Cinco de Mayo celebrated Sunday in Colorado Springs

Aztec dancers, a car show and a variety of family activities were part of the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Colorado Springs.

The event was from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Freedom Financial Service Expo Center on North Nevada Avenue.

Cindy Archuleta, one of the event organizers, said the fiesta’s purpose goes beyond entertainment.

“It’s a cultural awareness (event),” she said. “It’s not just for partying, but for us it’s very important because we educate members of the community about Cinco de Mayo, what it means.”

The Aztec dancers were popular with the spectators — using fire, majestic drums and spectacular costumes to entertain.

Archuleta said proceeds from the fiesta will help provide scholarships to students in low-income families.

“In our 32 years we’ve raised about $200,000,” she said.

Cinco de Mayo, often confused with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, actually celebrates Mexico’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla.

Historians believe Mexican forces were outnumbered by as much as three to one in that battle. However, France defeated Mexico a year later and did not leave the country for good until 1867.