Cinco de Mayo celebrates an 1862 battle in which Mexican troops beat back French forces who invaded to force the country to repay a debt.

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily a regional holiday with “limited significance nationwide.” Across the United States, however, the fifth of May is recognized as a time to celebrate Mexican heritage by some, and as a good excuse to drink lots of Coronas and margaritas by others.

Here are a few of the planned events and specials happening around Arlington on Wednesday. Let us know if we forgot anything.

Mexicali Blues (2933 Wilson Boulevard)

• Cinco de Mayo party featuring free trinkets and t-shirts
• $3.50 24-oz. Modela Especial cans
• $3 16-oz. Tecate and Miller Lite cans
• $3 Corona and Pacifico bottles
• $6 margaritas

Cantina Mexicana (515 23rd Street South)

• All day specials
• Sangrias: $3 small, $8 large
• All imported beer $2.50
• $5 “super nachos”

Guapo’s Shirlington (4036 Campbell Avenue)

• Mariachi bands  from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• All Mexican beers at an unannounced “special price”

Chevy’s Fresh Mex (1201 South Hayes Street and 4238 Wilson Boulevard)

• “Party all day and all night.”
• Mariachi band, time TBA
• $5 margaritas

Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Cafe (4301 Fairfax Drive)

• “A big party” featuring outdoor beer and margarita stands, people selling shots, buckets of Corona
• Regular happy hour in effect from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Guajillo (1727 Wilson Boulevard)

• Appearance by the Jose Cuervo girls
• Giveaways including t-shirts, hats, shot glasses
• Occasional free shots, including body shots for the ladies

Taqueria Poblano (2503A N. Harrison St.)

• Food and pina colada specials

California Tortilla (2057 Wilson Boulevard)

• Coupon for free nachos when you buy something and say the secret password, “nachos.”

Ragtime (1345 North Courthouse Road)

• Happy hour from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. featuring $3 Dos Equis, $3.50 Tecate, $6 Coors Light buckets (4 bottles), $2.50 Miller Lites, $3 rail liquors
• Mexican food specials
• Markus Mann performs (rock and covers)

Mister Days (3100 Clarendon Blvd)

• $2 Negra Modelo
• $3 Corona

Related Posts

• Cinco de Mayo at Lunchtime May 5, 2011
• 2011 St. Patrick’s Day & NCAA Tournament Guide March 17, 2011
• The ARLnow.com World Cup Guide June 10, 2010
• The ARLnow.com St. Patrick’s Day Guide March 4, 2010