Get ready Denver, Cinco de Mayo is coming. Given over 20% of Denver County residents have Mexican roots, it’s no surprise Mexican heritage and pride dominate. Plus, Denver has some of the best regional Mexican fare around, great Margaritas, and a love of a great party.
Read on for Cinco de Mayo events, on the holiday and days surrounding it. Plus, a little bite of Mexican history.
Cinco de Mayo 101
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s surprising victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. When the French invaded the city of Puebla that morning, the Mexican army was outnumbered and unprepared for the attack. But, thanks to General Ignacio Zaragoza’s leadership, combined with the high morale and great determination of the Mexican soldiers, Puebla was successfully defended. The well-equipped but overconfident French were forced to retreat.
Although France later won the French-Mexican War overall in 1867, this early victory on the Fifth of May is celebrated in the city and state of Puebla to this day. The fact that the Mexicans were successful in defending their home despite the odds being stacked against them has become a patriotic symbol of the power of hope, strength, and unity throughout Mexico and around the world.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
While originally a regional holiday in Puebla, rather than a large-scale, national holiday across Mexico, the popularity of the event has grown. Following the centennial of the original battle, it became a day of celebration in the United States thanks to Chicano activists’ introduction of the holiday here in the 1960s.
Today, Mexicans and non-Mexicans alike celebrate Mexican-American heritage across the USA through community events, music and concerts, enjoyment of Mexican food, and general revelry. First up, the long-running Cinco de Mayo Festival in Civic Center Park, May 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Both days include music, dancing, and other entertainment on three stages, plus contests, local artisans, kid-friendly activities, and diverse food vendors to celebrate Mexican-American culture and heritage in Colorado and beyond.
Cinco de Mayo Food and Drink Specials
May 5: BOGO Margaritas at Cherry Cricket
Head to any Cherry Cricket locations for BOGO Margaritas all day long on Cinco de Mayo. Try the restaurant’s signature Cricket Margarita, made with blanco tequila, agave, lime, and a salted rim. Up the spice for even more celebratory heat. Multiple locations, cherrycricket.com
May 5: Taco Tuesday at Señor Bear
Señor Bear is known for excellent cocktails and exciting small plates, making it a wonderful place to graze and enjoy Cinco de Mayo with friends. From 3 to 4 p.m., this small restaurant in the Highland neighborhood will offer a robust line-up of food and drink specials including house Margaritas and Palomas for $5.50. After 4 p.m., guests can enjoy $14 flavored Margaritas or an $18 mini Margarita flight until closing time. 3301 Tejon St., Denver, senorbeardenver.com
May 5: Mexican Street Food at Xiquita Taqueria
Uptown’s Xiquita will be offering CDMX-style street food from 4 to 6 p.m. on Cinco de Mayo, transforming itself from its usual ancestral Mexican vibe into a traditional taqueria for the holiday. Enjoy $9 house margaritas and a wide variety of creative, $6 tacos that will thrill your taste buds and which will have you planning a trip to Mexico City in the near future for more. Reservations encouraged. 500 E. 19th St., Denver, xiquita.co
May 5: Drink Specials at Ambler
All day long on Cinco de Mayo, Ambler in LoDo is pouring its Margarita with Corazon blanco, cucumber, Pueblo chili, agave, lime, and fire bitters for $14. The same price will get you the Aguamiel, composed of 400 Conejos mezcal with Cynar, green Chartreuse, pineapple gum syrup, and Bolivar bitters. Close out your tab with a $8 Mexican Candy shot for a sweet farewell to a perfect, celebratory evening. 1801 Wewatta St., Denver, amblerdenver.com
May 5: Say Cheers at Wynkoop Brewing Company
Every day is a celebration at Wynkoop Brewing Company, and Cinco de Mayo is no exception. Stop by and enjoy BOGO Margaritas, fully customizable with spice or top-shelf tequila add-ons for just a few dollars extra. 164 18th St., Denver, wynkoop.com
May 5: Celebrate at Tamayo by Chef Richard Sandoval
The team at Tamayo in Downtown Denver are excited that Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year, making it the ultimate Taco Tuesday celebration for all. Expect a menu full of festive taco and margarita specials during happy hour. Enjoy by the first floor bar, or head up to the airy, elevated rooftop terrace. 1400 Larimer St., Denver, tamayodenver.com
May 5: Happy Hour Deals at Lady Nomada & Perdida Kitchen
