Pinellas County doesn’t need an excuse to throw a party, but Cinco de Mayo weekend gives it a pretty good one anyway. From a street festival that’s been shutting down downtown Dunedin for over three decades to a pier party in St. Pete and a free taco fest in Seminole, the county has spread the celebration across just about every corner of the peninsula. Here’s where to be.
Dos de Mayo Street Festival
Saturday, May 2 | 2-7 pm
Grand Central District – Central Avenue and 23rd St
The Grand Central district is shutting down a full block for a sprawling street festival that will spill into the streets, sidewalks, and surrounding bars. Organizers promise specialty food trucks, vendors, live music, and a decidedly vibrant atmosphere. Helpful tip: there’s a SunRunner stop one block away on 22nd, so you can fest responsibly.
Taco Fest
Saturday, May 2 | 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Seminole City Park – 7464 Ridge Road, Seminole
The Seminole Recreation Department is hosting a free Taco Fest at Seminole City Park with a lineup of taco vendors serving up bold flavors and chef-inspired creations for all ages, plus live music, entertainment, and games. It doesn’t have a car show or a bounce house arms race or a competing taco vendor bracket, but it has everything you actually need for a solid Cinco de Mayo Saturday evening: tacos, music, and free admission.
Official Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl
Saturday, May 2 | 4:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Tequila Daisy – 120 1st Ave N
St. Pete’s official Cinco de Mayo bar crawl hits multiple venues loaded with themed cocktails, DJs, and dancing, with check-in running from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. to get your wristband and get the party started. It’s 21-plus, it’s rain or shine, and the organizers want you to know that Cinco doesn’t stop for weather, which is either inspiring or a warning depending on how you read it. Grab an Uber, leave the car home, and commit to the evening.
UNIMEX 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo Taco Fest
Sunday, May 3 | 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Coachman Park – 300 Cleveland St, Clearwater
UNIMEX’s annual Taco Fest at Coachman Park pits taco food trucks and tent vendors against each other in a competition for best taco, best tortilla, and best salsa, which is exactly the kind of stakes this holiday deserves. Now in its third year, the free event runs eight hours and packs in live music, DJs, dance contests, bounce houses, a car show, and raffles alongside all the tacos. It’s family-friendly, culturally grounded, and free to walk into, which makes it one of the stronger options on this list for groups of any size. Show up hungry.
Casa Tina’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Tuesday, May 5 | 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Street Party from 4:00 p.m.)
Casa Tina’s – 365 Main St, Dunedin
This one’s the real deal. Casa Tina’s annual fiesta closes down Main Street and fills it with mariachi music, colorful folklórico dancers, salsa lessons, arts and crafts vendors, and a Giant Mojiganga Parade featuring oversized paper-mache puppets handmade by the restaurant’s staff and friends. The event brings thousands of revelers to downtown Dunedin every year, and it’s been doing so for over 30 years. This is the kind of Cinco de Mayo celebration that actually means something, and it’s happening on the actual day.
Cinco de Mayo on the St. Pete Pier
Saturday, May 9 | 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
St. Pete Pier – 800 2nd Ave NE
RELPro Events has partnered with the City of St. Petersburg to bring a full-day Cinco de Mayo celebration to the St. Pete Pier, running from noon to 10:00 p.m. with cultural music, authentic cuisine, and dance performances. Yes, it’s technically the weekend after May 5, but when your venue is a waterfront pier and your hours run ten hours long, you’ve earned the right to keep the party going. More vendor and performer details are expected to be announced closer to the date, so keep an eye on the event listing.
