Wichita celebrating Cinco de Mayo with five big parties, lots of tacos and margaritas
Cinco de Mayo is on Sunday, and in Wichita, the celebrating is likely to get a little bit loco.
Not only are a whole bunch of restaurants and bars offering specials throughout the weekend, but at least five big parties are being staged around town — some on Saturday, some on Sunday.
Use this list to decide where to get your Cinco on this weekend. Did I miss someone? Let me know by e-mailing dneil@wichitaeagle.com.
Cinco de Mayo parties
Wichita Brewing Company’s Fiesta De Mayo (Saturday): This popular Wichita brewery is throwing a party from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday at the same place they set up during the NCAA tournament last spring: the parking lot just south of Intrust Bank Arena at 339 S. Emporia. It’ll feature a tap trailer with 10 different beers, and Uno Mas food truck will be there serving food. The party also will include music and games. Admission is free.
Viva Cinco de Mayo Old Town (Saturday): This big community party will happen from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday in the large parking lot at 250 N. St. Francis. It will include local and regional Mexican bands (including headliner La Reunion Nortena), food trucks, beer, margaritas, dancing demonstrations, mariachi bands and an amateur boxing competition. All proceeds will benefit the The Honore Adversis Foundation. Admission is $5 at the gate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 5 p.m., gate admission is $10. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.
Open Streets ICT Cinco De Mayo (Sunday): Open Streets, the big party that’s happened the last two Septembers on Douglas in Wichita, is expanding to a twice-a-year event. From noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, 21st Street between Broadway and Woodland Park will be closed to traffic and open to food and street vendors, live music, dancing, yoga and more. Connie’s Mexico Cafe will be there offering free chips and salsa while supplies last. Kona Ice, Super Tortas food truck, Sweet P’s Love Machine food truck and more also will be serving food. Admission is free.
Cinco de Mayo at Wave (Sunday): The Wave venue at 650 E. Second Street is putting on a big Cinco De Mayo party from 2 to 11 p.m. on Sunday. It will feature music from four bands: Martin La Galla Y Su Paraiso De Durango, Adolfo Urias Y Su Lobo Norteno, La Amistad Nortena and Mensaje Norteno. There will also be Luche Libre wrestling plus food and drink specials. Tickets are $10 and available at eventbrite.com.
Sedgwick Festival Cinco de Mayo at Sedgwick County Zo0 (Sunday): The zoo’s annual party will happen from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and will fill the zoo at 5555 W. Zoo Blvd. with Mexican food and music. Attendees also can visit the animals while there. Regular zoo admission applies.
Bar and restaurant specials
Abuelo’s, 452 S. Ridge Road and 1413 N. Waterfront Parkway: The restaurants will have drink specials all day Sunday, including $5 draft beers in souvenir plastic cups and Mexican flag margaritas for $6.95.
The Anchor, 1109 E. Douglas: This bar and restaurant is featuring special food items all week including a Cinco de Mayo Haystack, a Sriracha pork burger on Texas toast and a Mexicali burger.
Carlos O’Kelly’s, several Wichita locations: Now through Sunday, this Mexican chain is offering queso for $1.05, $5 jumbo margaritas plus $3 bottles of Mexican beer.
Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich: This restaurant and entertainment venue will have a Cinco de Mayo event from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday that will feature street tacos on the grill from 2 to 8 p.m. and drink specials including $5 Cabo Wabo margaritas and $4 Modelos.
District Taqueria, 917 E. Douglas: This downtown restaurant is planning a Cinco de Mayo brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday that will include breakfast tacos, churro waffles, mango mimosas and more.
Emerson Biggin’s, 808 E. Douglas: This restaurant will celebrate both Saturday and Sunday with $3 Mexican beer bottles, $5 tequila shots and $15 Mexican platters. There will also be a DJ and mariachi performers.
Felipe’s, 3434 W. Central, 445 S. 119th St. West: These two Felipe’s restaurants will celebrate on Sunday with $7 fresh watermelon jalapeno margaritas, $3 beers and a happy hour from 2 to 5 p.m. DJ Metiche will perform at 1 p.m. at 119th and Maple.
Felipe’s, 2241 N. Woodlawn, 316-652-0027: This Felipe’s is celebrating Cinco de Mayo on Sunday with $6 margaritas and $7 palomas.
Hurricane Sports Grill, 8641 W. 13th St.: The restaurant will have several specials on Cinco de Mayo, including $5 margaritas, $3 Coronas, $3 tequila shots and $3 tacos.
Margarita’s Cantina, 3109 E. Douglas: This restaurant will celebrate Cinco de Mayo from Friday through Sunday with drink specials like $4 house margaritas and $13 buckets of Mexican beer. On Sunday, hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Molino’s, 1064 N. Waco: From Friday through Sunday, this favorite Mexican restaurant will offer $3 imported bottles, $4 margaritas, and smoky palomas and $5 shots of Don Julio Blanco tequila.
Mort’s Martini Bar, 923 E. First: This Old Town hotspot is having a Cinco de Mayo party that will happen on both Saturday and Sunday and will include drink specials as well as a nacho bar around 3 p.m. on Sunday.
River City Brewing Company, 150 N. Mosley: This Old Town brewery is having a Cinco de Mayo party that offers all-you-can-eat street tacos. It’ll also be serving a handcrafted Mexican lager and its Peach Serrano Gose, a collaboration with Hopping Gnome Brewing.
Rock Island Live, 101 N. Rock Island: The bar will have an “El Cinco Let’s Drinko” party starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday that will feature DJ Marcobiotics and DJ Bearfoot as well as $3 Corona, Modelo and Dos Equis. There will also be a food menu.
Rubens Mexican Grill, 915 W. Douglas: This Mexican restaurant is celebrating Cinco de Mayo now through Saturday with $5.50 Patron shots, $7 Sauza margaritas and $6 Lunazul mules. It’ll also have $2 house margaritas and its full food menu.
Whiskey Dicks, 801 S. Seneca: This neighborhood bar’s party on Sunday includes $9.99 Mexican platters, $2.75 Mexican bottles and $3.75 margaritas.
This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 9:02 AM.
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