Many of us celebrate Cinco de Mayo as a way to eat all the tacos and drink all the margaritas, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Where the holiday originally started as a way to commemorate the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, in the United States we have taken the occasion to pay honor to Mexican culture and heritage.
No matter how you enjoy this May 5, 2025, here’s 20 ways and events taking place in and near Denver.
Cinco de Mayo Festival in Civic Center Park
Get down with all things Cinco de Mayo at the two-day fiesta on May 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Listen to live Latino bands and mariachi, take in the parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, join or watch the Chihuahua race on Saturday, and take your love of tacos to the next level with a taco eating contest on Sunday. There will be plenty of food vendors too at the free event. 101 14th Ave., Denver, cincodemayodenver.com
Four Days of Fun at Federales
Get ready for the ultimate fiesta at Federales in RiNo this weekend. The fun starts on Friday, May 2 with happy hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a live DJ spinning later that evening. Next is a Saturday brunch happy hour from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., then more live DJs later.
Sunday is all about $25 bottomless mimosas, and on Monday, the real Cinco de Mayo, doors open at noon with specials until 6 p.m., a DJ starting at 2 p.m., $9 Margaritas, $20 beer buckets, and $8 tequila ice shots. Food such as queso blanco, guacamole, nachos, and more will also be on happy hour prices. 2901 Larimer St., Denver, federalesdenver.com
Grand Opening of Mister Oso in Boulder
Chef Blake Edmunds, partner and culinary director of the Culinary Creative Group, has launched his third iteration of the two-time, Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning concept, Mister Oso. To celebrate, head there on Sunday, May 4 and party with DJ Amanda spinning from 3 to 7 p.m. There’s also a special happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 1253 Pleasant St., Boulder, misterosodenver.com
Mediterranean-meets-Mexican at Boychik at Stanley Marketplace
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with two special cocktails and an all-day happy hour during the holiday. The first drink to check out is the Garden in the Desert, made with urfa biber-infused tequila, passion fruit liqueur, prickly pear, and lime. There’s also Fiya Water, a combination of jalapeño-infused mezcal with orange liqueur, Bonfire Bitters, and lime. Add in that Mediterranean twist with a special happy hour menu featuring Shawarma Fries topped with a sunny egg, and sliders including falafel, shawarma, and gyro meat. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, boychikkitchen.com
Test Your Wits at Cheluna Brewing Co.
Drink and test your holiday knowledge with a special Cinco de Mayo trivia night at the Stanley Marketplace brewery. The event starts at 7 p.m. and includes questions covering Mexican history, pop culture, and cerveza facts. Not only that, but Cheluna is Colorado’s first Latino-owned craft brewery, another reason to celebrate here. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, cheluna.com
Free Beer and Fun at The Golden Mill
It’s worth heading to Golden to kick off Cinco de Mayo early with The Golden Mill and Dos Equis. On Saturday, May 3 from 3 to 5 p.m., the brewery will be doling out free Dos Equis pints, swag, and a chance to win a river tube perfect for taking down Clear Creek all summer long. Plus, Tacos al Chile will offer a full menu of Mexican street food and tacos. 1012 Ford St., Golden, thegoldenmill.com
Cinco de Mayo Party at Freedom Street Social
On Saturday, May 3, Gaucho Parrilla and Chulo Taco have all your Mexican food needs to make this holiday weekend epic. The party goes from 6 to 11 p.m., and includes music from DJ Lorenzo, a 6 p.m. salsa dance lesson, and face painting from 6 to 8 p.m. Of course margaritas are also on the menu, frozen or on the rocks, traditional, and spicy. 15177 Candelas Pkwy., Arvada, freedomstreetsocial.com
Ambler Puts Up Palomas and Piñatas
The very first Sunday Social, a new brunch party series at Ambler, kicks off with a Cinco de Mayo themed fiesta from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dubbed Palomas & Piñatas, expect festive food and drink specials, a live DJ, themed swag, giveaways, and surprises throughout. 1801 Wewatta St., Denver, amblerdenver.com
Whole Family Fun at Orchard Town Center
Grab the crew and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the whole family on Monday, May 5 from 4 to 9 p.m. at 3 Margaritas. Expect tasty, festive eats and great margaritas for the 21-and-up crowd, and live music from a mariachi band. And, if you want a little fun before Monday, sign up for Sugar Bloom Cookie’s Margs & Maracas cookie decorating class on May 4 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The $50 ticket gets you four large cookies, icing, instruction, sculpting tools, and a nice box to put them in. Tickets available here. 14697 Delaware St., Westminster, theorchardtowncenter.com
Margarita Specials at The Cherry Cricket
Buy-one-get-one margaritas? Yes please! This is one of the drink specials The Cherry Cricket locations will offer on May 5. Other festive cocktails include the Amigos del Diablo, with Milagro Reposado Tequila, blackberry, ginger, and lime. Or, Nugget of Gold with Milagro Silver, orgeat, lime, and orange. Multiple locations, cherrycricket.com
Free Chips and Salsa at Punch Bowl Social
From Friday, May 2 to Monday, May 5, Punch Bowl Social on South Broadway celebrates Cinco de Mayo with free chips and salsa for all tables starting at 5 p.m. The venue also plans to rock Latino music while doling out $12 Patron margs. Expect more surprises too, especially on the actual holiday. 65 Broadway, Denver, punchbowlsocial.com
Downtown Fiesta at Wynkoop Brewing Co.
