Dia de la Candelaria, aka Candlemas, is observed 40 days after Christmas, on February 2. According to Christian tradition, Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after his birth to complete Mary's ritual purification after childbirth. Candlemas takes place on historic Olvera Street in Downtown L.A., featuring the traditional blessing of elaborately dressed dolls that depict the infant Jesus in the Temple.

First held in 1930, the Blessing of the Animals takes place at Olvera Street every Sabado de Gloria (Holy Saturday, the Saturday before Easter). The free event features a procession of animals led by a flower-covered cow, as well as live entertainment, vendors, and arts and crafts. Hundreds of pet owners bring their beloved animals to be blessed with holy water by the Archbishop of Los Angeles.

Fiesta Broadway is the largest Hispanic event in the country, and one of the largest Cinco de Mayo events in the world. On the last Sunday of every April, nearly half a million attendees gather for the massive festival, which is spread out across two dozen city blocks of Downtown L.A. Fiesta Broadway features dozens of food, vendor and game booths, with live music performances taking place throughout the event, including a stage at Grand Park.

Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration of Mexican culture and heritage that takes place across the U.S. and regionally in Mexico, where it's known in the state of Puebla as El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (“The Day of the Battle of Puebla”). Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the much larger, better-armed French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Los Angeles hosts a wide variety of Cinco de Mayo events, including the annual Los Lobos Cinco de Mayo Festival at the Greek Theatre. The Grammy Award-winning hometown favorites take the stage with special guests like Ozomatli, Mariachi El Bronx and more. The Greek Theatre Plaza Stage welcomes more music performances for a full day of music and celebration.

The acclaimed Mariachi USA Festival celebrated its Silver Anniversary at the landmark Hollywood Bowl in June 2014. Mariachi USA is recognized as one of the premier mariachi music festivals in the world, and the only annual Latino-themed event at the Hollywood Bowl for 25 consecutive years. The festival features top mariachi bands from the U.S. and Mexico, traditional folkloric dances and a spectacular fireworks display.

Taking place from mid-September to mid-October, Latino Heritage Month engages, inspires and highlights contributions made by the Latino community to our country, while connecting the multicultural communities of Los Angeles, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world. Latino Heritage Month features a wide range of events and activities, from food and film festivals to world-class musicians at Grand Performances.

The City of Los Angeles hosts an annual El Grito celebration to commemorate the legendary Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores"), a speech made on Sept. 16, 1810 by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Roman Catholic priest who led the Mexican independence movement against Spanish rule. The celebration of Mexican Independence Day attracts 25,000 attendees to the steps of City Hall in Downtown L.A.

The Taste of Mexico Food Festival is one of L.A.’s newer Latin American festivals, celebrating L.A.’s vibrant Mexican cuisine with unlimited tastings from dozens of Mexican restaurants and purveyors. The Taste of Mexico takes place at La Plaza de las Culturas y Artes in Downtown L.A., featuring a family-friendly daytime cookout, and its signature Dinner and Agave Night. The Taste of Mexico Association was created by top L.A. Mexican restaurateurs – Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu of La Casita Mexicana, Vicente del Rio of Frida Mexican Cuisine, Bricia Lopez of Guelaguetza Restaurant and Ricardo Cervantes of La Monarca Bakery – with the purpose of embodying, enhancing and promoting the authentic ingredients, flavors and traditions of Mexico's cuisine.

Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and around the world on Nov. 1. The holiday dates back centuries to an Aztec festival that was eventually combined with Catholicism to become the modern Dia de los Muertos. The festivities are focused on celebrating loved ones who have passed away - friends and family honor the departed by going to cemeteries, building private altars with photos and memorabilia, and enjoying their favorite food and drinks. One of L.A.’s most popular Dia de los Muertos celebrations takes place at the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This quintessential Halloween event takes place in the final resting place of Hollywood legends, and features over 100 altars, music and dance performances, Aztec ritual dancers, an art exhibition, food vendors and more.

Mariachi Plaza is located in Boyle Heights, a few minutes east of Downtown L.A. The plaza takes its name from the mariachis who have gathered there in their elegant charro suits since the 1930s. Many of the musicians - they’re hired to perform in restaurants, private parties or community events - live in the historic Boyle Hotel, aka “Mariachi Hotel.” Located across from Mariachi Plaza, the 1889 building recently completed a $25-million renovation that added 51 apartments and the Mariachi Cultural Center. The Metro Rail Gold Line has a stop conveniently located beneath the square named Mariachi Plaza Station. The 24th annual Mariachi Plaza Festival is taking place on Sunday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The free event features performances by Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and Mariachi Voz de America.

Every year from Dec. 16 until Christmas Eve, Olvera Street merchants and their families walk through El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in a ceremonial re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s nine-night search for sanctuary. The holiday tradition is one of the oldest events in Los Angeles, featuring a candlelight procession with sing-alongs, ballet folklorico and children’s piñata breaking.

The annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, aka the Virgin of Guadalupe, takes place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Dec. 11, the eve of her Feast Day. The faithful are invited to venerate the only known relic of the Tilma of St. Juan Diego, which is enshrined in a special golden chapel inside the Cathedral. The celebration includes Aztec dancers, the Cathedral Spanish Choir, mariachis, special guest singers and a midnight Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Los Angeles. According to the faithful, the celebration recalls the miraculous apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, Mexico in December 1531, when she left her image on his tilma (cloak). The relic of the Tilma of St. Juan Diego was given to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1941 as a gift from the Archbishop of Mexico City in appreciation and friendship.