REGION : Cinco de Mayo Celebrations Set

Huntington Park and Bell Gardens will host Cinco de Mayo celebrations to commemorate the May 5 anniversary of the Mexican army’s defeat of the French, a date important to the mostly Mexican American residents in the area.

Huntington Park begins its five-day celebration on Thursday at Salt Lake Park with festivities ending May 8. Bell Gardens will celebrate Thursday through May 7 at Bell Gardens Park.

Huntington Park’s 18th annual fair includes carnival rides and Mexican food and entertainment. Ten Mexican dance groups from around Los Angeles will take part in the celebration’s Ballet Folklorico Festival. Mariachi bands and banda groups, as well as local and Mexican singers, will perform on the main stage.

In addition, a car show, featuring classic low-rider vehicles, and a petting zoo will also be part of the fair. Radio station KIIS-FM will broadcast live on Friday and will have a booth with free memorabilia.

The Huntington Park fiesta, which has drawn about 200,000 people in past years, will be from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday. The fiesta will run from 3 to 11 Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. on May 7 and 3 to 10 p.m. on May 8.

Salt Lake Park is at 3401 Florence Ave. For information, call the Huntington Park Chamber of Commerce at (213) 585-1155.

Bell Gardens will remember the Mexican defenders of Puebla in a four-day festival that features foods, rides, games, arts and crafts booths and live entertainment.

Festival hours at Bell Gardens Park, 6662 Loveland St., are from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. For information, call (310) 806-7650.