Diners are invited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a devilish lineup of margaritas, loaded nachos, and delicious tacos like the crispy fish ones pictured here. Not only that, but the dishes pair well with Wynkoop’s signature craft beers including the Cerveza Para Mi Lager and Patty’s Chili Beer. 1634 18th St., Denver, wynkoop.com
El Borrego Negro Back In Town
Get your barbacoa on Cinco de Mayo weekend from 7 to 10 a.m., May 3 and 4. The special pop-up is back, and found in Denver at The Warehouse, 2239 Larimer St.
Music and Margs at Kachina Cantina
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo from May 2 to May 5 at Kachina Cantina, located in the Dairy Block downtown. There will be live music to get you thirsty for the tasty line up of margaritas, including the Kachina Rocks Margarita, which will be on special for just $8 all day on Monday. Also indulge in a $25 frozen margarita flight, including a new flavor made just for the holiday. On the food side, order the $15 taco plate and have a great time. 1890 Wazee St., Denver, kachinadenver.com
Eat All the Tacos
So maybe eating tacos isn’t just for Cinco de Mayo, but it’s a good excuse to fill up. We love tacos so much, DiningOut Events throws a party every year focused on them. There’s also this list of surprising taco spots.
Return of a Legend at Los Chingones RiNo
Get ready, Los Chingones RiNo is bringing back its annual Cinco de Mayo Block Party on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The all-day celebration features chef Troy Guard’s festive food and drink specials, including a Mexican beer and shot combo and watermelon-laced margaritas. Also take part in giveaways, live luchador wrestling matches, and music from a live DJ. It’s free to enter, but food and drink will be sold through tickets. 2463 Larimer St., Denver, loschingonesmexican.com
All-Day Happy Hour at My Neighbor Felix
From May 2 to 5, My Neighbor Felix will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with $7 margaritas all day long. Choose from frozen, on the rocks, mango, watermelon, and more. While the fun takes place at all locations, the LoHi fiesta will also feature Cointreau’s pedal-to-blend bikes on Saturday. Multiple locations, myneighborfelix.com
Free Margaritas at Centro Mexican Kitchen
In order to kick off Cinco de Mayo, Centro Mexican Kitchen is giving away the first 100 margaritas of the day for free. The restaurant opens its doors at 11 a.m. for lunch, so swing by early in order to score the freebie. For revelers who can’t make it until later, don’t worry, there’s plenty to celebrate including Por Lo Bueno artisanal Tepextate shots and Por Lo Bueno mezcal palomas for $15, $9 frozen margaritas, $40 coin margarita pitchers, and more. Food specials ranging from birria tacos to hamachi crudo will also be available. 950 Pearl St., Boulder, centromexican.com.
Take Margaritas To Go at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
Now and until May 5, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant has the Cinco 5-Pack Margarita Promo, which features a festive label on the classic margarita bottles. The five-packs cost $45 in Denver and $42.50 at all other locations. Plus, guests who purchase a five-pack during this time will also receive a card redeemable for a free margarita or non-alcoholic beverage on their next visit to the restaurant. Multiple locations, riograndemexican.com
Chipotle’s Digital Cinco de Mayo
Are you ready for five days immersive digital gaming in order to win real food? For Cinco de Mayo, Chipotle is launching “Ingredient Quest” in the Burrito Builder experience on Roblox. The game will task fans with finding and collecting Chipotle’s 53 real ingredients to win free burritos. The first 50,000 users to collect all 53 unique ingredient cards will unlock a free entrée offer. The fun starts on May 5, and The Burrito Builder can be accessed at here.
No video games, no problem. You can also take advantage of free chips and Queso Blanco with promo code CINCO25 when ordering from the Chipotle app, valid May 3 to 5. Multiple locations, chipotle.com