Enjoy a variety of happy hour food and drink deals from 2 to 5 p.m. at all Lady Nomada and Perdida Kitchen locations in Lakewood, Arvada, Central Park, Westminster, and Washington Park. Margaritas start at just $6, and guests can enjoy shots from the six-armed Shot-o-Pus, and indulge in shareable bites, including carnitas tacos, homemade queso, and mini chile rellenos. Multiple locations, nomadakitchen.com and perdidakitchen.com
May 5: Cocktail Specials at Adrift Tiki Bar
Adrift Tiki Bar will mark Cinco de Mayo with a focused lineup of Patrón cocktails including the Big Bamboo, a citrus-forward drink made with passionfruit and Angostura bitters; the Pinky Gomez, a Mai Tai with orange curaçao and almond; and the restaurant’s classic Frozen Margarita. For the day each costs $13. Patrón 100 shots will also be available for just $6. 218 S. Broadway, Denver, adriftbar.com
May 5: Indulge in a Mexican-Inspired Burger at Good Times
Good Times Burgers will offer its Guacamole Bacon Burger for just $5 in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, both in-store and online. The beef burger is grilled to order and features bacon, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, and onion. The burger will remain at the $5 price point every Tuesday in May thereafter in celebration of National Burger Month as well. Various locations, goodtimesburgers.com
May 5: $5 Margaritas at Rio
All Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant locations will offer $5 classic Margaritas until 5 p.m. on Cinco de Mayo, with a three-per-person limit. Stop in and sip and try some of Rio’s tasty Mexican dishes too, such as fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and more. Multiple locations, riograndemexican.com
May 5: Taco and Margarita Flights at Elway’s Downtown
Elway’s Downtown is offering taco and Margarita flights on Cinco de Mayo for $24 and $50, respectively. Taco flights include steak, birria, and seafood, and the Margarita flights feature mango, strawberry, and classic. 1881 Curtis St., Denver, elways.com
Multi-Day and Weekend Food and Drink Specials
May 1 to 10: Margarita Flights at Harry’s
Harry’s Bar at Magnolia Hotel Denver, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel will celebrate Cinco de Mayo all week long with a special Margarita flight. The line up includes traditional, strawberry basil, and spicy mango which pair perfectly with the signature tacos. Bonus, head there on May 5 from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. for a live DJ to celebrate the big day. 818 17th St., Denver, harrysdenver.com
May 2: Churro Burro at Kachina Cantina
On Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., the restaurant will host a Cinco de Mayo party with live music, $5 margarita flights featuring LALO Tequila, and food specials including 10 tacos for $10. Best of all, from 2 to 3 p.m., guests can snag a churro from the visiting Churro Burro, a live donkey. Entry to the party is free, but reservations are recommended to hold a spot. 1890 Wazee St., Denver, kachinadenver.com
May 4 to 8: Happy Hour at Ash and Agave
New restaurant Ash and Agave will celebrate its one-month anniversary on Cinco de Mayo! Located in Cherry Creek Shopping Center, celebrate all week with a special happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Guests can enjoy 30% off wine by the glass, three different mini Margaritas, beers on draft, and premium pours of select Mexican spirits. Food specials include raw and wood-grilled oysters, the seafood ceviche tostada, birria bites, and more. 3000 E. 1st Ave., Suite 185, Denver, ashagave.com
May 4 to 17: Five-Pack Margarita Special at Rio
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant will offer a Cinco Margarita five-pack special from May 4 to 17 at all locations (Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Lone Tree, and Boulder). The special includes five Classic Rio Margaritas in festive packaging and a coupon for a free drink on your next visit to the restaurant. Multiple locations, riograndemexican.com
Can’t Miss Cinco de Mayo Parties
May 2: Mister Oso Washington Park
The celebration starts early with a block party-style event in the parking lot from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. All ages are invited to enjoy live music, vendors, games, and more. Mister Oso will offer tasty treats, and local favorites Fox and the Hen and Magna Kainan will be on hand with more delectable bites as well. 103 S. Ogden St., Denver, misterosodenver.com
May 2: Denver Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl Party 2026
The Denver Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl Party 2026 goes from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., complete with DJs and parties throughout the night. Expect to stop by Wonderyard Garden & Table, ViewHouse, The Retro Room, and Sidecar Lounge. End your evening at Belles & Boots and close out the crawl with the whole group. This crawl was rated the best Cinco de Mayo Weekend Bar Crawl three years in a row, and we expect this year to be just as good.
