benjamin on April 20, 2009, at 06:02PM – #1

drive?? are you insane? take metro instead!

A question for people that attened previous festivals:

My friend told me small crime like pickpocks, drunkness and fighting plagued the festival grounds. is this true? i would like to attend if it's not too bad.

It's LA on April 20, 2009, at 09:34PM – #2

Petty crime is always here. Always watch your back.

Brian on April 20, 2009, at 11:58PM – #3

Went last year and found it to be one gigantic advertisement festival for corporations. Yes there were a few stages with some singing and dancing. Otherwise it was huge lines of people lined up for samples and tents trying to get people to sign up for 'stuff'.

Oscar on April 21, 2009, at 01:19AM – #4

Unless you are a fan of any of the singers at the "festival" you should not come. The whole Broadway street is full of tents from corporations trying to make a buck out of the latin community, it really sucks. They give away a bunch of advertisement items such as t-shirts, key chains, pens, etc. Just trash. Besides it's going to be a very hot day.

It really sucks that corporations use the 5 de Mayo excuse to push their product onto some of the poorest people in the country.

Besides just so you all know what is conmemorated on May 5th is that the Mexicans fought against the French army whom was trying to impose a Monarchy by request of some of the richest mexican families at the time. However they did not won the battle or the war. The French Napoleonic army quit because the war was too costly and the mexicans were opposing too much resistance.

Napoleon's cousin Maximiliano and his wife Carlota were the self imposed emperors, and although they had good intentions he was captured and executed by the firing squad after the French army gave up. His last words (I believe) were "Viva Mexico"...

I wasn't there but somebody told me about it...

And yes DO NOT DRIVE, instead park your car in the nearest metro station to your home and take the metro over to the Pershing Square Station, it's the best way to go.

Fiesta Veteran on April 21, 2009, at 12:55PM – #7

One of the best reasons to go to the party is for people watching. It'll be hot and that means that people will be wearing as little clothing as possible. Go when it's hottest and the most crowded. You'll find beautiful bodies of all stripes galore.

Fiesta Veteran on April 21, 2009, at 09:13PM – #9

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!

benjamin on April 22, 2009, at 04:48PM – #10

thanks guys for the heads up, i think i will skip it.

I will go to PCC flea market instead, it's only a 10 mins walk which sounds better than getting free junk and eating fattie food in downtown.

tl on April 27, 2009, at 10:28AM – #12

It was my first year attending this event having only lived on DTLA for a year now. What a total disservice this fair was to the hispanic community - Corporate American teaching them how to be consumers by way of a fake cultural event. It was gross and disgusting watching hundreds of people waiting in lines to 'spin the wheel' for free samples and tacky advertising items. The city should be ashamed they've allowed giant corporations to come in slinging their wares through garish booths, verbose sales teams and outlandish gimmicks. Is this the message the city is trying to send in celebration of Cinco de Mayo?

eva on April 27, 2009, at 12:36PM – #13

i agree with you, tl.

city hall knows exactly what it's doing, and where the money (even future money) is.this fiesta is not meant to appeal to a wide variety of people/cultures. it is targeted specifically to the hispanic community, and it's disgusting, regardless of who the corporations are targeting.