For Immediate Release:

San Diego, CA ----- The Wells Fargo Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo takes place in Old Town, San Diego, a "living museum" preserving San Diego's past, present and future. State Park, County Park, Restaurant and Recreational zones provide a fun yet educational backdrop to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The rich and diverse historical and cultural background of this community is rooted in the Native Americans, Spanish settlers, Mexicans and Americans that have shared this space for more than a century.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Historic Old Town Community Foundation, which provides educational activities for San Diego's 4th grade students. Each year more than 35,000 City and County Public and Private School youth participate in a variety of hands-on educational programs in San Diego's Historic Old Town San Diego that promote cultural diversity. These programs concentrate on experiencing and communicating San Diego's rich history from Native American Tribal Life to the Foundations of California through Spanish, Mexican and American periods, and the Victorian Era.

An alcohol free event, the Foundation's objective for the Old Town Fiesta is to promote and educate attendees about Mexican heritage and culture through a variety of free activities and entertainment for all ages. During the event, families can visit the museums and historic landmarks located in Old Town and participate in the Farmer's Insurance Pueblo de los Ninos, produced this year by the Children's Museum/Museo de los Ninos San Diego and the San Diego-Tijuana Sister Cities Program. The Pueblo de los Ninos will feature interactive workshops that will include thematic rubbings featuring Old Town landmark buildings, painting 2-dimensional trucks, cacti and horses and a coloring station.

Families can also watch a historical re-enactment of the Battle of Puebla. Each year, the Southwest United States and Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo in commemoration of the 1862 Battle of Puebla, during which, out-numbered Mexican forces defeated the French Army, setting the stage for Mexico's eventual triumph over France. The Old Town Fiesta is the only event in San Diego where the battle is recreated portraying the sense of strength, tenacity & independence of the Mexican spirit.

Free and paid parking is available at the Fiesta. Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo, May 2-4, 2003. Event hours are 5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. Friday, 11:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. Saturday and Noon to 6:00p.m. Sunday.

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