From sunset sails to lucha libre and living history—celebrate Cinco de Mayo with vibrant, museum-powered experiences across San Diego and beyond.
Get ready to fiesta your way through history, culture, and adventure! This Cinco de Mayo weekend, San Diego’s museums & parks are bringing the ¡alegría! with unique celebrations that honor Mexican heritage, offer unforgettable experiences, and connect you with the rich cultural traditions of our border region. Whether you’re looking to sail into the sunset, explore historic Old Town, or dive into Baja’s creative scene, this guide has you covered.
🌅 Cinco de Mayo Sunset Sail
May 3 & 4 | Maritime Museum of San Diego
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo weekend with an unforgettable sunset sail aboard the magnificent San Salvador on San Diego Bay. Join the fun at the Maritime Museum of San Diego on Saturday, May 3 or Sunday, May 4 for this vibrant 21+ atmosphere with live Spanish guitar, crafted cocktails, and light Mexican appetizers—all while cruising the bay in style. Get your tickets here now for a fiesta you will not forget. You can also get a membership here for a year of maritime fun.
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Live Spanish guitar
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Handcrafted cocktails
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Light Mexican appetizers
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A scenic 21+ sunset cruise around the bay
🎟️ Reserve your sail before it sells out.
🌟 Fun Tip: Don’t miss Boarded! A New Pirate Adventure on June 14, a comedic sword-fighting show for all ages!
🏛️ Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
All Weekend Long
Old Town State Historic Park is where it all began—and it’s still the most authentic place to celebrate. Old Town is the heart of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the region, offering a vibrant blend of history, culture, and community spirit. As the birthplace of California, Old Town transforms into a festive hub filled with live mariachi music, traditional folklorico dancing, and delicious Mexican cuisine served from local restaurants and street vendors. Visitors can explore historic sites like Casa de Estudillo, shop for artisan goods, and enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the park. Anchored by the lively Fiesta de Reyes, Old Town’s Cinco de Mayo celebration is a colorful, can’t-miss experience that honors San Diego’s deep Mexican heritage. Find the FUN here.
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Free museum access and historic reenactments
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Folklorico dancing and mariachi
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Family activities and artisan vendors
🎉 Fiesta de Reyes (Sat–Mon):
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The heart of the party with live music, festive food, and cultural celebration inside the State Park
🕙 Opens 10 a.m. Saturday | 11 a.m. Sunday & Monday
🛍️ Bazaar del Mundo & Casa Guadalajara:
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Weekend-long festivities including food, shopping, and music
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Sister restaurants Casa de Pico (La Mesa) and Casa de Bandini (Carlsbad) are joining the celebration too
📍 While celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Old Town, don’t miss the chance to explore the Whaley House Museum—a historic landmark and one of America’s most haunted homes. Built in 1856, it once served as San Diego’s first theater and courthouse. During the festivities, its eerie charm offers a fascinating contrast to the lively atmosphere outside. Choose from self-guided daytime visits or guided evening tours.
🔗 Learn more or get tickets
Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center
Now through May 17 | Barrio Logan
The spirit of Cinco de Mayo lives in the heart of Barrio Logan, where the fight for justice, culture, and community is always alive at the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center. Don’t miss your chance to experience the powerful exhibition:
Chicanismo and the Art of Resistance: The Legacy of Ricardo Favela and the RCAF, honoring the legacy of art, activism, and self-determination.
This exhibit is a celebration of Chicano identity and the enduring power of community resistance—ideals at the heart of Cinco de Mayo.
Save the Date: Closing Celebration
Join us for the exhibit’s closing event featuring:
- Delicious food
- A special screening of Pilots de Aztlán
- A dynamic panel discussion with artists and curators
Saturday, May 17
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
CPMCC, 1960 National Ave, San Diego
RSVP Here
Come together in community to honor the power of art and the spirit of resistance. See it before it’s gone!
