Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street

I’ve had fun two years in a row. It may not be the biggest festival in town but it is still very enjoyable.
In 2014 there seemed to be more Mexican food available than in 2015. I’m not sure what drove that because there were piles of people there both years. Definitely a bigger lunchtime pile of people in 2015… and what appeared to me to be less food.
We have a couple of favorites. Mine include the street tacos and tamales. The kid’s vary and the wife is really only there for the street corn. I’m not a huge fan but will generally try a bite. It was very obvious that the street corn options were far more limited this year and we really had to hunt for it. Where we found it was at a couple of tables set up behind the crowds and in front of the local restaurants. I am in favor of supporting the Cherokee Street businesses during a festival on Cherokee Street but it seemed like they were something of an also-​ran this year.

… where the hell am I and why does it feel like a slightly shittier Mardi Gras? Really, the event was «cultural» in that there were REAL, LIVE MEXICANS serving TAMALES… beyond that, it was just kind of a shit show with loud music, cheap plastic shit being peddled by various vendors, and a handful of food trucks. Nothing really worth seeing. I had hoped for so much more! I wanted interactive things, maybe some dancing, more food? Whatever, it was definitely a change from my normal Saturday, that’s for damn sure.

Another «cultural» experience in St. Louis that felt more like a themed frat party than an actual cultural celebration, Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street still drew a pretty diverse crowd despite heat stroke inducing temperatures. The second we arrived (I went against my will— every day is Cinco de Mayo to me), I regretted the decision. Even though I haven’t crowned 30 yet, I felt about 90 years old. I scoffed at girls in skanky outfits, slathered on sunscreen AND didn’t object when a girlfriend pulled out an umbrella, and felt a heart attack coming on as we pressed through crowds that actually weren’t that bad.
30+ minutes of waiting in line later, seeing colorful patterns and glittery stars from the dehydration and low blood sugar, I think I may have had a spiritual experience. We finally got our cooked-​to-​order (which is why it took them 30 minutes to serve about 10 people… why didn’t they just assembly line 3 different taco options and call it a day???) food, found a seat in the shade, and guzzled down a cold beverage. My mood vastly improved. I think the relief of finally being out of the sun and eating amazing food sent me into a DMT-​esque euphoria, but it may be because of my near-​death cocktail of sunburn, heat stroke, dehydration, food poisoning, and alcohol poisoning. Just kidding. Kind of.
People were in a pretty good mood, and even though it was crowded, it wasn’t too crowded. There were a lot of food options, with prices as you would anticipate, and if you didn’t like Mexican food, there were plenty of other options to choose from. It wasn’t as much of a drunk-​fest as other festivals in St. Louis, and was definitely a good place for the whole family. There were several stages set up with some pretty awful bands that I heard, but a lot of storefronts were also blasting some pretty awesome tunes.
All-​in-​all, it was an okay time. It would have been better had it not been so horrifically hot out, and even though it wasn’t a super culture-​rich experience, at least it brought our community together to celebrate, so that’s a good thing.
Next year I will definitely eat before I go and then just snack once I get there, not go at noon, not wear all black, and bring a water bottle. Also, I’ll probably bring my walker. Jesus. I should just go sign my lease at Shady Pines now.