Cinco de Mayo is this Friday, and if you’re looking for ways to celebrate in the Valley, we’ve rounded up a list of festivities bringing the tastes and traditions of Mexico to metro Phoenix’s restaurants and beyond. Here are some top Cinco de Mayo events and dining taking place in the Valley this weekend.
Events
Avondale Fiesta — Stop by Avondale’s newly-opened Alamar Park on Saturday, May 6 from 6 p.m. –10 p.m. for traditional food, music and family-fun during this year’s Avondale Fiesta. The free Cinco de Mayo-inspired festival will feature authentic Mexican cuisine, live entertainment from Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and more, plus lucha libre matches every half-hour. Other activities include axe-throwing, a splash pad, cactus toss and mechanical bull riding.
Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival — Arizona’s largest Cinco de Mayo festival will return for its 30th year to Downtown Phoenix on Sunday, May 7. Gates to the annual event open at 12 p.m. with live music at the stage, Baile Folklorico, lucha libre, food and drinks and more. This year’s live performance lineup includes Los Lonely Boys, Latin Breed, Lakeside and Caballo Dorado. Also enjoy lots of family-fun activities that celebrate the history and culture of Mexico. General admission is $10 per person ages 10 and above, while VIP admission with stage access is $40 per person and Exclusivo tickets are $75 each. Buy yours online here.
La Doña Cinco de Mayo Block Party — La Doña Cinco de Mayo Party is free to the community and takes place on Friday, May 5 from 4–10 p.m. at the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center in Phoenix. Enjoy music from South Mountain Community College’s mariachi band, a Latin American Folk Dance performance, a fire entertainer, art, vendors, food trucks and more, plus a raffle for the chance to win a prize. Reserve your spot here.
Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández Cinco de Mayo Celebration — The platinum-selling mariachi group Sol de México is coming to The Madison Center for the Arts to put on a live Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Friday, May 5 from 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Sol de México is the first mariachi ensemble to be nominated for a Grammy and has brought dynamic energy and rich cultural expression to the mariachi world for over 30 years. Purchase tickets to their Cinco de Mayo show here.
Old School City Cinco de Mayo Street Fair & Car Show — The Old School City Cinco de Mayo Street Fair and Car Show is back on Sunday, May 7 from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. for an unforgettable celebration in South Phoenix. The free community event offers kid-friendly activities, a live concert, delicious local food vendors, merchandise vendors and a stunning display of classic cars.
Dining
Chantico — Chantico will be opening its doors early to celebrate Cinco de Mayo starting at 2 p.m. Friday for delicious street tacos, discounted margaritas, Mexican beers and tequila! Post up at the Cantina Bar where the talented Pete Salaz will be mixing up the beats from 5 p.m.–9p.m.!
CRUjiente Tacos — Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at CRUjiente Tacos with the dynamic duo: tacos and tequila. Enjoy an all-day happy hour at the bar and happy hour in the dining room from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. until closing, with menu items like the crunchy beef tacos ($6) and the Premiere CRU Margarita ($8), also known as the “best margarita” in the Valley. CRUjiente Tacos has also teamed up with Tombstone Brewery Co. for a special 5 hop Hazy IPA, available on Cinco de Mayo. For $7.50 a pint, “The CRUsader,” is an intensely peachy, tropical and citrusy IPA, featuring a blend of five premium hop varieties hand selected by the brewers.
Diego Pops — The modern taco spot in Old Town Scottsdale is ready for Cinco de Mayo with an all-day fiesta! Complete with a full extension into the parking lot for more room to party, the festivities will include live entertainment from local DJs and tequila samplings available throughout the day! Guests can enjoy happy hour specials from 3 p.m.–6 p.m. and sip on award-winning margaritas including their famous Diego Margaritas for $6 and 1/2 off apps. During the fiesta, guests can also catch the Phoenix Suns versus Denver Nuggets playoff game airing on TVs throughout the extension so you don’t miss any of the action! The party begins at 10 AM and will be 21+ after 3 p.m.
Joyride Taco House — Joyride Taco House is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with beer and tequila specials all weekend long. From May 5–7, taco enthusiasts can enjoy the Agave Lounge extension at both Joyride locations, which will be filled with festive décor, a mobile bar and extended seating. In addition to buckets of Huss Rio Salado Mexican Lager, guests can sip on the specialty tequila-based cocktail, Island Time, featuring hints of orange, lime, guava and grapefruit. Plus, all margaritas, ranch waters, beer pitchers and wines by the glass are $6 until 5pm daily.
Come to the patios to indulge in chips and salsa or taco favorites, or bring the Cinco party home with Joyride’s Cruiser Pack to-go, which includes a choice of braised meat, tortillas, veggies for garnish, rice, beans, guacamole, chips & salsa and six classic churros. Joyride in Phoenix will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Joyride in Gilbert will be open Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–12 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Kona Grill — Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and visit Margarita Heaven at Kona Grill with America’s BEST Margaritas. Fiesta all day long on Friday, May 5 with $5 Margaritas, $5 Fish Tacos (2) and a $5 Shrimp Taco.
Mesquite Fresh Street Mex — On May 5, modern Mexican restaurant Mesquite Fresh Street Mex is celebrating with a victory for your wallet: 80 cents off all tacos, and $5 off the restaurant’s taco-building family meals! Guests can reap these one-day-only deals at any of Mesquite’s nine Valley locations. To view menu options, locations and hours for a Mesquite Fresh Street Mex restaurant near you, visit eatmesquite.com.
