As seems to be the case most years, we will recognize Cinco de Mayo on May 5 in Dallas. As is also often the case, the holiday–commemorating the Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexican Army won a major battle over the French–will be observed with a number of events that don’t fall precisely on 05/05, but are close enough to count as “Cinco de Mayo” celebrations, or fiestas, as it were.
A minor blip on the calendar in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has caught on in the U.S. among people who appreciate any justification to drink too many margaritas, along with folks celebrating the culture, music, and history of our neighbors across the Rio Grande. If you’re looking for the best fiestas and places to kick back with a cerveza for Cinco de Mayo, we have you covered. Here are the best places to drink for the holiday.
We’ve also put together a list of the best concerts, parades, and blowouts celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Dallas. With Cinco events kicking off Friday, you can spend much of the next week celebrating.
Friday (05/01)
1. The Turtle Creek Chorale will get a hand from Mi Diva Loca and the Hotchkiss Elementary School Choir for a two-night tribute to Latin choral and pop music. Musica de Mayo will feature traditional standards–“Quien Sera,” “La Cucharacha,”–alongside hits from pop icons like Selina. Catch the performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm at the Latino Cultural Center.
Saturday (05/02)
2. It’s a Dallas parade that rivals the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans on Greenville, but less debauched and with better music. The Cinco de Mayo parade in Oak Cliff is stacked with marching bands, ballet folklorico, costumed participants, floats and more. The subsequent festival, with all the bells, whistles, music, and tailgating that entails, make this Dallas’ biggest celebration of the Battle of Puebla.
3. It’s not exactly a crowded field, but Metalachi has a pretty good claim to being the best heavy metal mariachi band in the world. The group, classically trained mariachi musicians who prefer Judas Priest to more traditional numbers, rip through metal standards like Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.” They’re supported by Piñata Protest, a squeezebox punk group out of San Antonio that sounds like a South Texas border town version of the Ramones. It’s the most rock and roll mariachi music you’re going to get on Cinco de Mayo. Both bands are at Gas Monkey Bar & Grill for a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
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4. Denton will have its own parade and festival at Quakertown Park, complete with a Little Miss Cinco de Mayo pageant, live music, and arts and crafts tied in to Mexican history. The main attraction for this celebration? A kids soccer tournament later in the afternoon.
Sunday (05/03)
5. Billy Bob’s has a strong lineup of Tejano music on two stages–the outside one is free–for Cinco de Mayo. Little Joe y La Familia, Emilio Navaira, and David Lee Garza y Los Musicales are the main attractions and biggest names inside, but a rock-climbing wall and a number of other activities make this more of a fiesta than your standard concert. But the music is the real draw here. From Tejano music to food, there’s a lot to appreciate about Tex-Mex influence in Dallas.
Tuesday (05/05)
6. We’ve already got metal mariachi, classic conjunto and Tejano music, and Latin choral music. Time for an orchestral flourish for your Cinco de Mayo enjoyment. The Irving Symphony Orchestra is teaming up with the renowned Mariacha Vargas de Tecalitlan for a performance Tuesday at the Irving Convention Center.
7. The Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short flick The Three Amigos may not be the most respectful or nuanced portrait of Mexican culture. It is, however, pretty hilarious, and it means well. Alamo Drafthouse is showing the 1987 (back when these three were maybe the funniest guys in the world) comedy for Cinco de Mayo.
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8. You might as well learn a little bit about what you’re celebrating: The Dallas Historical Society and Dallas Mexican American Historical League will offer a lesson on the history of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Dallas. Of course, the lesson calls for some celebrating itself, and the casual lecture is held during happy hour at Times Ten Cellars.
