Ring in May with these 10 festive Cinco de Mayo celebrations
From intimate Mexican cuisine cooking classes to a star-studded Latin music concert, we’ve compiled 10 great Cinco de Mayo events across the region to get the fiesta started.
Florez Bar & Grill
May 1-5
Celebrate five days of Cinco de Mayo at this local Mexican grill serving up special drink deals all week long as patrons enjoy live Latin entertainment, including mariachi music, Aztec dancing and Latin club hits mixed by local DJs, as well as the anticipated Mayweather vs. Pacquiao boxing match screened throughout the restaurant. Be sure to stop by May 4 when guests can enjoy an authentic Mexican dinner while they sip on top-shelf margaritas and taste from a variety of Casamigos tequilas, including blanco, anejo and resposado flavors. $20 for May 4 tequila tasting. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Florez Bar & Grill. 5900 South Land Park Dr. 429-6864. florezbarandgrill.com
Capay Cinco de Mayo
May 2
Ring in spring at this Yolo County farm, inviting guests to take in the agricultural side of Cinco de Mayo with tractor-tram farm tours, sweet pea flower and strawberry harvesting, olive oil tasting from Seka Hills and Capay Valley Ranches, and honey bee activities from Sola Bee Farms and Henry Bullfrog Bees. Fuel up with farm-grown elote corn, Mexican cuisine from Tacos 911, iced coffee from Pachamama, Luciano’s Scoop gelato, margaritas, and fresh fruits and veggies sold at the farm’s market stand, while rocking out to music from Davis-based funk and soul band Tha Dirt Feelin and Reno-raised Americana ensemble Kay Marie. $15 before May 1; $20 day of. 4-10 p.m. Capay Organic. 23800 State Highway 16. Capay. 530-796-0730. capayorganic.com
Cooking with Chef Cynthia Torres
May 2
Join this intimate cooking class taught by Cosumnes River College culinary arts professor Dr. Cynthia Torres, during which you’ll learn how to prepare the classic Mexican appetizer ancho pork kebabs (skewered chunks of grilled pork tenderloin rubbed in smoky ancho chili powder). After the demonstration, guests will be able to try Torres’ creation firsthand while sipping on McConnell Estates’ Tempranillo wine, which won the award for “Best of Class of Region” and the silver medal for “Best Wine” at the California State Fair in 2011. $20. 3-5 p.m. McConnell Estates Winery. 19686 West Stockton Blvd. Elk Grove. 685-5368. mcconnellestates.com
Tequila Museo Mayahuel
May 2-5
Did somebody say tequila? Sip on fan-favorite distillers such as Herradura, Patron and Don Julio, or drink up with margaritas in flavors like watermelon or mango at this downtown Mexican favorite. On May 2, the Sacramento-based salsa band Dinorah and Crosswinds will perform; on May 3rd and 4th pull up a chair and take in the live mariachi singers; and on the big day itself, singer Dinorah Curkendall will take the stage solo with her acoustic guitar, setting the mood with her Latin-flavored songs.
9 p.m.-1 a.m. Tequila Museo Mayahuel. 1200 K St. 441-7200. tequilamuseo.com
Cinco Denio’s
May 3
Grab your best amigos and head on over to Roseville for this third annual Cinco de Mayo bash inviting party goers to sample authentic Mexican small plates, such as traditional menudo soup, churros, and carne asada street tacos topped with pico de gallo, while enjoying live Mariachi music and traditional folklorico dancing. Plus, peruse a low-rider car show, shop for fresh produce at the venue’s farmers’ market, and browse merchant tents selling handmade treats, such as Mexican candy and baked goods. Free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Denio’s Farmer’s Market & Swap Meet. 1551 Vineyard Rd. Roseville. 782-2704. deniosmarket.com
Cinco de Mayo Festival
May 3
Party with some of Latin music’s hottest entertainers at this annual Cinco de Mayo music fest featuring acts like Latin jazz ensemble El Chicano, old school Latin rock group Latin Touch, local R&B-funk performers Midnight Players, and Sacramento-based salsa band Dinorah and Crosswinds, which will be performing a tribute to the late Latin music legend Selena. The party continues with an auto car show by Los Compadres Bombs and Family First auto clubs, and cultural performances, such as Xihuacoatl dancing, Aztlan folklorico, salsa and Aztec dancing. Free. 12-6 p.m. Southside Park. 2115 6th St. 541-6302. fiestaenlacalle.com
Vegetarian Tamale Party
May 4
Join Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op Learning Center chef Dionisio Esperas for a hands-on cooking workshop where you’ll learn how to make vegetarian versions of the traditional Mesoamerican dish, tamales. The class will start with instructions on how to make homemade masa followed by demonstrations of how to make veggie-filled variations of the Mexican comfort food, such as spinach, corn and mushroom tamales, and roasted red pepper and goat cheese tamales, as well as classic sauces, including avocado crema and roasted tomato salsa. $49. 6-8:30 p.m. Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op Learning Center. 1914 Alhambra Blvd. 455-2667. http://sacfoodcoop.com
Ernesto’s Cinco de Mayo
May 5
Sip on margaritas, beers and tequila at this midtown Mexican restaurant which will transform its patio into an outside bar for the night and serve up as Cadillac margaritas and Bloody Marias (tequila and tomato juice dashed with Tobasco and Worcestershire sauce), as patrons listen to live mariachi music or munch on the bar’s Mexico City tacos made with sautéed onions, fresh cilantro and your choice of carnitas, asada or chicken. Guests can travel inside to enjoy the restaurant’s regular offerings, including authentic Mexican favorites, such as carne asada a la tampiquena (grilled marinated skirt steak topped with sautéed onions and served with fresh guacamole, pico de gallo and hot homemade tortillas) and enchiladas suizas (tender chicken or cheese enchiladas served with a savory green tomatillo sauce). 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Reservations recommended). Ernesto’s Mexican Food. 1901 16th St. 441-5850. ernestosmexicanfood.com
Zocalo
May 5
Fill up on tacos and beer at this buzzing midtown restaurant, which will transform its space into a street-food Cinco de Mayo bash with pop-up taco bars and beer booths located around the restaurant. In addition to offering limited lunch and dinner services, the restaurant will offer its street tacos, including baja fish tacos (beer-battered fish with chipotle aioli and pico de gallo), tacos de cazuela (your choice of meat sautéed with house chorizo, onions, mushrooms and cheese baked casserole-style with corn tortillas) and Americanos tacos featuring braised chicken, salsa ranchera, jack cheese and Zocalo’s signature hot sauce served on crispy tortillas. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Zocalo. 1801 Capitol Ave. 441-0303. zocalosacramento.com
Mack Road Spring Fair
May 5-10
Kick off Cinco de Mayo with this five-day family-friendly carnival returns for the first time in seven years. Adorned in Mexican décor for the opening day, the festival will offer 14 dizzying carnival rides for all ages, including a Ferris wheel, a kiddie coaster, zippers and gravitons. Fuel up with four food wagons serving up fair favorites, such as corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes, deep fried Twinkies and battered bacon, or win big at carnival games like water races, machine gun games and balloon popping contests. Free. 5-10 p.m. 7789 La Mancha Way. 706-3833. mackroadpartnership.com
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