Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home with us!
​¡Celebra el Cinco de Mayo en casa con nosotros!

​On Cinco de mayo, following a long practiced East Austin Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park tradition dating back 90 years, the Amigos de Parque Zaragoza named the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department staff at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, Northwest Recreation Center, and Dittmar Recreation Center, the recipients of this year’s Cinco de Mayo Unsung Heroes Award, who since March 19th, are recognized for their role in keeping City of Austin operational through essential worker childcare.
PROGRAM BELOW

Little Cinco

We have many free fun children's activities to learn about the Mexican culture and why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo including:
  • Video of the "Battle of Puebla"
  • Coat Of Arms of Mexico Online Coloring Page
  • Cinco de Mayo Word Search Puzzle 
  • Little Cinco Coloring Pages 

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Johnny Limon's Playlist 

Amigos de Parque Zaragoza's Co-Founder, Johnny Limon, has put together a playlist of great musicians from the past who performed on Parque Zaragoza's stage. Many of them are recognized in the Tejano Trails. 

Share these Tejano legends with your kids right from your home and recall fiestas of Parque Zaragoza's past!

Mexican Arts & Crafts

Hojalata
Mexican tin art is a popular art form that has been passed down through the generations. Artists use tin to create sculptures, ornaments, and picture frames. Tin work, known in Mexico as hojalata, goes back to the 16th century.

  • DIY Paper Flowers
  • Homemade Papel Picado 

Traditional Mexican Baking 

Sopapilla Love
Two sopapilla recipes, one traditional and another with a twist!
Enjoy the sweet taste of Mexican delights this Cinco de Mayo.
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  • How to make real sopapillas
  • How to make sopapilla cinnamon cheesecake

Little Cinco Program

Thanks for visiting our Little Cinco section. Here you can find activities for kids all ages including:
  1. The History of the Battle of Puebla
  2. The History of Cinco de Mayo
  3. A biography of our beloved Tejano Hero General Zaragoza 
  4. Lessons for making Traditional Mexican arts & Crafts (click here)
  5. A printable Cinco de Mayo Word Search Puzzle
  6. Printable Coloring sheets 
  7. An online interactive coloring page of the Coat Of Arms of Mexico 

Who is Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín? How is he connected to Cinco de Mayo?

Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza (March 24, 1829 - September 8, 1862) was a Mexican General best known for his defeat of invading French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5 (the Cinco de Mayo), 1862.
Zaragoza was born in the town of Presidio de la Bahia del Espirito Santo in what what was then the Mexican province of Texas, now the city of Goliad, Texas. Young Ignacio studied in the seminary of Matamoros, then moved to Monterrey, Mexico.

During Mexico's political unrest of the 1850s Zaragoza joined the army supporting the cause of Mexico's Liberal Party, opposing dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. He had part in several important victories which led to reestablishment of a constitutional democratic government in Mexico.
Zaragosa was Secretary of War from April till October, 1861 in the cabinet of President Benito Juarez. 
​When the French Forces of Napoleon III invaded Mexico, Zaragoza fought them, first engaging the French at Acultzingo on April 28, 1862, where, he was forced, to withdraw. Zaragoza understood the favorable defensive position outside of the city of Puebla, where with a smaller and more poorly equipt force he beat back repeated French assaults on May 5th. The French then retreated to Orizaba.

​Ignacio Zaragoza was known for visiting his sick and injured soldiers, and shortly after his famous victory, he contracted typhus, of which he died at the age of 33.
http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/ig/Ignacio_Zaragoza

Johnny Limon's Cinco Playlist

Great Music Performers who once played at Parque Zaragoza!

East Austin native, Mr. Johnny Limon has enjoyed music performed at Parque Zaragoza since he was a kid. He's put together a playlist for you to enjoy featuring musical legends who have played on our park's stage in the past. It's worth noting that four of the six artists featured in this playlist are included in the Austin's Tejano Walking Trail, designated a National Walking Trail in 2012, located nearby in the heart of the East Cesar Chavez and Holly neighborhoods.

so, sit back and relax or get up and dance with the familia as you listen to the fiesta classics of past Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Playlist includes:
  • The NASH HERNANDEZ ORCHESTRA
  • MANUEL "COWBOY" DONLEY Y LAS ESTRELLAS ORCHESTRA
  • The ALFONSO RAMOS ORCHESTRA
  • DAVE GUTIERREZ Y SU ORQUESTA
  • ROY MONTELONGO ORCHESTRA
  • RUBEN RAMOS and the MEXICAN REVOLUTION
And, if a song triggers a memory of a fiesta in our park, please share the story here [email protected].