May 3: Mister Oso Boulder
Mister Oso Boulder will also be getting in on the Cinco de Mayo celebrations with a fun, afternoon event from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Enjoy live music, Red Bull-sponsored margaritas served in Mister Oso’s collectible bear-shaped glasses, and Lucha Libre wrestling matches from 2 to 4 p.m. Since the party coincides with graduation weekend in Boulder, the restaurant looks forward to hosting locals, grads, and visitors alike at this high-energy event.1253 Pleasant St., Unit 101, Boulder, misterosodenver.com
May 3: Papi’s Placita at Ay Papi
Though Papi’s Placita takes place every week, the lively neighborhood gathering will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. Celebrate with bottomless tropical mimosas, live music, vendors, and more. Reservations encouraged. 248 Detroit St., Denver, aypapidenver.com
May 5: Celebrate at Federales Tacos & Tequila
For more outdoor fun, party on the patio at Federales Tacos & Tequila in RiNo. The festivities begin at 1 p.m. with $4 pork belly tacos all day. The DJ kicks off at 3 p.m., and a 4 to 7 p.m. happy hour includes margaritas, shots, beer buckets, and sharable Mexican bites including queso blanco, nachos, taquitos, and more. 2901 Larimer St., Denver, federalesdenver.com
May 5: Cinco de Chingón at Los Chingones
Enjoy a complimentary welcome shot or bite upon arrival, and then get ready for a rooftop party at the restaurant’s RiNo location. Los Chingones will also have specials on buckets of Modelo, Pacifico, and Montucky, as well as discounts on the house Margarita. Bonus, since it’s Taco Twosday, take advantage of the $9 taco and Milagro shot combos. 2463 Larimer St, Denver, loschingonesmexican.com
May 5: Boulder Fiesta at Centro Mexican Kitchen
Head to Boulder for a fiesta at Centro Mexican Kitchen on Pearl Street. The restaurant’s outdoor patio will come alive with food, drinks, games, and more. Enjoy Mexican street food favorites like $5 goat quesabirra and steak tacos, $7 elote, and Mexican fruit cups for $6.
Drink specials include a $30, 30-ounce Giant Margarita and $50 Margarita pitchers. Or, get creative with the build-your-own Margarita menu, available all month. For more fun, get your photo taken with the roaming human piñata and spin the prize wheel for $5. Walk-ins are encouraged, but arrive early if you want to be sure to get inside. 950 Pearl St., Boulder, centromexican.com
May 5: Rooftop Party at Bloom by Apple Blossom
Sip drinks, eat tacos, and dance to live music on the 15th floor of the Hyatt Centric Denver on Cinco de Mayo at Bloom by Apple Blossom. Enjoy great views, all-you-can-eat tacos, bottomless Casamigos margaritas, and DJs for just $59 per person. Bonus, there’s complimentary swag for attendees while supplies last. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. 822 18th St., Denver, appleblossomdtdenver.com
Special Cinco de Mayo Themed Events
May 2: Tacos & Margs Crawl
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a few days early with the Tacos & Margs Crawl in LoDo from Bar Crawl Nation. This daytime bar crawl starts at noon and runs until 7 p.m., when the official afterparty begins. Start at LoDo Beach Bar to pick up your wristband, then wander at your leisure to Mexico City, ViewHouse, Wonderyard Garden & Table, Sidecar Lounge, The Retro Room, and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Denver. Along the way, enjoy DJs, food and drink specials, a scavenger hunt, spin-to-win prizes and more.
May 3: Learn About Tequila at Adrift Tiki Bar
If you love drinking tequila and would like to learn more about the history and ways to use it, don’t miss Tiki Time with Trader Vince: Tequila in Tiki Culture on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. This workshop-style tasting teaches attendees about the wonders of agave spirits, the origins, the varieties and styles, as well as specific uses in tiki cocktails.
Guests will enjoy a tequila-forward cocktail created for the event and a choice of appetizer. Space is limited, so make sure to purchase tickets in advance here. 218 S. Broadway, Denver, adriftbar.com
