East Idaho Cinco de Mayo Celebration Marks 40 Years with Two-Day Festival in Idaho Falls
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A milestone four decades in the making, the East Idaho Cinco de Mayo Celebration will return to Idaho Falls this weekend for a free, two-day festival honoring Mexican culture, community, and the event’s 40th anniversary.
The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, at the Snake River Event Center inside the Shilo Inn, located at 780 Lindsay Boulevard in Idaho Falls. Doors open at noon on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Admission is free to the public.
Four Decades of Community and Culture in East Idaho
The event, organized by the Cinco de Mayo Celebration Committee, has grown into one of the most recognized cultural gatherings in Bonneville County. To mark the 40th anniversary, organizers have planned a giant birthday cake for attendees, an opening ceremony featuring the mayors of both Idaho Falls and Ammon, and recognition of community members whose contributions have helped sustain the event over the years.
Rebecca Romero, a member of the Cinco de Mayo Celebration Committee, described the spirit behind the milestone. “Other than that, we’re not doing a whole lot,” Romero said in remarks reported by EastIdahoNews.com. “Except for celebrating the fact that it’s been happening.” She added that the event’s theme — carried over from recent years — centers on togetherness. “Our theme that we’ve had for the past couple of years is just celebrating together, or celebrando juntos,” Romero said. “Share the beauty of the culture with everybody.”
The festival’s mission, according to Romero, is to highlight what brings people together — through music, dance, food, and cultural exchange open to the entire community.
Full Weekend of Performances, Food, and Vendors
The two-day program features an extensive lineup of performers from across the region and beyond. On Saturday, highlights include a performance by Trio Karlysue y Los Charros, a mariachi band from Utah, along with folkloric dance performances by Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl from Utah, Ballet Folklorico Heritage from Rexburg, and Danza Azteca Quetzalcoatl out of Blackfoot. A quinceanera pageant is set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, and Raíces de mi Tierra Bolivian Dancers from Utah and Ballet Internacional de Efrain Villalobos from Utah round out the evening program.
Sunday’s schedule includes additional performances from many of the same groups, along with Zona Nortena Mexican Band, a local Idaho Falls ensemble, and El Payaso Jujuy, also from Idaho Falls.
For attendees looking to sample traditional Mexican cuisine, a variety of food vendors will be on-site, including Sindur Sushi, Sergio Delights, Tacos las Penitas, La Casita, and Park Avenue Grill, with additional food stands also available throughout the weekend.
Inside the event center, local nonprofits will have information booths set up alongside general vendors. Weather permitting, organizers also plan to offer piñatas, Mexican lottery, and other outdoor activities adjacent to the venue.
The festival reflects the kind of community-rooted cultural programming that East Idaho residents have come to rely on as a marker of the spring season. Events like this one, alongside other local gatherings such as the fourth annual Mackay craft fair supporting local causes and the Earth Day partnership between INL and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, continue to demonstrate Bonneville County’s commitment to community engagement and shared heritage.
What Comes Next
The East Idaho Cinco de Mayo Celebration takes place Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, at the Snake River Event Center, Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay Boulevard, Idaho Falls. The event is free and open to all. For the full schedule and additional details, organizers can be found on their official Facebook page. The opening ceremony on Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m., with performances running throughout both afternoons and into Saturday evening.