Cinco de Mayo, which translates to “May 5th” from Spanish to English, is a Mexican holiday filled with celebration. The holiday was first celebrated with deep-seated roots on May 5th, 1862. Although it’s ideal to hop on a plane to Mexico and celebrate under the sun, that isn’t always possible! Luckily for you, we’ve got the best ways you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo right here in Ontario.
1. Visit a local restaurant
Get out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by visiting a Mexican restaurant or bar. Baro restaurant on King Street West in Toronto. They will be hosting their annual Baro Cinco de Mayo celebration, where all four floors of the restaurant will be participating in the festivities. This also marks their opening of the seasonal rooftop patios! Featuring special tasting menus from their Latin menu to dance parties, this is a great way to get in the spirit of the festivities and kick off the summer. Here are a few more tasty Toronto restaurants to check out:
2. Go on a boat cruise
Enjoy a Cinco de Mayo cruise in Windsor, Ontario, courtesy of Windsor Premier Cruises. This 19+ event is being held from 6 to 9 pm on May 5th, featuring a DJ, taco specials, and pitchers of margaritas. This is a great way to enjoy the holiday with an even better view.
3. Take a Mexican cooking class
On May 5th, take a cooking class in Ayr, Ontario, and learn how to make delicious Mexican food and tacos at home. Hosted by the 1909 Culinary Academy, this exciting class will show you how to make all of your favourite Mexican dishes and cocktails. This event is also family-friendly, with children ages 10-17 welcome to join the fun.
4. Go to an outdoor market
Located in London, Ontario, Cinco de Mayo Fest is a great way for the whole family to celebrate. Cinco de Mayo Fest, located in Covent Garden Market, will feature food vendors, live music, face painting, and more! This event is running on Saturday, May 6th from 3 to 8 pm, and Sunday, May 7th from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission is free, and there will be something for everyone to enjoy at this family-friendly event.
5. Enjoy a BBQ
Another great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is by enjoying delicious food and live music. Experience both of these at The Porch and Jose Cuervo’s Cinco de Mayo event. There will be live DJs, amazing Mexican food, and various Tequila drinks. The event starts at 1 pm and runs until 6 pm, so get a group together and hit the town!
6. Eat a meal at home
Make a fun meal at home to honour Cinco de Mayo with friends and family. Whether it’s tacos, burritos, or any other type of delicious Mexican cuisine, the whole family will enjoy the delicious flavours. For those of legal drinking age, you can also try making margaritas or fun cocktails to complement your food. bonappetit.com has some fun recipe ideas!
7. Bar hop!
There is a May 5th celebratory club crawl taking place at the Bull & Barrel Urban Saloon in Windsor, Ontario. This year the event is back and better than ever. Gather your friends and sample some of the finest Tequilas around, along with bar Olympics and cornhole tournaments.
We hope we gave you some fun ideas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year. Enjoy time with your family and friends, and remember, don’t drink and drive!
