The Cinco De Mayo Festival in San Francisco’s Mission District always draws a large crowd with its tasty food vendors and fun entertainment. This festival will take place Saturday May 2nd, 2015 from 10am-6pm between 21st and 24th Streets on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Arriving by BART and MUNI public transportation is highly recommended.

photo of the official website for the 2015 San Francisco Cinco De Mayo Festival in the Mission

“Directed by Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, this ensemble of 26 middle and high school youth from the Mission District plays musica bailable including favorites from Mexico, Colombia and Cuba. The Mission District Young Musicians Program brings Latin music to low-income Mission District youth, entirely tuition-free. Students receive a half-hour private lesson at CMC, gather for weekly classes at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, and interact with master guest artists. They learn traditional music from Spain, Cuba, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Peru, as well as Latin jazz and classical music. Ms. Berta Olivia, a gifted ranchera vocalist accompanied by Mariachi Mexicanísimo, a talented a Mariachi group German Contreras, an 8 year old Mariachi singer firect from Puebla, Mexico. Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco, preserving the tradition of Mexican folk dance with quality, authenticity and colorful costumes. Each 15 minute presentation will showcase a different region in Mexico. Conjunto Picante Salsa and Latin jazz, directed by Tony Rodriguez’s 12-piece orchestra cultivates a full and vibrant sound, portraying the sounds that are reminiscent of the Salsa era that brought Fania Recording artists to the forefront of Latin music.”