It’s time to get in a Cinco de Mayo state of mind
Margaritas, music and lots of choices. Welcome to Cinco de Mayo in Houston.
The annual celebration seems to take over the city every year, with every bar and nightclub offering its own take on the fiesta.
This year’s offerings, which arrive on Friday, include everything from piñata-making and popup shops to mariachis and block parties.
Piñatafest: Two day event in the East End. 6 p.m. Friday: Warehouse pop-up party featuring Ballet Folklorico Azteca, Heaven-Lee Acosta-Mariachi and Boricua Soul DJ at 3118 Harrisburg. 10 a.m. Sunday: Piñatas on the Esplanade Sculpture Competition, featuring Mariachi Rebelde, piñata making, breaking and more. Free.
Cinco de Mayo in Historic Market Square: Featuring Mexican Blackbird, Bombón, Chido Machine and Gio Chamba. 6 p.m. Friday at Market Square Park, 301 Milam. Free. East End Cinco de Mayo Block Party: Gio Chamba, Selena impersonator Amanda Solis and more. 4 p.m. Friday at Satellite Bar, 6922 Harrisburg. Free. Cinco de Mayo Dance Party: Yours truly spins Latin hits past and present from icons Thalia, Ricky Martin, Paulina Rubio, Enrique Iglesias and Shakira. You’ll also hear Juan Gabriel, JLo and more. And siempre — always — Selena. 9 p.m. Friday at South Beach, 810 Pacific. Free. Cinco de Mile Block Party on Main: A quartet of bars — Capitol Bar, Rose Gold Cocktail Den, Clé and Spire — host a bevy of DJs, a traveling mariachi, a live donkey, lucha libre wrestlers, food trucks, pop-up shops and more. Free tacos and Mexican beer for the first 100 people. 2 p.m. Friday on Main. $10-$45. Cinco de Mayo at Miller: Featuring Mexican acts TlenHuicani and the Villalobos Brothers. 7:30 p.m. Friday at Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive. Free. Cinco de Mayo Weekend:
nitrogen margaritas,DJs, liquid face painting,more. Friday-Sundayflea market andat El Big Bad, 419 Travis. $10.
Cinco De Mayo Washington Block Party: Tequila, DJs, mariachis and piñatas. 2 p.m. Friday at LaMacro, 5111 Washington. Free. Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Mexican flag mini-frozen drinks, music from La Tribu and more. 7 p.m. Friday at Boheme, 307 Fairview. Free. Cinco de Mayo at The Nightingale Room: Featuring Gio Chamba, Gracie Chavez and Felipe Galvan of Los Skarnales. 5 p.m. Friday at The Nightingale Room, 308 Main. Free. Let’s Celebrate the Cinco de Mayo: Featuring Brazilian dancers, DJ Carmona and more. Wear a Mexican sports jersey for a drink discount. 10 p.m. Friday at Cafe Europe, 2711 Fountainview. Free.
Cinco de Mayo ’17 Margarita Throw Down: Charity teams create margaritas. You enjoy the results. 4:30 p.m. Friday at Hotel Derek, 2525 West Loop S. $25. The Alley Kat Super Cinco de Mayo Party: Live music from rock acts Elyze, Kronika and Espantapajaros. 5 p.m. Friday at Alley Kat Bar &
Lounge, Cinco 3718de Mayo Milam. Free. Dance Party: Featuring Soul Creatures and Tightn’ Up. Plus barbecue and margaritas. 9 p.m. Friday at Continental Club, 3700 Main. $8. Cinco de Mayo Parking Lot Fiesta: Food and drink specials. Plus, DJ Michael Austin. 2 p.m. at Pistolero’s, 1517 Westheimer. Free. Cinco de Mayo Fiesta 2017: Performances by La Fiebre, Sandy G y Los Gavilanes and Alianza. 4 p.m. Friday at Pasadena Live Social Bar, 6915 Spencer Highway. Free. Cinco de Mayo
Party: Margaritas, of course, along with a mechanical bull and a bounce house for kids. 5 p.m. Friday at Bodega’s Taco Shop, 1200 Binz. Free. Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Piñatas, tacos and Montrose rollerblader Juan Carlos. 2 p.m. Friday at Kirby Ice House, 3333 Eastside. Free. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: Jalepeño eating contest, live music and mariachis, kid’s corner, photo station and more. 11 a.m. Friday-8
p.m. Sunday at Kemah Boardwalk, 215 Kipp, Kemah. Free. Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Mexican beers, frozen margaritas and tacos. 3 p.m. Friday at Nextdoor Bar & Lounge, 14714 Memorial. Free. Molly Maguire’s 5 de
Mayo Salsa-Off: Bring your homemade salsa for a chance at the win. Live music by Bodhi and Westfield. 7 p.m. Friday at Molly Maguire’s Irish Pub, 15945 Kuykendahl. Free. Cinco de Mayo at the Frathouse: With DJs Lucas Keizer, Michael Eclectic, Sean Carnahan and James Reed. Noon Friday at The Frathouse, 2119 Dallas. $5, free with college I.D. Tatuaje: Norteño band. 8 p.m. Friday at Puro Mexico Restaurant and Bar, 44 Aldine Bender. Free. Cinco de Mayo Party: DJs, face painter, drink specials and the
Taco Me Crazy Food Truck. 5 p.m. at Cadillac Bar, 1802 Shepherd. Free. Cinco de Mayo
Parade: The 24th annual downtown parade. Entertainment, floats, mariachis and more. 10 a.m. Saturday. Parade begins on Texas at Hamilton. Free. HD Kookers Cinco de Mayo Cook Off: Fajitas, ribs, margaritas and performances by Jenne Madrid and White Noise. 10 a.m. Saturday at McCarty’s Icehouse, 503 McCarty. Cinco de Mayo Afternoon: Margaritas, art and conversation. Noon Saturday at Native Citizen, 2311 Dunlavy. Free. Cinco de Mayo Music Extravaganza: Stacked musical lineup, including
Robert Kuhn, Greg Ponce, Let Me Remember, Kronika and more. 4 p.m. Saturday at RR/HR Motorcycle Coffee Shop, 5906 Canal. Free. Cinco de Mayo en Trader’s Village: Family event featuring games, face painting, mariachis and musical acts Konzentido, Internacional Sonora Carnaval and Jose Ignacio Cortes. Noon Sunday at Trader’s Village, 7979 N. Eldrgidge. Free.
5 de Scandalo: New nightclub hosts “RuPaul’s Drag Race” divas Jessica Wild and Yara Sofia. 9 p.m. Sunday at Scandalo Nite Club, 6501 Chimney Rock. Free before 11 p.m., $8 after 11 p.m.