If you're looking for a place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this weekend, we've got you covered!
From festivals to sampling craft beer to margarita specials and late-night happy hours, here's your guide to celebrating Cinco de Mayo around the Valley.
It goes without saying, but if you happen to go out and drink, do not drive. Make sure to have a designated driver.
El Mirage's Cinco De Mayo Fiesta (Friday, May 4)
El Mirage will hold its annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Gentry Park, 4010 N El Mirage Road, on Friday, May 4. The free festival will have mariachi and other musical performances, a kids area with pony rides and games, and a community market, according to an online flyer. The event runs 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. More information.
Cinco de Mario (Saturday, May 5)
Entertainment host Mario Lopez, who played character A.C. Slater on "Saved by the Bell," will be in Scottsdale for the inaugural Cinco de Mario. The festival will have food trucks, a rose' wine tasting area, craft beer tasting, and live music. Lopez will be there along with his actor-friend Danny Trejo. Tickets are $15-$100 to get in. A meet-and-greet with Lopez is $200. More information.
Arizona D-backs Cinco de Mayo Fiesta vs. Houston Astros (Saturday, May 5)
The Arizona Diamondbacks will host a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta outside Chase Field before its game against the Houston Astros. Fans will be able to taste the top 8 salsas from the recent My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge; eat food from food trucks, and listen to music. The first 20,000 fans into the game will receive a free skull shirt from State Forty Eight. More information.
Avondale Fiesta (Saturday, May 5)
Avondale will host a Cinco de Mayo-inspired festival in Historic Avondale on Saturday, May 5. The festival will have local food vendors with food for purchase, a beer garden, Ballet Folklorico and other performances. The free festival runs 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. More information.
Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival (Sunday, May 6)
Phoenix's Cinco de Mayo Festival celebrates 25 years in 2018! The yearly festival will have mariachi and music performances, Lucha Libre wrestling, and Mexican cuisine. Ozomatti, Latin Breed, Tierra and El Chicano are scheduled to perform. Macayo's plans to build and serve a 125-foot burrito at the festival. Tickets are $5 - $60. The downtown Phoenix festival runs noon to 10 p.m. More information.
RESTAURANT PROMOTIONS:
Gallo Blanco
Chef Doug Robson's relaunched Gallo Blanco is offering diners five days of specials for Cinco de Mayo:
- May 1: $10 La Parillada Platters (Family-style tacos, normally $15)
- May 2: Posole Party, $5 Bowls of Posole (Normally $8)
- May 3: All-Day Happy Hour ($1 off tacos, $1 off drinks)
- May 4: $4 Sangrias (Normally $10)
- May 5: Free churros with every order over $20 (Valued at $8)
Address: 928 E Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Otro Cafe
Chef Robson's sister restaurant, Otro Cafe, is offering a similar promotion with five days of specials:
- May 1: $2 Tacos (Normally $3.85)
- May 2: 20% Off To-Go Orders
- May 3: All-Day Happy Hour ($1 off select food items, $4 draft beer, $2 Tecate, $3 michelada, $5 margarita, $20 bottles of wine paired with ceviche and El Espanol dish)
- May 4: $4 Margaritas (Normally $8)
- May 5: $5 Flapjacks, smothered in butter and 100% maple syrup (Normally $9.50)
Address: 6035 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014
El Hefe & Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row in Tempe
The Tempe bars will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo party with local DJs, drink and food specials, and festive decor. They will also have a water pong tournament.
Dierks Whiskey Row in Gilbert and Scottsdale will both host "Desperado" parties with music and specials.
El Hefe Tempe: 640 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe AZ 85281
Dierks Whiskey Row Gilbert: 323 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert AZ 85234
Dierks Whiskey Row Scottsdale: 4420 N. Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale AZ 85251
Brat Haus
Scottsdale's Brat Haus is hosting a "Cinco de Sausage" party on Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Specials include Al pastor sausage with charred pineapple mint salsa, pork chorizo verde sausage with blackened shrimp, Mexican street corn, and a berry margarita.
Address: 3622 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
CRUjiente Tacos
Crujiente will have extended hours and offer taco and margarita specials on Cinco de Mayo. Happy Hour will run from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. They will offer a $5 margarita, Korean Fried Chicken Taco for just $3.50 and the Tacos Crujientes for $5.
Address: 3961 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Sandbar Mexican Grill
Both of Sandbar's restaurants -- Chandler and Desert Ridge -- will have food and drink specials on Cinco de Mayo. They will be open from 10 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Chandler: 7200 W. Ray Road, Chandler AZ 85226
North Phoenix: 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix AZ 85050
Sierra Bonita Grill
Sierra Bonita Grill is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with $5 margaritas, $12 lunch specials and extended Happy Hour from 3 p.m. - close.
Address: 6933 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85014
Dos Gringos
The Mexican restaurant chain will be open early on Cinco de Mayo -- 10 a.m. They have restaurants in Chandler, Mesa and Tempe and each will have music and specials on drinks and food. Chandler and Mesa will have a "small cover" charge, according to a news release. It did not say how much the charge will be. Tempe will not have a cover charge.
Mesa: 1958 S. Greenfield Road, Mesa AZ 85206
Chandler: 1361 N. Alma School Road, Chandler AZ 85224
Tempe: 8000 S. Priest Drive, Tempe AZ 85284
Old Town Gringos
The Scottsdale bar and restaurant will open at 11 a.m. and close at 2 a.m. on Cinco de Mayo. There will be drink specials, including $5 Pacifico and Modelo Especial and $6 margaritas, as well as food specials.
Address: 4209 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