🤼 Cinco de Mayo in the Gaslamp
Saturday, May 4 | Gaslamp Quarter
Downtown San Diego throws the biggest Cinco de Mayo bash in the city—six full blocks of music, flavor, and flair! The Gaslamp Quarter is celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style with a free all-day fiesta featuring live music, restaurant specials, acrobatic wrestling matches and more this Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. The inaugural Cinco de Mayo Extravaganza will include Latin DJs, mariachis, ballet folklorico dancers, and a lucha libre tournament that sees masked luchadores from World Power Wrestling fly off the top rope for some high-stakes wrestling. There will also be mezcal tastings, an artisanal mercado with local Mexican artists and a lowrider competition where 60 entrants will show off who’s got the best hydraulics.
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Live lucha libre wrestling and meet-and-greets
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Over 60 classic lowriders
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Chihuahua races and a doggie fashion block
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Two entertainment stages with nonstop performances
🕚 Opens at 11 a.m. at Fifth Ave & Market Street
🎟️ Details at Gaslamp.org
🍻 North County Cinco de Mayo Festival
Sunday, May 4 | Grape Day Park, Escondido | 11 AM – 5 PM
Join the FUN in nOrth County at the Escondido’s annual Cinco de Mayo Festival. This free, family-friendly event features live entertainment, traditional music and dance, delicious food, a lively beer garden, and a wide variety of local vendors—making it the perfect way to enjoy the region’s rich cultural traditions in a festive outdoor setting.
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Lively dancing and traditional music
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Delectable food options and a beer garden
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Unique vendors and cultural displays
🌟 Free to attend! Bring the whole family for a day filled with community spirit, flavor, and fun in one of San Diego’s most beautiful park settings.
🔄 The Big Exchange
May 1–18 | Over 50 Museums in San Diego County
May is also the month we celebrate The Big Exchange, a regional museum collaboration that gives you free general admission to over 50 museums across San Diego County with any participating membership. Running May 1–18, it’s the perfect way to extend your Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend with cultural adventures—from historic sites and art galleries to science centers and botanical gardens. Just show your member card and explore someplace new!Museum members swap admission at more than 50 museums!
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Explore new exhibits and cultural gems with one membership
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Perfect for families and curious explorers
🌟 Fun Tip: Join any participating museum—like the Fleet Science Center or Comic-Con Museum—and enjoy The Big Exchange all month long.
🔗 Get the details
✨ VIP Arts & Culture Baja Tours
May 23 & June 27 | Vanguard Culture & Art Scene Baja
Take your Cinco spirit across the border on this curated art and culture adventure! Each tour includes:
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Round-trip border transportation
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Gourmet Baja lunch & wine tasting
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Visits to artist studios, galleries, and cultural spaces
🖼️ Choose:
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Visual Arts – May 23
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Performing Arts – June 27
🎭 Lucha Fest at The Soap Factory
May 17 | Logan Heights
Experience the family friendly Lucha Fest, a free community celebration with live lucha libre wrestling, art, food, music, crafts and activities. It all happens at The Soap Factory in Logan Heights on Saturday, May 17 from noon to 6 p.m. Register here.
Be there for the unveiling of a special mural honoring legendary luchadores ahead of the Sangre, Sudor, y Mito exhibition opening May 22 at the Comic-Con Museum.
The event is presented by The Soap Factory, Comic-Con Museum, Gray Area Foundation, Museo de Lucha Libre Tijuana Mexicana, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego, and Global Lucha.
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Lucha libre matches
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Food, music, art & family crafts
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A new lucha mural unveiling
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Preview of Sangre, Sudor, y Mito exhibition (opens May 22)
📅 Saturday, May 17 | 12–6 PM
🎟️ Free! Register here
🌟 ¡Viva Cinco de Mayo!
From mariachi and margaritas to maritime sails, lucha libre, and family festivals across the county, San Diego offers something for everyone this Cinco de Mayo. Embrace the culture, enjoy the music, and make memories all weekend long. ¡Nos vemos en la fiesta!
