9. Cinco de Mayo Festival, 2002

Portland's Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is held annually at Portland's Tom McCall Waterfront Park and is organized by the Portland Guadalajara Sister City Association (PGSCA). The three-day Fiesta celebrates the richness and diversity of family, culture, and community, with authentic Latino art, music, dance, cuisine, and hand-made crafts. Cinco de Mayo commemorates a victorious battle that took place near Puebla, Mexico, on May 5, 1862, when 4,500 Mexican militia men triumphed over 6,500 soldiers of the invading French army.