Events Guide: Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas

By Allison Duck

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | 11:10 p.m.

Grab your sombreros and serapes -- it’s time to pretend you’re south of the border. As the margaritas and cervezas flow up and down the Strip, there are plenty of places to party as Las Vegas celebrates Cinco de Mayo, which is, FYI, not Mexican Independence Day.

Las Vegas Weekly’s Music Issue Celebration: Enjoy performances by local favorites Rhyme ’N’ Rhythm, Holding Onto Sound and A Crowd of Small Adventures at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip while partaking in free Heineken and Ambhar Tequila beverages.

Agave’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration: Agave's annual celebration features bands, DJs, $3 Modelo draughts, $5 100 percent Blue Agave Margaritas, plus $3 tacos from Agave’s taco cart.

Cinco de Drinko at Murphy’s Law: Ladies enjoy free shots every hour at Murphy’s Law, and everyone enjoys $3 beers, $5 specialty drinks and $10 buckets. There will be prize giveaways, raffles and music.

Casa de Eve: Noted as one of the most famous house DJs from Las Vegas, DJ Chris Garcia hits the decks at Eva Longoria’s Eve Nightclub for “Casa de Eve” with $5 Karma Tequila shots.

2nd Annual “CHiPs and Salsa” Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Tacos & Tequila: The original cougar is back. The Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Barney joins the second annual “CHiPs and Salsa” fiesta at T&T with CHiPs star Erik Estrada, food and drink specials and guests The Half Pint Brawlers. Enjoy $5 shots of pineapple-infused Jose Cuervo Tradicional, $5 Dos Equis, $5 Golden Toro shots, made with Jose Cuervo Silver and dropped into Red Bull, and a menu including Habanero wings, quesadillas, nachos, flautas and chips, guacamole and salsa.

Cinco de Mayo at PBR Rock Bar: PBR Rock Bar & Grill celebrates with $5 specialty food and drinks, including small plates of some of PBR’s comfort food classics like chicken and cheese enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, margaritas, tequila shots and the new guacamole hot dogs. PBR offers additional drink specials from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring 2-for-1 well drinks and $3 drafts as part of the daily happy hour.

Cinco de Mayo Beerfest College Night: The celebration at McFadden’s kicks off with free drinks for local and college ladies from 10 to 11 p.m. All guests can enjoy $20 endless Coors Light drafts from 10 p.m. until close, as well as $5 pitchers, $5 margaritas and $4 shots of Ambhar, and there’s a beer pong tournament starting at 10 p.m.

Vision Source Cinco de Mayo Eyewear Event: Vision Source at Dynamic Eye Care hosts the Cinco de Mayo Eyewear Event, with deals on the latest styles from ProDesign, a leading Danish designer that puts a modern twist on classic styles. Shoppers receive 20 percent off a complete pair of glasses and 30 percent off every additional complete pair of glasses purchased that day.

Sink-O de Mayo at Rockhouse: Break out the sombreros and put on the swimsuits. Rockhouse is turning Cinco de Mayo into Sink-O de Mayo with beer pong tournaments and a dunk tank. Revelers can celebrate Mexico’s defeat over the French Army by dominating in $5 beer pong tournaments, where those who sink their first pong shot get a free shot. The ultra-dive bar also offers $5 dunk tank games to sink Rockhouse’s sexy staff.

Cinco De Mayo at Rhumbar: Before the tacos and tequila, partygoers at Rhumbar are invited to start the celebration with Mexican-themed cocktail specials and the rocking mariachi band Kings of Cuervo on the patio. The band performs rock ’n’ roll favorites from AC/DC to Johnny Cash.

Cinco De Mayo at Cabo Wabo Cantina: Cabo Wabo Cantina will rock the Strip with a party suitable for everyone from Sammy Hagar fans to Cinco de Mayo partygoers. Hagar’s Las Vegas cantina celebrates with drink and food specials and a raffle for a one-of-a-kind autographed Sammy Hagar guitar.

