friday and Mariachi Estrellas de Jalisco on Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance, available at the Student Business Office, 805.986.5826; $12 at the door. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 805.986.5800, ext. 1944 or send an email to msanchez@vcccd.edu
This coming weekend also includes the 21st annual Mother’s Day Mariachi Festival, featuring Mariachi Nacional de Oxnard, Mariachi Aguilas de Mexico, Mariachi Cardenas de Tecalitlan and Mariachi San Marcos, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. A dinner dance featuring “L.A. Salsa Divas” will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets: $37, $52 and $82. For more information, call 805.486.2424 or visit http://www.oxnardpacc.com/splash.html
Santa Maria will also celebrate Cinco de Mayo from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 8 at Hagerman Field, 3300 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. The annual event is a collaboration between the Latino Business and Community Council, the City of Santa Maria, La Ley 100.3 FM, Telemundo KTAS 33 and the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the event which features food, crafts, games and entertainment. For more information, call Sandy Soria Sosa, director of community programs, at 805.922.0329, ext. 105, send an email to sandy@uwcentralcoast.org or visit www.latinobcc.org
Those wishing to submit information on other Cinco de Mayo activities in the region this week can send an e-mail to fmoraga@amigos805.com
Wishing you all a happy and safe Cinco de Mayo.