National Cinco de Mayo Festival Festival / Special Event / Holiday Event Every year in May

Many people might find it surprising that Cinco de Mayo isn’t a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day. That actually happens in September. Cinco de Mayo was first celebrated during the American Civil War by a group of Mexican-Americans and Latinos who wanted to dedicate the day to Mexican culture and heritage.

Over the years, Cinco de Mayo has become one of the rowdiest holidays on the American calendar, spanning far beyond the country’s Mexican and Latino populations. There’s no better example of the margarita madness that takes place every May than in America’s capital during Cinco de Mayo Washington, D.C.

Cinco de Mayo Washington, D.C., boasts a plethora of Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The biggest Cinco de Mayo party of them all is Cinco de Mayo Festival on the National Mall. There, live music, dancing, children’s arts and crafts workshops, and games are enhanced by the historic, scenic Mall surroundings.

Thirstier niños and niñas head to one of D.C.’s finest Cinco de Mayo restaurants for authentic cuisine and tasty Mexican tequila. El Centro D.F. houses one of the best Cinco de Mayo parties around, as buzzed guests float from the establishment’s intimate basement up to the rowdy, open-air rooftop.

Washington, D.C. can’t be beat come the Fourth of July, but this year it might be wise to consider visiting the country’s capital on May 5^th as well.