The annual Cinco de Mayo Peace and Unity Parade from Richmond to San Pablo will no longer happen, because it will be replaced by the Richmond-San Pablo Fiestas Patrias Parade in September, organizers announced today.
The change came after this year’s Cinco de Mayo parade in May was unexpectedly rained out, leading organizers to hold the first-ever Fiestas Patrias Parade on Sept. 14, a collective recognition of Latin American Independence Days. The event celebrates indpendence days for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile, Costa Rica, Brazil and Belize.
Organizers said the September event drew thousands of spectators region-wide, creating such energy and buzz that they want to put their effort into continuing the new event rather than continue holding the Cinco de Mayo parade.
This announcement does not impact the annual Cinco de Mayo festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people to 23rd Street in Richmond. The festival is operated by a different organizer and typically occurs on a Sunday. The parade that is being discontinued would typically occur on a Saturday.
Genoveva Calloway, chair of the Parade Planning Committee, said the first Fiestas Patrias Parade “surpassed all our expectations because the community embraced it with open arms.”
“This event marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our community’s cultural
traditions,” said Calloway said.
