Pasco’s signature Cinco de Mayo fest scales back. What to expect this weekend
Just a year after Pasco took charge of organizing one of the town’s signature events, Cinco de Mayo, the city is dialing back the festivities.
Cinco de Mayo is scheduled for one day on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., rather than a full weekend. Still it will be a long day of activities, entertainment and food, starting with the annual parade.
City officials say that Pasco decided to scale back Cinco de Mayo as the city pulls back spending across departments to make up for an expected shortfall in the 2025-26 budget.
An estimated 14,000 attended the two-day celebration last May.
Cinco de Mayo is free to attend and is family-friendly with a Kids Zone open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Schedule highlights
The Cinco de Mayo parade starts at 10 a.m.
The route is a one-mile loop moving south on Fourth Avenue from Marie Street to Bonneville Street, then east on Bonneville Street for one block, heading north on Third Avenue from Bonneville Street to Nixon Street.
Floats, vehicles and horse riders can sign up to be part of the parade on the city’s registration website.
More than 60 information booths and vendors will line the streets of downtown Pasco selling food and drinks.
Visitors can head to Fourth Avenue between Lewis Street and Columbia Street for the festival.
Music and dance performances will take place on the main stage with other activities at the nearby farmers market pavilion in Peanuts Park.
This year, main stage concerts feature El Sonido de la Cumbia by DJ Raymond Live, Mexican musician Meño Lugo and multi-platinum Mexican singer Rogelio Martinez, known as El RM.
There also will be group performances by local organizations and schools, including Chiawana and Pasco high school mariachi bands.
Saturday, May 3
- 10 a.m. Parade begins at Volunteer Park, 1125 N. 4th Ave.
- 11 a.m. Festival begins in downtown Pasco, Fourth Avenue between Lewis Street and Columbia Street
- 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Beer garden opens at Peanuts Park, 426 W. Lewis St.
- 12-1:30 pm. Horse dancing competition at Peanuts Park
- 12-3 p.m. Dances, mariachi, skits and other performances at main stage
- 12-5 p.m. Silent dance party at Peanuts Park
- 2-6 p.m. Boxing exhibition at Peanuts Park
- 4:45 p.m. Concert by Meño Lugo at main stage
- 6 p.m. Concert by Rogelio Martinez at main stage
The complete schedule can be found on the city’s website.
Saturday also marks the final day of the Pasco Taco Crawl. Community members can try up to 20 tacos from local restaurants and food vendors now through May 3. Booklets are available for purchase online and at Imbibe, at 104 N. 4th Ave.
Taco crawlers can vote for their favorite taco on May 3 through 3 p.m. at Cafe con Arte on Fourth Avenue and Columbia Street. Pasco’s best taco will be announced on social media on May 4.
Event handoff
The Downtown Pasco Development Authority organized Cinco de Mayo for about 10 years but was officially dissolved by Pasco City Council last April after serious financial and management troubles.
The events and programs it managed — including the Cinco de Mayo, Pasco Farmers Market, Fiery Foods Festival and Pasco Specialty Kitchen — were eventually handed over to the city.
This year’s Cinco de Mayo is paid for with $35,000 from the city’s general budget, $15,000 in sponsorship money and $9,000 in city hotel-motel tax revenue.
