5 Awesome Places to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Trend Guides | 1st May 2022 | 6min read

The 5th of May is looming.

Get ready to ring in the festivities with a taco (or two) in hand while enjoying upbeat mariachi music for Cinco de Mayo!

As you know, Cinco de Mayo has Mexican origins. It’s a day that commemorates the victory of 4,000 Mexican soldiers over French forces in Puebla, Mexico, in 1862.

Throughout the years, celebrating Cinco de Mayo has gained popularity in other parts of the world, especially the US, where there’s a thriving Mexican and Latinx community.

And of course, Cinco de Mayo celebrations across different states have their own uniqueness and charm. Truly worth experiencing if you ask us.

We’ve also done the hard part for you and came up with a list of places where you can have the time of your life for Cinco de Mayo.

Before we get there, we wanted to let you know about something that’s equally awesome, which could be a great partner for your Cinco de Mayo plans: Zilch.

Zilch is a virtual Mastercard that allows you to choose the way you pay. You have two options: pay in 4 or pay in 1.

With pay in 4, you pay part of your purchase at checkout, then the rest over 6 weeks. Ideal for bigger buys, or if you just need a little extra time. First instalment payment varies from 25-50% depending on eligibility checks.

When you pay in 1, you’ll instantly get 2% cash back in Zilch Rewards. You can use your Zilch Rewards to discount your next shop or let them accumulate to use them on a bigger purchase in the future.

It’s that simple, and it’s always your call. And you can use Zilch anywhere!

You can pay with Zilch whether you want to buy tickets online for some Cinco de Mayo events that you would like to attend or book flights and accommodation via Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, Trip.com, United Airlines, Marriott Hotels and more!

Zilch could be your partner for your Cinco de Mayo plans.

Here’s a sneak peek of the places where you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a bang:

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Go culture soaking and get to know more about Mexican heritage in New Mexico through visiting cultural centers. Then enjoy Cinco de Mayo festivities in Old Town.

San Antonio, Texas: Go big with your Cinco de Mayo celebration with exciting events in the Historic Market Square and a fiesta at Trader’s Village.

Twin Cities, Minnesota: If you want to indulge in gastronomic delights on Cinco de Mayo, this is the place to be. You can join a salsa tasting contest, sample local fare and enjoy entertaining activities.

Portland, Oregon: Portland is the sister city of Guadalajara, so if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the Cinco de Mayo festivities and flavours of Guadalajara, you know where to go.

San Diego, California: It’s just along the Mexican border, so expect an authentic Cinco de Mayo celebration complete with parades, artisan markets, made-from-scratch, tamales, tacos and more mouth-watering delicacies.

Without futher ado, here are our top picks:

Albuquerque, New Mexico

If you’re into historical sites with cultural significance, then celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Albuquerque would be a meaningful experience for you.

You can explore the the National Hispanic Cultural Center or the South Broadway Cultural Center  to discover the Mexican heritage of New Mexico.

Of course, there’s also a bustling social scene where you can experience live dance and entertainment. Don’t forget to check out the  historic Old Town’s “Summertime in Old Town” concert series.

If you’re the athletic type, you have a myriad of race options to choose from — from one mile to a full marathon.

For an even more unique experience, you can book your tickets to the the Albuquerque Isotopes opening game on May 6th. Why not Zilch it too so you can pay in 4 or pay in 1 to get 2% cashback?

San Antonio, Texas

As they say, everything is bigger in Texas. When it comes to Cinco de Mayo, you can expect the celebration to be twice the excitement and twice the fun.

This year, there are two big events to look forward to. Downtown, you can join the celebration in the Historic Market Square, where you can watch mariachi bands perform and sample local fare.

If you’re more into laid-back and relaxing vibes, head over to the fiesta at Trader’s Village, where there will be something for everyone to enjoy. From carnival rides and concerts to a huge flea market and traditional Mexican charrería — they’ve got them all covered.

Twin Cities, Minnesota

If you’re looking for a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul never disappoints.

With a thriving Latinx community in District del Sol, West St. Paul, get ready for festivities like never before.

If you’re a foodie, you might want to take part in a salsa-tasting contest or head over to the Community Village for local artisanal goods and produce.

Not to be missed are the musical performances and scrumptious food options. There are also handmade art prints and crafts available and a family-friendly kids’ zone. 

For a peaceful and relaxing experience, you can check out the Wellness Lane.

Portland, Oregon

As the sister city of Guadalajara, Portland has been celebrating Cinco de Mayo through yearly vibrant festivals since 1983.

Festival-goers usually flock to Tom McCall Waterfront Park to experience a taste of tapatío culture, aka anything and everything Guadalajara.

Local artists from Portland, as well as performers from Jalisco, Mexico entertain the crowd with mariachi and dance folklórico.

Of course, you’ll get to check out cultural crafts, carnival rides, and sample authentic Guadalajaran flavours.

San Diego, California

If you’re looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mexican style, then celebrating San Diego is the closest thing.

Situated along the Mexican border, you’ll get to experience one of the most epic Cinco de Mayo fiestas in the country.

A bit of trivia: The Old Town neighborhood in San Diego was the first place in California to be settled by the Spanish.

When it comes to the culinary scene, authentic delicacies made with love take the spotlight. Think tamales made from scratch, handmade tortillas, and super tasty tacos.

San Diego Avenue between Conde and Twiggs streets gets super lively during Cinco de Mayo so make sure to check it out.

Also, don’t miss out on the Artisan Mercado, where you’ll find delicious Mexican food, as well as colourful arts and crafts.

And that’s a wrap! We hope these Cinco de Mayo destinations we’ve featured have helped you decide where to celebrate.

If not, you can check out zilch.com for more experiences where you can pay in 4 or pay in 1 to get 2% cashback!

Have a happy Cinco de Mayo celebration!