Grab your amigos and amigas and celebrate Mexico’s 1862 victory over the French. There are Cinco de Mayo celebrations all over Chicago this Thursday. If it’s a Mexican restaurant – and even if it’s not – you can pretty much guarantee there will be some sort of taco Corona, or margarita special. We’ve rounded up seven of our favorites, including a few celebrations that are too big for just one day.
Salúd!
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Rojo Gusano
3830 W Lawrence Ave
Thurs – Sat
Celebrate inside and out at this three day fiesta. You can dine on Chef Dudley Nieto’s global-fusion tacos inside under the retractable windows, or outside in the new 50-seat patio. Adjoining Ayers Avenue will be closed to traffic and filled with bands, DJs, hula hoop contests, and a special Pig Roast.
Cinco Days of Cinco de Mayo
Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W Hubbard St
Through Friday
The perennial River North hot spot is celebrating all week long with food and drink specials, but the day you really want to visit is Thursday. That’s when they’ll have a live mariachi band in the lounge as well as tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and $5 Coronas.
Cinco de May Celebration
Adobe Gilas Lincoln Park, 1500 N Clybourn Ave
6pm, $20
The Chicago Latino Netowork and Illinois Lottery join forces to bring you a night of celebrities and their favorite margaritas – complete with recipes.
Cinco Division
The Original Mother’s, 26 W Division St
6pm to 10pm
Rush & Division takes on a Mexican flair as Cinco Division returns with no cover charges, live music, and drink specials. This time seven bars on the block will feature $5.50 Corona/Light & $5 Jose Cuervo. Get your picture with the chupacabra at each location and you could win a trip to Mexico, but only if you get your entry form stamped.
Cinco de Mayo Party Featuring Mariachi Monumental de Mexico
High Noon Saloon, 1560 N Milwaukee
4pm
Chicago-based mariachi band Mariachi Monumental de Mexico performs at the Tex Mex saloon while you sip $4 Modelo Especial drafts, $5 Casa Noble tequila shots and $8 margaritas (including the cucumber jalapeno!).
Dos Equis Trolley Crawl
Lottie’s Pub, 1925 W Cortland Ave
7pm
Pioneer Tavern Group celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a good old-fashioned trolley crawl. Beginning at Lottie’s at 7pm the free trolley will take revelers to all three of the group’s locations, including Frontier and Pony Inn.
Viva Cinco de Mayo Festival
Toyota Park, 7000 S Harlem Ave, Bridgeview
Thursday – Sunday
If your motto is go big or stay home then this is the celebration for you. For four days Toyta Park is turned into Cinco de Mayo central, with live music, carnival rides, Mexican food and beers, and lots of activities for the kids.
For more Cinco de Mayo festivities, and other things to do in Chicago, check out our events calendar.
Featured image courtesy of Rojo Gusano.