Celebrating Cinco de Mayo — which commemorates Mexico’s victory over France in Puebla on May 5 —is an ideal way to learn about the Mexican-American community in San Diego. Students tend to associate Cinco de Mayo with tequila and margaritas, but in actuality, it is a great opportunity to celebrate music, food and Mexican culture. Since San Diego has many celebratory festivals in honor of the holiday, here are The Guardian’s top recommendations:

Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo is celebrating its 30th annual festival, which has grown to be the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration outside of Mexico. It is a free three-day fiesta starting May 3 and ending on May 5, providing three stages of live entertainment, a beer garden and many more cultural activities. Old Town has museums, specialty shops and a Mercado where they sell handmade cultural jewelry and art pieces. When choosing between one of the 20 restaurants in the area, be sure to stop by Old Town’s designated tequila-tasting location.

National City’s Cinco de Mayo Mariachi Festival showcased mariachi students from Mexico and the U.S. as they celebrated San Diego’s heritage through music and Ballet Folklorico. The goal of this event is to support the youth in artistic and educational aspirations. The event took place in Pepper Park on April 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and was the first annual mariachi competition held in National City. The purpose of this event was to create a rich cultural experience by acquainting all of San Diego with the heritage and true meaning of Cinco de Mayo.

La Colonia Park Cinco de Mayo is another festivity that takes place in Solana Beach. Accompanied with mariachi bands, game booths, crafts, pinatas and a ballet, the La Colonia Cinco de Mayo is a perfect place to take your family. It takes place on Saturday, May 4 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in La Colonia Park. This is a free, family-friendly community fiesta that does not serve alcohol.