From mariachi bands to Margarita specials — celebrate all things South of the Border this Cinco de Mayo with our top picks for the best fiestas happening in and around Jersey City.
What: Cinco de Mayo Food Truck Fest
When: Saturday, May 5 from 12pm to 6pm
Where: 200 Greene Street (parking lot adjacent to Urby building)
Make your Cinco de Mayo fest an all-day celebration at the Jersey City Cinco de Mayo Food Truck Fest. Located at the spacious, outdoor parking lot in front of the Urby building, the fiesta will include over 20 food truck vendors, live music, and activities for kids. Plus, the event is pet-friendly.
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What: Orale Cinco de Mayo
When: Saturday, May 5 through Sunday, May 6
Where: 341 Grove Street
Why celebrate just Cinco de Mayo when you can party on Seis de Mayo as well? On Saturday, Orale will have a live mariachi band from 12pm to 3pm and a DJ/party from 6pm to midnight. Come back Sunday afternoon for a “Seis de Mayo” brunch from 12pm to 3pm.
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What: Cinco de Gringo’s
When: Saturday, May 5 from 12pm to 10pm
Where: 12 Coles Street
Put your taco-eating prowess to the test at Gringo’s Cinco de Mayo party, where you’ll get the chance to win free swag and participate in a taco-eating contest. The all-day party begins at 12pm.
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What: Cinco de Mayo at LITM
When: Saturday, May 5 from 5pm to 1:45am
Where: 140 Newark Avenue
From margaritas to spicy cocktails, celebrate Mexico’s defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla with a special menu of authentic Mexican comfort food by LITM chef Eduardo Rugiero.
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What: Cinco de Mayo Piggyback Bar
When: Saturday, May 5 from 4:30pm
Where: 200 Hudson Street
Give your Cinco de Mayo celebration an Asian flair at Piggyback Bar, which is hosting its first Cinco de Mayo party this weekend. Chef Leah Cohen will offer four Filipino-inspired tacos to choose from including a shredded pork adobo taco, chorizo taco (pictured above), fried fish taco with calamansi aioli, and a corn/roasted poblano taco with cheese. To wash your meal down, Piggyback will have various drink specials including $6 frozen Thai-chili margaritas, $5 margaritas, $6 Peach margaritas, $4 Tecate, and $4 tequila shots.
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What: PJ Ryan’s Squared 2-Year Anniversary
When: Saturday, May 5 from 6pm to 12am
Where: 4 Path Plaza Journal Square
PJ Ryan’s Squared is celebrating a trio of events today: Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, and its 2-year anniversary at Journal Square. There will be a mariachi band at 6pm, Derby kickoff at 6:45pm, more mariachi, and a live performance by 3-piece band Pop Arcana at 8pm.
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What: Hard Grove Cinco de Mayo
When: Saturday, May 5 from 7pm to 12am
Where: 284 First Street
If it’s discounted beers and margaritas you’re after — you’ve come to the right place. Hard Grove will have a variety of drink specials at their Cinco de Mayo party including $5 margaritas and $3 beers. Plus, there will be a live mariachi band. The party starts at 7pm.
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What: Zeppelin Hall Cinco de Mayo Party
When: Saturday, May 5 from 10pm
Where: 88 Liberty View Drive
German beer hall meets Mexican fiesta at Zeppelin Hall’s Cinco de Mayo fest. The biergarten will debut a special Cinco de Mayo-inspired food menu, which includes pastor or shredded beef tacos, pulled BBQ chicken quesadillas, and Zeppelin’s famous house-made guacamole.
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(Photo: Piggyback Bar)
