5 Must-Know May Dates In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA - Spring took its sweet time arriving in many parts of the country, but now that it’s here, it’s probably safe to pack away the snow boots, stocking caps and gloves and get out of the house to enjoy some of the events packing the May calendar. In Pittsburgh, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on May 6 is a can’t-miss event.

Here are five other must-know dates for May:

Cinco de Mayo, May 5: A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has evolved as a mostly American holiday that celebrates Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. You can celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Pittsburgh with an incredible South Side Taco and Margarita Bar Crawl. Officially, Cinco de Mayo marks the date of the Mexican Army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War — despite being outnumbered 2-to-1.

Kentucky Derby, May 5: The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, known as “America’s greatest race,” kicks off the Triple Crown thoroughbred horse racing schedule. Few sporting events are as rich in tradition as the Derby, where attendees sip mint juleps, wear beautiful hats and join in singing “My Old Kentucky Home.” In Pittsburgh you can watch the Kentucky Derby at Carmella’s Plates and Pints on the South Side, which is known for its tasty mint juleps, or at the inaugural Cinco De Derby event at the Rivers Casino on the North Shore.

Mother’s Day, May 13: Mother’s Day traces its roots to ancient Greece, though the first iteration of the modern holiday was in 1908, when Anna Jarvis honored her late mother three years after her death at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. It became an official U.S. holiday in 1914, and Jarvis spent some of the last years of her life railing against commercialization of the holiday and wanted to see it removed from the calendar. Don’t know where to take Mom on her special day? Check out Patch’s guide to Pittsburgh Mother’s Day brunches.

Armed Forces Day, May 19: President Harry S. Truman led the effort to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard commemorations with a single day. Always celebrated on the third Saturday in May, the first such event was observed in 1950.

Memorial Day, May 28: Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May to honor men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military Day. In Pittsburgh, Memorial Day events include the annual Lawrenceville Memorial Day Parade, as well as events at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland and the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and originated in the years following the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971, and many Americans observe it by visiting cemeteries or memorials, at family gatherings and by participating in parades. It marks the unofficial beginning of summer.

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