Fiestas, tacos, margaritas and more: 3 places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Springfield

Celebrating with friends and family at Mexican restaurants brings new life to the holiday far from Puebla, Mexico, including in Springfield.

Here are three ways you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Springfield.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta with Kapital Sound

What: It’s the biggest party of the year at La Fiesta Grande , who will be hosting a free festival of music and fun for the community. Besides margaritas and Mexican food provided by the authentic restaurant, live music played by Kapital Sound will fill the event with Soul, R&B and other classics.

Where: La Fiesta Grande at 2830 Stevenson Drive

Time: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

El Arriero Parking Lot Fiesta

What: In the mood for Mariachi? For a party too big to keep indoors, El Arriero is taking the festivities outdoors for their first annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta. The party will have live music featuring local artists Solista Mariachi Gabriel, Ricarda Rosalinda and After School Special. Catch a deal with $3 16-ounce margaritas and drafts, the same price as a street taco provided by El Arriero.

Where: El Arriero, 4233 West Wabash Avenue.

Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

Cinco de Mayo at The Alamo

What: No, not that Alamo. Springfield’s own The Alamo bar and beer garden is spending the holiday downtown with live music and specials on their assortment of Mexican beers and tequila. Forget the cover and just have fun while listening to artists Jeff Loftus and Barry Friedman play the night away.

Where: The Alamo sports bar at 114 N. 5th St.

Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

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Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

For one of the most recognizable Mexican holidays in the world, Cinco de Mayo in America is primarily known for its deals on tequila and Mexican cuisine.

What Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, isn’t usually celebrated for is the historic reason behind the day. In Puebla, Mexico, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over the Napoleonic empire on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. It’s not Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16.

The holiday over a century has become commercialized to serve the food and beverage industries, to the point U .S. News reports Cinco de Mayo is more popular in America than it is in Mexico.

Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for the State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Fiestas, tacos, margaritas and more: 3 places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Springfield