Pedal Haus Brewery — While the name may imply beer – Pedal Haus Brewery still knows how to throw a fun party, especially for Cinco de Mayo. The award-winning Brewery is offering a few festive drink deals: $7 house margaritas, $7 Marg Garten, which is a mix of the house margarita and Pedal Haus sourgarten beer, $5 Pedal Haus Mexican Amber beers and $5 Micheladas. These specials will be available from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at Pedal Haus Brewery’s three Valley locations in Phoenix, Tempe and Chandler. For more information visit pedalhausbrewery.com.
Recreo Cantina — Located in Downtown Chandler at 28 S. San Marcos Pl., Recreo Cantina is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a special all-day celebration filled with food, music and fun! Stop by between 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. to enjoy an assortment of local bands playing throughout the day including a live mariachi band from 1-2 p.m. Guests will also enjoy several street taco bars on Recreo’s outdoor patios, as well as various bar set ups serving quick draft beer. Looking for a sweet treat? Enjoy a slice from the delicious mango cart or one of the cantina’s many margarita creations! This is a 21+ event. Tickets start at $10 and will be sold strictly at the door.
Salt and Lime Modern Mexican Grill — Celebrating their ninth anniversary just in time for Cinco de Mayo, the Cinco de Mayo party is complete with a floor-to-ceiling restaurant transformation including an archway lined with colorful pinatas as you enter the restaurant to make for an ‘Insta-worthy’ moment! During Salt and Lime’s May 5 celebration, guests can choose from $9 your choice items from 3PM – 6PM including smoked chicken poppers, diablo eggs, chimis, nachos and more. Additional food specials include $9 Sonoran hot dogs served up food cart-style! In addition, Salt & Lime will be shaking up $9 specialty cocktails all week long leading up to Cinco de Mayo to celebrate Salt and Lime’s anniversary.
Skysill Rooftop Lounge at The Westin Tempe — Grab your family and friends and head over to the Cinco de Mayo fiesta on Friday, May 5 at Skysill Rooftop Lounge, the Valley’s highest open-air rooftop bar perched atop The Westin Tempe Hotel. On Friday, May 5 from 2 p.m.–7 p.m., guests will get in the spirit with limited-time holiday menu specials including Street Tacos ($5), Carne Asada Nachos ($16), Beef Anticucho ($18) and Jalapeño Hummus ($14). To add to the celebration, guests will also enjoy sipping on $5 Skysill passion fruit margaritas, $5 Espolon Tequila shots and $5 Corona Premier Beer, along with a live DJ.
Someburros — Someburros will offer Cinco de Mayo specials throughout the week for “Five Days of Cinco,” starting on Monday, May 1 with Red and Green Chili Beef Burros ($4 each, limit of five.) On May 2, Crispy Tacos ($2.50) will be on the menu with guests’ choice of taco filling. On Wednesday, May 3, there will be $3 off Pollo Fundido burros, with a limit of five per order. Thursday’s special will feature $2 off Bean and Cheese Burros, with a limit of five per order. The final deal of the week on Friday, May 5 will be $3 off of frozen margaritas with flavors including original and strawberry. Someburros also specializes in phenomenal catering platter packages, ideal for any Cinco de Mayo party.
STK Steakhouse — Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at STK Steakhouse and enjoy $5 shots of Don Julio, Volcan, Patron, Espolon or Milagro, $5 Beef Taco, $5 Tuna Taco and $25 shot of Cincora Anejo on Friday, May 5 all day long.
The Mexicano — This Cinco de Mayo, celebrate at the party headquarters, The Mexicano, and experience modern out-of-the-box Mexican cuisine, cocktails with a fiesta flair and a buzzy, Insta-worthy atmosphere with high-energy DJ music. On May 5, the home of the “World’s First Build-Your-Own Margarita Bar” is offering special deals on drinks along with their social media famous piñata margaritas. Order a Mini Modelo or Mini Corona for $5 each. Looking for the ultimate Cinco de Mayo drink to celebrate? A Margarita Bucket ($32) will make your dreams come true along with festive activations such as interactive tequila and mezcal carts. Reservations are highly recommended and can be booked through Open Table.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub — Guests are invited to Thirsty Lion Gastropub on Friday, May 5 in celebration of the Cinco de Mayo holiday! A selection of specialty-themed menu items will be offered in addition to the restaurants’ signature Thirsty Lion margarita served with Sauza Hacienda Tequila, sweet & sour, agave, muddled lime and triple sec for only $8.95 all day long! Other menu items will include the Creamy Queso Dip, Baja Fish Tacos, Southwest Smoked Chicken Salad and Jalapeño Pepper Jack Burger. Additional specialty drinks that will be offered include the Blood Orange Margarita, Fresh Fruit Sangria and Tequila Flight. The Cinco de Mayo dining special takes place at 11 a.m. to close at all four Valley locations.
Wine Girl — Wine Girl in Scottsdale will be offering all-day specials including specialty cocktails and adorable pink sprinkle churros! The “not your average wine bar” offers rotating wines on tap, a reserve bottle/by the glass list, locally crafted beers, spitzers and other libations along with an ever-changing array of food options served up in a delightfully chic, Insta-worthy interior.
Z’Tejas — Celebrate Cinco de Mayo right at Z’Tejas! Their lively “Cinco for Cinco” event is back and includes $5 house margaritas, a live DJ starting at 5 p.m., a piñata, and enticing giveaways. Z’Tejas has been a Valley fixture for over three decades and is proud to carry on this annual tradition. The celebration will take place on Friday, May 5 at both the Scottsdale and Chandler locations.
