Cinco de Mayo lands on a Friday this year. Hopefully this means you won’t have to work so hard to avoid a hangover. But whether you’d like to spend this year indulging in a mass amount of tacos or drinking a fair amount of tequila, Tucson’s got it going on.
And while we’re at it, how well do you know the history of Cinco de Mayo? Hint: it’s not Mexico’s day of independence.
The holiday credits the victory of the Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo also commemorates a day of hope that has evolved over the years into a celebration of Mexican heritage.
If that’s not reason to celebrate with tasty local cuisine and creative cocktails then I don’t know what is. So rather than taking a siesta, why not partake in a fiesta instead with one of these awesome Cinco de Mayo events.
1912 Brewing Company
2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Suite 105
1912 Brewing Company is hosting their first annual employee salsa cook-off at 5 – 10 p.m. Everyone will be served salsa and tortilla chips, and will have the chance to vote for their favorite.
Drink some local brew, play a game of Loteria, shake your hips to music, and Tacos y Hotdogs Los Bravos will be on-site with Mexican food favorites by 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call (520) 256-4851 or visit 1912brewing.com.
Arizona Beer House
150 S. Kolb Rd.
Celebrate the holiday with Arizona Beer House from 5 – 9 p.m.with Cinco de Mayo beer specials, salsa bar, and great food. American Flying Buffalo will be parked out front with their award-winning burgers and wings.
For more information, call (520) 207-8077 or visit arizonabeerhouse.com.
Blanco Tacos & Tequila
2905 E. Skyline Dr. Suite #246
Blanco Tacos and Tequila is offering a modern Mexican fare in a casual-chic setting this Cinco de Mayo.
Happy Hour including margaritas, sangria, Mexican beers, and rare tequilas is from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Food specials are also available from 3 – 6 p.m.
For more information, call (520) 232-1007 or visit blancotacosandtequila.com.
Dillinger Brewing Company
3895 N. Oracle Rd.
Dillinger Brewing Company is throwing a Cinco de Mayo fiesta with their specialty Mexican beer cocktails from 2 – 11 p.m.
The cocktails includes:
- El Bandito Público Horchata Stout – Public Enemy Imperial Stout with horchata and cinnamon
- Keylime Wit “Luis” Style – Keylime wit with tajin around the rim and a fresh squeeze of keylime juice
- Serrano Seduction Micheladas – Michelada made to order
For more information, call (520) 207-2312 or visit dillingerbrewing.com.
Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort
10000 N. Oracle Rd.
The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort’s Colibrí lounge is hosting this year’s Cinco de Mayo festivities from 3 p.m. – midnight.
Colibrí lounge will be serving up chicken and beef street tacos for $2 and the El Con Margarita for $5. To add to the festive atmosphere, Spanish guitar music will be playing in the lounge from 3 – 7 p.m.
The Horseshoe Grill
7713 E. Broadway Blvd.
The Horseshoe Grill is offering the perfect combination of tacos and beer for this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Their specials include:
- $5 fish, brisket, pulled pork, or steak Tacos
- $2.50 XX Lager, Corona, or Pacifico Longneck
- $5 Micheladas with choice of XX, Corona, or Pacifico
- $5 draught Beers
- $5 tequila Shots
For more information, call (520) 838-0404 or visit thehorseshoetucson.com.
Maloney’s Tavern
213 N. 4th Ave.
Maloney’s Tavern is hosting their 5th on 4th Cinco De Mayo Festival this Friday from 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. The festival includes music, food, and drink specials.
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers will headline the outdoor event a long 4th avenue with special guest the black moods. Tickets are $20 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Tucson Police Officers Association Foundation.
For more information and tickets, call (520) 388-9355 or visit 5thon4th.com.
Maynards Market & Kitchen
400 N. Toole Ave. Ste. A
Maynards Market and Kitchen is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with an Agave Heritage Dinner from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Culinary giants Chef Janos Wilder and Chef Brian Smith collaborated to create a four-course dinner focused on Tucson heritage food and the agave plant.
Tickets are $110, plus tax and gratuity, and can be purchased at agaveheritagefestival.com.
Appetizers (choice of):
- Charred Onion Sope – Top Knot Duck, mole manchamantel, queso fresco, radish
- Coal Roasted Vegetable Empanadas – smoked goat cheese, tomato
- Green Tomato Gazpacho – achiote creama, Guaymas prawns, sal de chapulines
First Course (choice of):
- Pan-seared Cabrilla – pipian rojo, lime cilantro aioli, the three sisters and cousin cholla
- Spring Garden Tostada – tepary beans, radishes, pickled cholla buds, heirloom carrots, poached garlic, fava beans, roasted corn vinaigrette flowers
Seconds Course:
- White Sonoran Wheat-Corn Fried Quail – fermented tomatillo jam, purslane, jalapeño, shaved radish
Third Course (choice of):
- Grilled Beef Rib-eye Tampiqueña with Frijoles Maneados – chiles rajas, salsa fresca, cheese enchilada, flour tortillas
- Whole Roasted Blue Oyster Mushrooms – refritos, chiles rajas, salsa fresca, cheese enchilada, flour tortillas
Dessert:
- Pastel de Elote – avocado-lime ice cream, plantains with piloncillo, orange, mescal, crispy corn
For more information, call (520) 545-0577 or visit maynardstucson.com.
The Parish
6453 N. Oracle Rd.
The Down South Cinco Fiesta kicks off this Friday at The Parish from 11 a.m. – midnight with delicious cocktails and cuisine.
Cocktail specials include:
- $5 Sotol Tequila
- $7 Special cocktail
- $3 SOL Cerveza
Plus, what fiesta is complete without some music? Aztra Folk performs from 6 – 8 p.m. and DJ Ripdee and Yung Alva continues the party from 8 – 11 p.m.
For more information, call (520) 797-1233 or visit theparishtucson.com.
Three Canyon Beer and Wine Garden
4999 N. Sabino Canyon Rd.
This Friday visit Three Canyon Beer and Wine Garden for fiesta themed treats and drink specials from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Some of the many treats include a Churro flavored frappe and piñata cookies, with a wide variety of beer and wine specials throughout the evening.
BurgerRito will also be on site with their food truck serving up dinner.
For more information, call (520) 900-7866 or visit threecanyonbeerandwinegarden.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
