Cinco de Mayo comes a little early

Friday, May 1, 1998 | 11:06 a.m.

Cinco de Mayo comes to Las Vegas a little early this year, as many of the activities associated with the "Fifth of May" Mexican holiday will be held this weekend.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the victory by Mexico's ragtag army over what was the world's most powerful standing army, the French, at Puebla in 1862.

Had France won that key geographical battle, some historians believe that French forces would have marched through Mexico and conquered the United States, which at the time was divided by the Civil War.

Mexican Independence Day is a different holiday celebrated in September.

Here's what's happening local regarding Cinco de Mayo celebrations:

archive