The Ultimate Surf & Turf dinner at RM Seafood: Chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood is collaborating with Chef Ralph Pagano of The One Group’s STK Miami (and Hell’s Kitchen alumnus) to create Round 2 of the ultimate “Surf & Turf” dinner. The evening will be inspired by Mexico, from the pre-dinner cocktails to the food itself. The evening includes a cocktail reception and four-course dinner with wine pairing. Proceeds benefit Three Square.

Cinco de Mayo week at El Segundo Sol: To celebrate appropriately, El Segundo Sol is hosting a weeklong fiesta. On Tuesday, it’s $3 Avion Blanco shots. On Wednesday, it’s half-price Sauza Hornitos Blanco shots, $5 Casa Noble and “Loco” Hour menu specials all night long, plus music from DJ Tru starting at 6 p.m. On the big day, Loco Hour is all day, plus shot girls will be on hand with tequila. Enjoy music from DJ Andy Gil and tunes from Grupo D7. If you’re still going strong on May 6, check out the “Cincuperate” party featuring Bloody Marias and Loco Hour pricing all day long on quesadillas and nachos. DJ Tru will be back to provide the music.

Cinco de Mayo at Dos Caminos: Dos Caminos at the Palazzo celebrates with a party featuring $5 food and drink specials in the lounge from 5 to 7 p.m. Musicians, DJ Hem and DJ Shift will keep the party going until the wee hours.

Cinco de Mayo at Hussong’s: Hussong’s Cantina celebrates with a fiesta with food and drink, a rock ’n’ roll mariachi band and The Most Interesting Man in the World Contest with Dos Equis. Festivities begin at 11 a.m., with contest kicking off at 7 p.m. Contestants will be judged on their likeness to the Dos Equis character, wit and overall charisma, with the winner taking home $25O. Specials include $3 Dos Equis drafts and margaritas starting at $5. Hussong’s also will offer flights of tequila for $18.92, commemorating the opening of the Ensenada location in 1892. Happy hour nachos will be available all day for $6.

Cinco de Mayo drink specials at Crazy Horse III: Crazy Horse III at Playground will celebrate everyone’s favorite cerveza- and tequila-drinking holiday with $5 Patron shots and $5 Coronas.

Chuy hosts at Tao: Jesus Melgoza, better known as Chuy from E!'s Chelsea Lately, hosts the party at Tao. Handler’s hilarious sidekick celebrates in style at the Venetian hotspot.

Sexy Senorita contest at Blush: Dos Equis presents drink specials and the Cinco de Mayo Sexy Senorita contest, with more than $3,500 in cash and prizes at Blush.

Cinco de Mayo at Club Azul: Club Azul presents “Pop ’n’ Roll” featuring music from BVLD City and special guests Menores, who will be presenting their latest music video release.

Cinco de Mayo Weekend at Bally’s: Bally’s Las Vegas is moving Cinco de Mayo to the weekend for an outdoor two-day fiesta in front of the resort adjacent to the Strip. The party is open to the public May 6 and 7 and is 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. each day. Guests ages 21 or older can indulge in drink specials served at outdoor bars and Mexican fare including smoky chicken carnitas tacos, braised pork torta with fresh avocado and black bean spread and sopapillas. Partygoers also can enjoy the sounds of a DJ and enter to win a trip to Mexico valued at $2,500.

Cinco de Mayo at Carnaval Court: Carnaval Court and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill are offering beer and tequila specials from noon to 8 p.m. Carnaval Court also will be featuring entertainment from 1:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. The Spazmatics perform their geeked-out renditions of ’80s classics beginning at 1:30 p.m. with DJ T spinning during the breaks. At 7 p.m., Mr. & Mrs. Smith take over performing Top 40 hits. Mariachis will roam at intervals from 5 to 8 p.m. DJ Divina finishes off the night spinning until 4 a.m.

Cinco de Mayo drink specials at Sin City Brewing Company: Sin City Brewing Company is serving $5 tequila shots, cocktails and beer specials in addition to their hand-crafted brews.