Tlaquepaque Celebrates Cinco de Mayo - Saturday, May 4th 

Savor the outstanding tastes, sights and sounds of Old Mexico at Sedona’s kick off spring festival, the Cinco de Mayo celebration. Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, the perennial host of all things festive, welcomes one and all. Paired with the 9th Annual Great Sedona Chili Cook–Off, it’s all happening on Saturday, May 4th from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission is free with free parking and free Trolley service available from the Sedona Municipal Lot on Schnebly Rd, Church of Latter Day Saints on Mormon Road, and the 260 Brewer Road Lot.

Be sure to bring family and friends for wonderful, day-long entertainment, including traditional Spanish flamenco dances to roaring applause, bust-a-move Latin music, a folklorico dance troupe performing traditional Mexican village dances in a blur of color, and--back with panache--the 9th Annual Great Sedona Chili Cook–Off. Outstanding local chefs proudly prepare their greatest chili masterpieces for Cinco goers to taste and vote on. For the kids it’s time to whack a piñata and line up for the most imaginative and fun face painting you have ever seen. And new this year for the youngsters is “Crafting with Aimee.”

For the ninth straight year Tlaquepaque is proud to sponsor the Great Sedona Chili Cook-Off as part of the Cinco festivities. The Cook-Off will take place from 11 am to 4 pm on Calle Independencia. Admission is $15 for unlimited tasting and children under twelve are free. Presented once again by the Rotary Club of Sedona, funds from the event support a variety of international and local service projects including preschool literacy, youth leadership development, foreign exchange programs, international programs, as well as Highway 89A cleanup, the Human Library Project, Kindness Conversations, and Rotary International’s work on the eradication of polio.

Chili competition is fierce this year. Top chefs—pro and amateur—from Sedona are doing final tweaks on their special chili recipes. Festive booths will line Tlaquepaque’s Calle de Independencia, where the action unfolds. Vote for your fav chili concoctions from The Artist’s Kitchen Shop, Creekside American Bistro, Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek, Steakhouse 89, Tamaliza Cafe, and Vino di Sedona, and help your pick win the coveted 2019 Restaurant Chili Championship.

You’ll want to stick around for the Judges’ Choice Award and Peoples’ Choice Award plus cash prizes and trophies. Competing for the community’s Judges’ Choice Award are Sedona’s Mayor Sandy Moriarty, Cottonwood’s Mayor Tim Elinski, Interim Fire Chief of the Sedona Fire District Jason Coil, and Clarkdale’s City Councilor Scott Buckley. So, let the games begin!

This year’s judges are: Robert K. Barry, Culinary and Hospitality Director for Yavapai College; Joe Rodgers, chef for Indian Gardens Café; and Jeff Smedstad, chef for Elote. The Chili Cook-Off also features a silent auction, beer and wine garden, and kid’s activities.

Cinco de Mayo, which translates as the Fifth of May, honors an event in Mexican history that ultimately led to Mexican Independence. “We love to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Tlaquepaque. It’s a great way to learn about the culture and colorful pastimes of Old Mexico through the arts and have a lot of fun doing so,” says Wendy Lippman, resident partner and general manager of Tlaquepaque.

Patio Del Norte:

Mosaico Flamenco with Gaetano: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

These high-energy flamenco dancers will rock your world! They are all passion and devotion to their art, accompanied by a Tlaquepaque regular, Gaetano and his band.

Jaleo Band: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Enjoy big-sound performances and a true melding of musical traditions expressed in the rhythmic melodies of salsa, cha-cha, Latin jazz, merengue and cumbia.

Patio de Las Campanas:

Ritmo Latino: 10:30 am to 2:30 pm

This Tlaquepaque favorite delivers the sizzling rhythms of Latin percussion and the vocals of Andres Martinez. Don’t be surprised if you feel compelled to bust a move or two!

Las Chollas Peligrosas: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

This fiery all-female Phoenix quintet expresses multiple subgenres of traditional Latin music from rancheras to mariachi to cumbia and everything in between.

Breaking the Pinata: 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm

Crafts with Aimee: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Patio de Las Rosas:

Mariachi La Familia Rojas: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

What could be more traditional than Mariachi? These folks bring it!

Darius Lux Duo: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Darius combines his love of 60’s songwriting, 70’s soul, 80’s pop and 90’s hip-hop into a current mix of soulful, rock-edged pop tunes.

Tlaquepaque North:

Ballet Folklorico de Colores : 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm

Decked out in beautiful brightly colored costumes these multi-aged, talented dancers will delight audiences through traditional stories and folklore in dance.

Mariachi La Familia Rojas : 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Free Face Painting for the Kids: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Home to over 45 shops, world-class galleries and five restaurants, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, now in its 47th year, is located at 336 State Route 179 in Sedona, Arizona. It is open daily at 10:00 am. For more information call (928) 282-4838; visit: www.tlaq.com.