Today is Cinco de Mayo, a minor holiday in Mexico, but a big deal here in Denver. There is usually a large festival in Civic Center Park, attended by thousands of people. However, this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has once again been canceled. On the other hand, another tradition - cruising down Federal Boulevard, past traditionally Hispanic neighborhoods - will go on as usual, carefully monitored by the police. And by the way, the photograph on the left, as well as the photo below, were taken on Mexican Independence Day, which takes place in September, and is a big holiday in Mexico, too.
The Mexican Independence Day celebration here in Denver used to take place on Santa Fe Drive, and is where I took these photos back in 2004. It was a really fun festival to attend, since it took place in a Hispanic neighborhood, and everyone who lived in the area showed up, dressed in their Sunday best. Everyone was always in a great mood, and all the local merchants participated. Eventually, so many people started attending that it, too, was forced to move to Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. It really took away a lot of the local color that made the festival so much fun. And these days, that area where the festival took place is now the Santa Fe Arts District, and it seems like very few of those Hispanic owned businesses are still around. Swift's, seen in the photograph on the right, is still there, but no longer a steakhouse. It is currently called Swift's Breakfast House, serving both breakfast and lunch. But at least it still exists. Happy Cinco de Mayo Everyone!
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