What is Cinco de Mayo, and where can you celebrate at the Shore?
What is Cinco de Mayo?
The fifth of May marks the day in 1862 when, during the Franco-Mexican War, the Mexican militia defeated the French army. The victory is celebrated in Puebla, where the battle took place, and in some other parts of Mexico. But the celebrations are not grand, and the day isn't even a federal holiday.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become a day to celebrate the history, culture and cuisines of Mexico.
Where can you celebrate?
Cinco de Mayo falls on a Sunday this year, and that means two days of celebrations. In addition to Mexican and non-Mexican restaurants offering food and drink specials, there are events happening all weekend at the Shore.
Casa de Mayo at Casa Calaveras
It is the first Cinco de Mayo for this four-month-old Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, and Casa Calaveras is celebrating with live music from a mariachi band, margarita specials, prizes, face-painting, and food like street corn, aguachile, birria tacos, tortas and churros.
The fun begins at 11 a.m.
Go: 1864 Route 35, Middletown; 732-671-3243, casacalaverasnj.com.
More: Take our Asbury Park taco crawl and find birria, al pastor and more on Main Street
Fiesta de Mayo at Chilangos
The festivities begin a day early at this Highlands restaurant, which will host its celebration from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 4. There will be margaritas, tequila, mariachi music, and a menu of sopes, chiles rellenos, fish tacos, chimichangas, flan and more.
Go: 272 Bay Ave., Highlands; 732-708-0505, chilangosnj.com.
Cinco de Mayo House Party at Barrio Costero
Cinco de Mayo festivities will stretch across two days and three restaurants for Culture Collective, the hospitality group behind Barrio Costero, Reyla and Laylow in Asbury Park.
The fun begins with an outdoor Cinco Eve Party from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Barrio Costero. On Sunday, May 5, the Cinco House Party invites guests to travel to different regions of Mexico: Jalisco, with outdoor taco and margarita carts and dinner, from noon to 10 p.m. at Barrio Costero; Mexico City, with tortas, burritos, churros and margaritas, from noon to 10 p.m. at Reyla; and Oaxaca, with mezcal, from 3 to 10 p.m. at Laylow.
A DJ will provide music from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Barrio Costero, and from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Reyla. Reservations are recommended for dinner on Sunday at Barrio Costero.
Go: Barrio Costero, 610 Bangs Ave., 732-455-5544, barriocostero.com; Reyla, 603 Mattison Ave., 732-455-8333, heyreyla.com; Laylow is beneath Reyla, 732-307-9640, laylowap.com.
More: Cinco de Mayo dance party bringing food, musicians to the Count Basie in Red Bank
Cinco de Mayo in Toms River
Stroll Washington Street downtown from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4, for Toms River's event, which will feature food, drinks and vendors.
Participating restaurants and breweries include Taco-Tastic, Smokies BBQ, A Thyme for All Seasons, Capone's Gourmet Pizza & Pasta, Mandoli's Custom Cakes, Muller's Creamery, Oi Sushi, Battle River Brewing, and Garden State Distillery.
Go: 732-341-8738, downtowntomsriver.com.
More: Mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri, coming to Asbury Park and Wall
Cinco de Mayo food truck festival at Laurita Winery
The Plumsted winery will welcome nearly a dozen food trucks to its two-day festival, taking place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5.
Trucks include Shore Good Eats 'N' Treats, L'Acquario Seafood Italiano, Five Sisters Food Co., Kiersten's Creations, Dman's Grub. The festival also will feature live music and wagon tours of the vineyard.
Tickets cost $13 in advance, $15 at the gate. There is no charge for attendees 21 and younger.
Go: 85 Archertown Road, New Egypt section of Plumsted; 609-758-8000, lauritawinery.com.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Cinco de Mayo at the Jersey Shore: What is it, where to celebrate
