Crowds packed downtown Calistoga late Sunday morning as thousands of spectators gathered on Lincoln Avenue for the annual Cinco de Mayo parade and festival. The celebration marks a battle hard-won by Mexicans against the French in 1862; in the U.S. the May 5th event has become a popular celebration of Mexican culture.

Two fire engines — sirens blaring and lights flashing — announced the beginning of the parade procession just after noon. Behind the engines, young girls carried the American and Mexican flags side by side, making way for sombrero-clad men atop white horses.

Traditional Mexican music set the tone, along with dancers clad in flamboyant, colorful costumes. Some wore red boas and black feather headdresses; others wore metallic, ruffled skirts or modest traditional dress. Classic marching bands — including the St. Helena Community Band and the Calistoga High School band — helped to lend a bicultural flavor to the celebration.

A float featuring a towering female skeleton figure drew stares from the crowd. Clad in a multi-colored skirt and blouse, her sizable silver hoop earrings gittered below a substantial brown hat.

“Cinco de Mayo is ... part of our history and our heritage,” said Jose Reyes, who traveled from Sacramento with his wife, Angelita Reyes, to watch the parade.

The event was a family affair for the couple, who brought three of their grandchildren, Angwin residents Ahmed Burdette, 6, Rahim Burdette, 8, and Maya Burdette, 14. Devin Fears, a family friend, also joined them.

Sunday did not mark the end of celebration for Maya, who will perform with a traditional Mexican folk dancing troupe today at Howell Mountain Elementary School. She said she will wear a costume that was handmade by her grandmother — and worn by Maya’s mother decades ago.

“It’s going down from one generation to another,” said Angelita Reyes. “I learned long ago that if I didn’t get my daughters involved in the traditional dancing, they’d never know enough about their (culture). ... It taught them to be proud of their heritage.”

The parade’s imaginative floats are a draw for many, including Mayra Garcia, a Napan who said she attends the parade each May. This year — flanked by her sisters, brother-in-law, niece, father and friends — she said she came to support her brother, Gonzalo Garcia, who appeared on horseback in the procession.

Napa resident Elizabeth Rueda — who attended the festivities with her father-in-law, Bartolo Rueda — said her nephew, Adrian Osnaya, also appeared in the parade with a group from Napa Valley College.

Rueda said she had more than one reason for attending, however.

“Cinco de Mayo is a big celebration for Mexicans because (the Battle of Puebla) was an amazing win. It’s a big day for us ... and we decided to come to have fun and enjoy the people and the sun,” she said.

Ana Karina-Avina, a 16-year-old Napa High School junior, was honored as queen of Cinco de Mayo this year. Members of her court include Vintage High School senior Berenice Lopez, 17, St. Helena High School senior Natalie Ortiz, 18 and Calistoga Jr./Sr. High School senior, Crystal Salamon, 17.