The Autry to offer Cinco de Mayo celebration

Viva el Cinco!
Celebrate 5 de Mayo at the Autry
Sunday, May 3, 2009, 11 am to 5 pm
Free with museum admission

Celebrate the historical Battle of Puebla at the Autry National Center’s Viva el Cinco! celebration in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Join us for a festive day of mariachis, ballet folklorico, charros, fun family activities, exhibition tours, and more.

Enjoy the lively entertainment and learn about the rich history and tradition behind the music, dance, showmanship, and folk art. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with performers and artists, ask questions, and be immersed in the culture. Then, go on a scheduled tour of the Bold Caballeros y Noble Bandidas exhibition or stroll through the exhibits at your own pace. A variety of children’s interactive activities can be found including coloring stations, a puppet show, and art demonstrations led by artist Lalo Garcia.

Savor the flavor, as our cafe will be open for business with its famous taco bar, handcrafted tortillas, and fresh-made salsa. Extended seating will be provided outdoors, and visitors are welcome to picnic on the south lawn. Plus, the museum store will feature authentic Mexican gifts and crafts.

Viva el Cinco! is free with museum admission.

Autry members, veterans, and children 2 and under: Free
Adults: $9
Students/Seniors (60+): $5
Children (3-12): $3

Plaza Stage Schedule

10:30 am
Mariachi Master Apprentice Program
Includes brief informational session with audience Q&A

11:30 am
Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca

12:15 pm
Banuelos Charro Team
Demonstration with Q&A

1:15 pm
Mariachi Master Apprentice Program
Includes brief informational session with audience Q&A

2:15 pm
Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca

3:15 pm
Banuelos Charro Team

4 pm
Mariachi Arriba Mexico


Family Activities

Coloring Station
11 am–4 pm
Learn about traditional festivities and color your very own Cinco de Mayo picture to take home with you.

Panning for Gold
11 am–1 pm
Eureka! Discover the myths and realities of the California Gold Rush and try your hand at panning for gold.

Art Demonstration With Lalo Garcia
11 am–2 pm
Noted local artist Lalo Garcia will display authentic pieces of folk art and costumes created in the city of Puebla, where the famous Cinco de Mayo battle was fought. Garcia will provide brief demonstrations and lead small-group workshops on folk art techniques and styles particular to the Puebla region and Mexican culture.

Educational Outreach Kits
9 am–5 pm
Explore our hands-on outreach kit based on an early Mexican American family.

Bold Caballeros y Noble Bandidas Puppet Shows
1 pm and 3 pm
Join our in-gallery puppet shows inspired by tales of the Mexican Revolution.

Puppet-Making Workshop
2:30 pm–4 pm
After learning about the heroes and villains of the Mexican Revolution, make your very own marionette puppet based on your favorite character.

Museum Teacher–led Bold Caballeros y Noble Bandidas Exhibition Tour
1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
Tour our current exhibition and discover how the Mexican Revolution of 1910 influenced social reform, folklore, art, culture, and history.


Attached image: Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca. Photo by Abel Gutierrez. Additional images of performers and activities available in high resolution.


About the Autry National Center of the American West
The Autry National Center of the American West is an intercultural history center that includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage), and the Institute for the Study of the American West. Each institution maintains its individual identity; however, the convergence of resources allows us to expand our understanding of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past with the present to inform our shared future. The Autry National Center’s executive offices are located in Griffith Park.

Effective March 10, 2009, the Autry National Center of the American West’s hours of operation at its Griffith Park location will change. The new weekday hours for the Autry’s Museum of the American West are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum Store’s new weekday hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours for the Museum and the Museum Store are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursdays from June 1 to August 31, hours for the Museum and Museum Store are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Museum and Museum Store will continue to be closed on Mondays.

Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for students and seniors 60+, $3 for children 3–12, and free for Autry members, veterans, and children 2 and under. Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.