In Pictures: Cinco de Mayo celebration in Buckham Alley

FLINT, Michigan — In the early morning of May 5, 1862, French troops stormed the city of Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza in an attempt to colonize and bring the city under French control. The smaller but largely underestimated Mexican army made up of primarily indigenous soldiers, defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla. 

The first documented celebration of Cinco de Mayo started a year later in California by proud Mexican-Americans. Throughout the recent centuries, the holiday has become a source of pride for Chicano activists and remains a celebration of Mexican-American culture.

On Friday, May 5, 2023, downtown Flint's Buckham Alley was filled with events, authentic Hispanic foods, traditional dancing, and vendors, all in celebration of the beauty and richness of Mexican culture. 

The event was free and put together by the Latinx Technology and Community Center in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority. 

[En Español]

En la madrugada del 5 de mayo de 1862, las tropas francesas asaltaron la ciudad de Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza en un intento de colonizar y poner la ciudad control francés. El ejército mexicano, más pequeño pero en gran medida subestimado, compuesto principalmente por indígenas, derrotó a los franceses en la Batalla de Puebla.

La primera celebración documentada del Cinco de Mayo comenzó un año después en California por los mexicoamericanos con orgullo. A lo largo de los últimos siglos, la festividad se ha convertido en una fuente de orgullo para los activistas chicanos y sigue siendo una celebración de la cultura mexicano-estadounidense.

El viernes 5 de mayo, el centro de Buckham Alley se llenó de eventos, auténtica comida hispana, bailes tradicionales y vendedores, todo para celebrar la belleza y la riqueza de la cultura mexicana.

El evento fue gratuito y organizado por el Centro Comunitario y de Tecnología Latinx en asociación con la Autoridad de Desarrollo del Centro.

Scroll below to see highlights of the event in pictures / Mire a continuación para ver los aspectos más destacados del evento en imágenes: 

Carrie and Derrick Newman play outdoor Jenga with their son Judah, 2, during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
Fresh authentic Hispanic foods are served during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
Kevin enjoys an ice cream cone during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
A child enjoys riding a mechanical bull during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
A young woman takes a ride on a mechanical bull during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Boris Fernando Porras Rios dances during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Two attendants watch people walk by during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) (Right to left) Asa Zuccaro, Wayne the Barber, and Tony Vu talk with one another during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) An attendant stands in the alleyway watching the surrounding from the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) A child enjoys painting at the craft table during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants enjoy painting sombreros at the craft table during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
Attendants enjoy authentic Hispanic foods during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Fresh tamales sit ready for an order during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Matteo Kidd, 6, plays with bubbles during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
Latinx Center’s Executive Director Asa Zuccaro talks with another guest during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) A vendor sells authentic Mexican jewelry, clothes, and more during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) An elaborate tequila case sits on display during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Josh Bryant, 25, an interpreter from the Latinx center poses for a portrait wearing a luchador mask during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) A live band performs during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) A live band performs during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) A live band performs during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants dance in the alley way together during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants dance in the alley way together during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants dance in the alley way together during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)
Attendants dance in the alley way together during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Mildred Silva-Zuccaro smiles and laughs during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants enjoy fresh authentic Hispanic foods during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants greet and hug one another during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) A family stands together in front of their vendor's booth for fresh tamales during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Attendants walk through the alley way during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Cristiano Rodriguez, 23, poses for a portrait during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Britt Martinez poses with her boyfriend for a portrait during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Matteo Kidd, 6, plays fútbol during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley talks to the press during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside) An attendant walks by a play house during the Latinx Technology & Community Center’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. (Jenifer Veloso | Flintside)