St. Paul’s Cinco de Mayo festival gets a fresh start on the West Side

This weekend, St. Paul’s West Side neighborhood will host its Cinco de Mayo festival, but with a smaller crowd and more local flavor than in past years. Instead of spreading across long blocks, the event is now concentrated on Cesar Chavez Street between Robert and Ada streets, including Parque Castillo. Organizers decided to shrink the footprint after last year’s festival drew around 30, 000 people, making logistical planning harder and raising safety concerns following federal immigration actions. The festival kicks off Friday with a two-day car show at Harriet Island’s Target Stage parking lot. Saturday’s main event features three music stages, a beer garden, wrestling matches, food vendors, and craft stalls. Unlike past years, the lineup avoids big-name out-of-town performers, focusing instead on local DJs and school groups to highlight Minnesota’s Latino and Mexican-American talent.Behind the scenes, organizers faced tough choices. After federal immigration crackdowns targeted Latino communities, they had to decide whether to hold the festival at all. Safety became a top priority, with extra security from both police and neighborhood volunteers. The event also serves as a fundraiser for West Side Boosters, a youth sports and mentorship group. For many in the community, the festival is more than just a party—it’s a way to celebrate heritage while showing pride in being American. After seeing other events cancel nationwide, St. Paul’s West Side decided to move forward, proving that cultural celebrations can bring people together even in uncertain times.