I believe I was 14 when I first heard the term “Cinco de Mayo.” Hip with the Spanish lingo, having spent all of three years in Texas, I knew the term meant May 5th – the day I celebrate my birth.
Wait, what?
No, Cinco de Mayo isn’t just the day I celebrate turning a year older with my amazing twin sister; it’s also an important event in Mexican history. Cinco de Mayo, not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, is a celebration that observes Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla.
Houston is loaded with activities in and around the city throughout the May 5th weekend. So if you’re looking for a quick guide to Cinco de Mayo activities, I’ve included some that should get you in the mood to fiesta {read :: PARTY!}…
Family-Friendly & On-the-Move Activities
Over the course of the Cinco de Mayo weekend, there are plenty of festivities to get the family away from the television, and out into the world of cultural experience. Most of the activities below are free, but be sure to click the links to register so that you are assured a prime spot at these events!
May 5th
If you have never been to a concert at Historic Market Square Park, on 301 Milam, this is the time to go. There’s nothing like wandering the grounds of Historic Houston, watching people dance, and enjoying good eats and drinks. If memory serves, the outdoor bathrooms are fantastic, which is always a family must. The Cinco de Mayo concerts begin at 6pm on Friday, so pull out a blanket, grab some cash, and prepare to have fun!
Check out Fusion Taco: Heights LocationFusion Taco: Heights Location for a kid-friendly event! $3 tacos, $3 Corona + Modelo Pints. For the kiddos Fusion Taco will have a face painter to dec the kids out like luchadores, as well as pints from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. There is also a new kid menu and a dog-friendly patio.
Also on Friday night is East End Houston’s Pop-up Party: Piñatafest, from 6pm – 9pm. There will be concerts, markets, performances, kid-friendly activities like face painting and caricatures, and – of course – loads of food.
May 6th
Who doesn’t love a parade? LULAC’s 24th annual Cinco de Mayo parade will begin at 10am on Texas at Hamilton. The BEST PART? Wait, I’m excited and clapping with glee – Elena of Avalor will be in attendance! There’s going to be a Disney princess at the parade!
May 7th
U of H Downtown presents Santo de Mayo 5k at the Saint Arnold Brewing Company. There will be running, there will be walking, but, most importantly, there will be beer. As they say on their site: it’s a fiesta fit for a king!
Wrapping up the fun, if you’re not exhausted yet, Trader’s Village flea market will host its 12th annual Cinco de Mayo with games, activities, and a live concert. Although it’s a free event, it’s $4 to park.
Margarita & Queso Night Out
Now I’m getting to my favorite subject on Cinco de Mayo: Mexican food. Give me a bowl of queso and a margarita on the rocks — no salt, extra lime, and walk away. Momma’s busy.
Houston has some of the best Mexican food on the planet, so while this list could easily be a mile long, I figured I’d hit up some of the personal favorites from the writers on our team for a fun, festive Friday night.
- If you’ve never heard of Esteban’s, in League City, then Friday is the night to go. They make their chips fresh, in a magical machine, and sprinkle them with salted love. Their queso is amazing, and their margaritas are strong. Actually, I love everything on their menu.
- Gloria’s just opened in the Baybrook extension, and it is every bit as delicious as its downtown counterpart. They have seating in and outside, and plenty of specialty margaritas to pair with their amazing take on Latin cuisine. Downtown Gloria’s, however, turns into a dance club, with live music, until 2am. Grab a babysitter, step up those salsa moves, and dance the night away!
- Escalante’s is a delicious treat for Cinco de Mayo, and other Houston Moms Blog mommas agree, seeing as it was listed as a Cinco de Mayo favorite pick four different times in “Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Houston.” {Locations can be found in Houston, Sugar Land, Meyerland, and The Woodlands too!}
- Lupe Tortilla is a well-known restaurant in the Houston area, and it’s not just because they have an amazing selection of margaritas. Both their queso and their fajitas are fantastic!
- And, who can forget Jimmy Changas? This place not only has amazing queso and strong margaritas, but they make a dish called a Dirty Tostada, and it’s basically like heaven on a plate. BBQ pork? Yes. Avocado? Yes. Layered with queso? Shovel it in. Add a festive atmosphere, and this place is Cinco de Mayo fun!
- Alicia’s Mexican Grille is loved for their queso, margaritas, and excellent customer service. It’s so good, all of the locations {Houston, Cypress, Katy, Spring} need to be listed, just to cover all bases.
- Another well-loved establishment is Chuy’s. When at Chuy’s, order the Jalapeño Ranch sauce, and revel in its creamy deliciousness on a salty chip. {Fun fact: The sauce was created as a salad dressing, but its popularity turned it into an amazing dip!}
There are so many great things to do around the Houston area for Cinco de Mayo, and Houston always lives up to its excellent ability to host a great event. Whatever you choose to do, whether it’s filled with activities, music, or a date night with margaritas, enjoy the celebration, enjoy the festivities, and enjoy the history of Mexican-American influence in our great state of Texas.
As for me, I’ll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with my loved ones at Gloria’s, ringing in another year of motherhood, and toasting another year of life – with that lime-filled margarita in my hand too.
