Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with NYC kids

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with NYC kids

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Contrary to popular belief, this lively Mexican holiday isn’t just for the NYU bar crowd: You can party with little ones at festivities all over the city.

Head outdoors
Kids can listen to a mariachi band and make their own piñatas (candy included!) at the Battle of Puebla celebration in Faber Park on Staten Island (May 1 at noon). Keep the fun going the following week, and cheer as the colorful floats pass by in the annual Cinco de Mayo Parade (May 9 at 11am; the route starts at 106th St and Central Park West and heads south to 96th St).

Play with your food
Take the tots for flautas and enchiladas at Rosa Mexicano; as a bonus, they can learn to make guacamole with a mortar and pestle—“I rocked the guac” souvenir apron included (lesson is free with order of guacamole; no lesson on May 5 after 5pm. Go to rosamexicano.com for locations). At Dos Caminos Park (373 Park Ave South between 26th and 27th Sts, 212-294-1000, brguestrestaurants.com), chefs ages five to 10 can make tortillas, empanadas and churros (May 1 at 3:30pm. $40 for one adult and one child; to register, call 212-331-0328). Watch mariachis and traditional Mexican dancing as your crew feasts on fajitas at Mama Mexico (May 7–9; go to mamamexico.com for locations).

Get artsy
Young revelers can make and decorate Mexican chocolate truffles at a Mini Chef Cinco de Mayo cooking class at the Art Farm (May 3 at 3:30pm and May 8 at 9am. 419 E 91st St between York and First Aves, 212-410-3117; $40 for children ages two to eight). At Reebok Sports Club/NY, children craft little sombreros, and snack on cinnamon crispas (May 5 at 3:30pm. $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers; to register, contact jburt@reeboksportsclubny.com). Sign up toddlers for a Spanish sing-along and pom-pom dance party in honor of the holiday at MoonSoup (May 7 at 3:30pm. 1059 Second Ave at 56th St, 212-319-3222; $20 for nonmembers). Parents should love the celebrations at NY Kids Clubs, since they can sip a Corona while little ones dance, swing at a piñata and munch on chips and salsa (May 7 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. $40 for the first child, $20 each additional child; to register, call 347-706-4700, nykidsclub.com).

Celebrate at home
Up for a DIY fiesta? Invite friends over for a build-your-own-taco party, with margaritas for adults and mocktails for the kids. The soundtrack: Putamayo’s Mexico CD. Little ones can craft traditional tissue-paper flowers (try Alex’s My Giant Paper Flowers Kit; $10 at amazon.com). Serve cactus- and chili-pepper-shaped cookies ($18.75 for 10 at elenis.com) for dessert, and give kids a shot at a retro-style rainbow donkey piñata ($12 at target.com) before they depart.

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