This post is from 2016. See our 2017 Cinco de Mayo calendar here.
Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, May 5, and we rounded up all of the events across Seattle in honor of the occasion on our Cinco de Mayo calendar. Although some of these events are a looser interpretation of the holiday—like “Cider” de Mayo at Capitol Cider and the Cinco de Mayo Boat Party—and others, as Sydney Brownstone has written about this week, can feel “tone deaf,” there are several events where you can get authentic Mexican food and listen to authentic Mexican music. Here are the six best.
1. El Centro de la Raza’s 11th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration
El Centro de la Raza’s 11th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration is free, open to the public, all ages, and is generally a wonderful community party. Children’s activities, raffle prizes, craft and informational booths, traditional food, and live music by Folklore Mexicano Tonantzin, Sealth Mariachi, and Seattle Fandango Project will all be available for consumption.
2. Fiesta, Familia, Folklore
!Fiesta, Familia, Folklore! brings together Mexican-American artists from the Northwest for this event that’s timed for both Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day. Tenor singer José Iñiguez will headline the event with classic boleros and operas, and bands Mariachi Huenachi and Bailadores de Bronce will provide an “explosion of sound and color.”
3. Banda Vagos
Legendary Seattle group Banda Vagos bring their over 15 years of experience to the Royal Room for a night of culture-melding and border-surmounting.
4. La Carta de Oaxaca
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at La Carta de Oaxaca (an actual Mexican restaurant) with drink specials that include $5 margaritas and micheladas, and a $5 food menu featuring tostadas, chips y frijoles (beans), quesadilla fritas, and tacos with rice and beans. These specials start at 5 pm and last till close.
5. Los Buhos
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Latin music stylings of Los Buhos, featuring Laura Oviedo, Marc Smason, and Bruce Barnard, at Agua Verde.
6. Villa Escondida
Beloved Belltown Mexican restaurant Villa Escondida will serve up food and El Jimador drinks, all set to a soundtrack of Latin dance music from DJ Julio Yanez.
