Olvera Street Dancer in Los Angeles — Photo courtesy of Ray_from_LA
Los Angeles
Follow the Mariachi music and salsa step on over to Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate at one of the largest Cinco de Mayo street fairs in the world. Carnival rides, food, crafts, and dancing liven up the legendary area around El Pueblo Historic Monument, the famed Mexican Marketplace created in 1933. Twirl your skirts and grab your sombreros as Olvera Street transforms into a fantastic fiesta. ¡Bienvenidos a Los Angeles!
Miami
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North of the border in Miami, a city rife with Hispanic influence, we know that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican army's victory over the heavily armored French at the Battle of Puebla. While it may not be the official Mexican Independence Day celebration, we'll take any excuse to party.
Mini block parties are common, most notably in Coconut Grove, where the "Fete du Cinco de Mayo" takes place. Several restaurants take to the streets to participate in a parade complete with mariachis and traditional Mexican attire. French restaurants swap wines with Spanish/Mexican restaurants to symbolize the role each culture played in the history of the other.
Downtown Miami's Mary Brickell Village hosts a Mexican-style street festival with drinks and dancing. Mere blocks away, the oldest bar in Miami, Tobacco Road, hosts the "Cinco de Drinko Hot Peppa' Palooza," a congregation of Miami's best food trucks combined with an outdoor stage full of DJs and live music.
On South Beach, Espanola Way (a quaint, historic Spanish Village located north of 14th Street between Washington and Pennsylvania Avenues) has an annual Cinco de Mayo street festival. Partygoers can enjoy live bands, Mexican dancers and free margarita shots.
Miami's Cinco de Mayo festivities generally start in the early evening and extend into the wee hours of the morning, making it perfect for families who may want to call it a night, and vacationers who just want to party all night long.
Albuquerque
Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila in Albuquerque — Photo courtesy of Steve Larese
For Cinco de Mayo, Albuquerque’s National Hispanic Cultural Center celebrates Hispanic culture and its melding with the United States with Noche de Oro: a show of ballet, mariachi, folklorico and other media that cover New Mexico’s Native American culture, the arrival of the Spanish, Mexican Independence, and finally New Mexico’s induction to the United States. The show begins at 7 p.m. at the center’s Albuquerque Journal Theatre; tickets are $12, $17 and $22.
Continue your Cinco de Mayo celebration in Nob Hill at the new Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila with a gourmet plate of Tacos al Pastor and their excellent house margarita.
San Antonio
Dancers complete the fiesta — Photo courtesy of Larry1732
Vivid colors, dazzling smiles and memories for a lifetime describe the magical moments you’ll take away when spending Cinco de Mayo in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. San Antonians celebrate this holiday with passion! You will want to make it a priority to visit historic Market Square for a commemorative festival, including live music and excellent Tex-Mex food.
To make the holiday even more breathtaking, Luminaria, San Antonio’s annual celebration of art and artists has been scheduled to correspond with Cinco de Mayo. Expect dynamic performances, magical streetscapes and galleries filled with surprising treasures. With something memorable for all ages, San Antonio is a great place to spend Cinco de Mayo.
Cancun
Senor Frog's is a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo — Photo courtesy of Susan R. Vincil
Since Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with much gusto in the United States, Americans believe that the holiday is celebrated with the same fervor in Mexico. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, Cinco de Mayo is only observed in a few places in Mexico. However, because Cancun has legions of American tourists that expect a big blow-out for Cinco de Mayo, the city's big nightclubs throw Mexican-themed parties to commemorate the holiday.
One of the best places to go for fun Cinco de Mayo festivities in Cancun is Señor Frog's. The bar is a big hit with tourists and, after spending just a few minutes there, you'll see why. Dancing on the bar is perfectly acceptable behavior there and a conga line could break out at any second. There is also a live reggae band and a water slide that runs through the restaurant. Everything about the bar just screams "fun". While Cancun isn't a huge hot spot for traditional Cinco de Mayo activities, you'll definitely find fun, festive parties in the major bars and clubs of the hotel zone.
