Nation’s Largest Cinco de Mayo Bash Is Sunday

The seventh annual Fiesta Broadway takes to the streets Sunday, and officials said they expect sunny skies and musical festivities to draw hundreds of thousands to downtown Los Angeles.

The turnout for the festival, the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the nation, is expected to surpass the nearly 300,000 people who flocked downtown last year. The free fiesta, which begins at 11 a.m., fills 36 downtown blocks along Broadway, Hill and Spring streets with top Latino musical talent, food, games and entertainment booths.

Police officers will check people at 17 entrances to the festival area in an effort to prevent violence such as occurred two years ago when gang members threw rocks and bottles into the crowd.

But with the extra security mounted last year and an emphasis on family entertainment , no problems were reported.

For the first time, proceeds from the event will go to the Mexican Cultural Institute for its work in expanding appreciation of Mexican culture, said Estela Lopez, director of media relations for the fiesta.