This year’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations coincide with Kentucky Derby Day, making your Las Vegas party the perfect marriage of margaritas and mint juleps. Those seeking a hot spot to celebrate the day after Star Wars Day won’t have to look far. Fiestas and fun can be found all over the Las Vegas Strip, downtown and beyond.
Photo Credit: Sprinkles Cupcakes on Facebook
The LINQ Promenade on the Las Vegas Strip will go full-on fiesta from noon to 8 p.m. May 5 with a roaming Mariachi band, a Mexican hat dance, traditional street food, dining drink specials, and chihuahuas. Yes, chihuahuas. These cute canines will compete in a Chihuahua Race starting at 5 p.m. near the fountain. The race benefits Chi of Hearts, an arm of Hearts Alive Village Las Vegas, and will be followed up with a “Chihuahua cuddle.”
Speaking of dogs, Haute Doggery at the LINQ Promenade will feature a Cinco de Mayo Dog with charred grilled frank, pico de gallo, avocado sauce, machete sauce, cheddar cheese and jalapeños. Also look for food and drink specials at Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar, Flour & Barley, Off the Strip and the many other restaurants along the promenade. The High Roller observation wheel will feature in-cabin margarita tasting and a special green, red and white lights after sunset. The sugar on top of it all is the Casamigos Margarita Cupcake from Sprinkles Cupcakes.
Across the street, outdoor entertainment and dining destination The Park Vegas, is going loco for Cinco de Mayo with Tequila Mania. The two days of festivities include food and drink specials, music and more from noon to 8 p.m. daily, May 4 and 5.
The party starts with Woodford Reserve mint julep’s at the Kentucky Derby viewing party at upscale lobby bar, Bound, inside The Cromwell.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Anthony Mair
Tequila. Tequila. Tequila. That’s the key to the Cinco de Mayo fiesta at Cabo Wabo Cantina. Party on Cabo Wabo’s outdoor patio, located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, from noon to midnight.
The patio at Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino will be transformed into a Mexican fiesta with a taco stand, tequila and beer specials and a mariachi band from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Also at Mandalay Bay, Ri Ra in the Mandalay Place shops will put an Irish spin on the Mexican holiday with food specials all day on May 5 such as Corned Beef Quesadillas and house-brined corned beef with a blend of cheddar and jack cheese, served with homemade Pico de Gallo and savory sour cream.
Paris Las Vegas shows good sportsmanship about France’s defeat by Mexican troops on Cinco de Mayo with a rooftop party at Beer Park, sponsored by Hornitos tequila. Enjoy tequila samples, mariachi music, and food and drink specials like chile verde nachos and the Grand Slam Peacharita starting at 7 p.m.
Downstairs at Paris, HEXX Kitchen + Bar and Alexxa’s Bar will serve Jim Beam Mint Juleps and a Derby Pie, made with Jim Beam.
Photo Credit: Courtesy The Venetian
Turn your shopping trip into a shopping fiesta at the Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian and The Palazzo. Kick off your party as early as 8 a.m. May 5 with breakfast at Cañonita or enjoy the food and drink specials at Once by Chef Ricardo Zarate, including half-off draft beers all night long. Dance the night away to live music outside Once from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
If you’re feeling more mint than Mexican, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian will offer a twist on the classic mint juleps with watermelon (Bulleit Bourbon, watermelon juice, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and mint leaves) and strawberry (Bulleit Bourbon, strawberry juice, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and basil leaves) juleps.
Rosina at The Palazzo is offering a “secret” mint julep menu with five types of juleps including the Prescription Julep (Rye, cognac, fresh mint, sugar, crushed ice, Jamaican rum mist), the Don’t Mind if I Do (apple brandy, bourbon, fresh mint, cane syrup, Jamaican rum mist) and the Banco De Mexico (mezcal, añejo tequila, crème de cacao, fresh mint and rose water mist).
Across the street at the Fashion Show mall, El Segundo Sol will serve up Cinco de Mayo drink specials and music from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Photo Credit: Courtesy The Venetian
Splash the night away in downtown Las Vegas at the 4th Annual Tacos & Tequila Poolside Party from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Golden Nugget. Located on the Main Pool Deck, the May 5 fiesta will feature tasty tequilas, Mexican cuisine and live music.
Head under the dome at The Plaza for downtown’s largest piñata, Lucha Libre wrestling, a mariachi band, folklórico dancers, a DJ and authentic food and drink specials, starting at 7 p.m.
If you feel like celebrating off the beaten path, head to the fun-for-all-ages street fair at Tivoli Village from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring traditional Mexican street food by Leticia’s Mexican Cocina, festive drinks from PKWY Tavern and pop-ups by Fusion Beastro and Frozen Frog. Live entertainment, including bands and dancers, will take place on two stages. Kids will enjoy face painting, games and other family-friendly activities, as well as kid’s rides in Tivoli’s park.
