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Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the victory of the poorly equipped Mexican Army over the much larger French Army in 1862 at the Battle of Pueblo. The day is celebrated with music, dancing, drinking, piñatas, and delicious Mexican food.
Cinco de Mayo is usually celebrated with festivals and parties and you can find a lot of these in Phoenix.
Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival
The annual Cinco de Mayo Street Fair in South Phoenix is returning on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 12 pm to 10 pm. This event will celebrate culture, tradition and community. The Street Fair brings together family, friends and local businesses for a great day full of flavor, fun and entertainment.
The Street Fair will feature
- Live Music
- DJ Performances
- Authentic Mexican Food Vendors
- A Car Show featuring Low Riders
- Local Artisans & Merchandise Booths
- Folklorico Ballet
- Community Stage Showcase
- Cultural Performances
- Kids Zone with Games & Activities
- Lucha Libre
- Community Exhibits
The headliner at the festival will be the Grammy winning Sheila E, An icon with deep Latin roots, she will bring hits and powerful percussion. You can look forward to an electrifying performance in downtown Phoenix. She is regarded as one of the greatest percussionists of her generation.
This year’s entertainment lineup will also include Tierra Legacy, Thee Midniters, Richard Bean (the original voice of Malo) plus local rockers Las Calakas.
Melrose Cinco do Mayo Weekend Bar Crawl
The Melrose Cinco do Mayo Weekend Bar Crawl is back by popular demand. It will be happening on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 12 pm to 4 pm.
Participating Bars
Participating bars include
- Smith’s on 7th at 4631 on 7th Avenue
- Thunderbird Lounge at 710 W. Montecito Avenue
- Royal Kitchen + Cocktails at 135 W. Glenrose
- Stacy’s at Melrose at 4343 N. 7th Avenue
Crawl Schedule
- 12 pm to 1 pm – Smith’s on 7th
- 1 pm to 2 pm – Thunderbird Lounge
- 2 pm to 3 pm – Royal Kitchen & Cocktails
- 3 pm to 4 pm – Stacy’s at Melrose
You’ll receive 1 complimentary shot at each bar! The bars will also have specials on shots, cocktails and jello shots.
You’ll need to check in at Smith’s on 7th from 12 pm to 1 pm. You’ll receive a wristband that you must wear during the bar crawl.
So celebrate Cinco de Mayo one bar at a time on the Melrose Cinco de Mayo Weekend Bar Crawl.
Mexican Food in Phoenix
If you enjoyed the Mexican food at Cinco deMayo celebrations and you’d like more, you should try the following restaurants. They were named the 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Phoenix by the users of TripAdvisor.
- El Taco Tote
- Ajo Al’s Mexican Cafe
- Taco Guild
- Blanco Cocina + Cantina
- Aunt Chiladas Squaw Peak
- Chico Music
- Gallo Blanco Cafe
- Chino Bandido
- Dicks Hideaway
- La Santisima
Visiting Phoenix
If you’d like to visit Phoenix for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, you should consider these hotels, They all are offering discounted rates which can save you money on your stay…
If you’re going to be flying into Phoenix,you can use a promo code to save money on your flight here.