It's Not Just Tequila

Want to know what's spicing up the night on Cinco de Mayo? Put away the blender and the salt and head to one of the more than 100 celebrations and activities taking place all over the Valley. We have everything from parties south of the border to kid-friendly fiestas. But mostly, we're gonna tell you about every beer bash and margarita fest within a lime's throw of your kitchen. Mariachis included.

You could be the winner of four Diamondbacks tickets, a $40 gift certificate to Carrabba's Italian Grill, and a case of Corona! To win, just count the number of Corona bottles that appear throughout the print version of this Cinco de Mayo Guide and enter your guess online at phoenixnewtimes.com/corona. The winner must be 21 years or older and will be selected through a random drawing of all correct entries. Winners will be notified by phone by Monday, May 9.

Special Events

Thursday, May 5

Fort McDowell Casino
10424 N. Fort McDowell Rd., Fountain Hills

"Cinco de Mayo Party: Fiesta at the Fort." Food and drink specials, live entertainment. 8 p.m. Free. Call 800-THE-FORT.

Glendale Arena
9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale

Elton John performs live. 8 p.m. $35-$125. Call 623-772-3200 or see http://www.glendalearenaaz.com.

Glendale Community College
6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale

Choir concert, 7:30 p.m. Free. Call 623-845-3713.

The Improv -- Tempe
930 E. University Dr., Tempe

Comedian Robert Schimmel. 8 p.m. $18. Through Sunday, May 8. Call 480-921-9877.

Lake Pleasant
I-17 and Pleasant Harbor (45 minutes northwest of Phoenix)

"Cycle de Mayo." Live music with the La Mombo Combo Band, and more. Live performance by the Samba Dancers. Various daily and nightly activities including fireworks, Cowtown paintball, the famous Belize chicken drop, party boats, comedy, bikini bike wash, the Soft Tail Biker fashion show, dyno-drags, motorcycle stunt teams, biker best of show, and more. $1 million Texas Hold'em charity tournament. Proceeds for the entire event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Through Sunday, May 8. $15 one-day ticket. $35 four-day ticket. $60 to $130 to enter the Texas Hold'em tournament. Call 602-229-2992 or see www.cycledemayo.com.

Friday, May 6

Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix

Live jazz with Lila Sherman. $8-$16. Children under 3 are free. Call 480-941-1225.

Rocky Point, Mexico
On the Sea of Cortez, 60 miles south of the Arizona border

"SunSplash Festival '05" at the Princesa Resort. Live music with Sistah Blue, Undercover Acoustic, Ellington Effect, Shawn Johnson and the Foundation, Keepin' the Day Job, Scotty Spenner, and Tommy K. Food and drink concessions on the beach and near resort's pools and hot tubs. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 6, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 7. All ages. Call 888-262-4508 or see www.seasidemexico.com.

Saturday, May 7

Cinco de Mayo Celebration -- Scottsdale
Paiute Park, 3210 N. 66th St., Scottsdale

Live music with Lupita y Los Dannes, the Scottsdale International Club dancers, food, raffle prizes, and games. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free. Call 480-312-2771.

Cinco de Mayo Festival -- Chandler
AJ Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler

Music, food, arts and crafts, children's activities, Chihuahua races, and the crowning of the festival's King and Queen Chihuahuas. Noon to 8 p.m. Free. Call 480-782-2735.

Cinco de Mayo Festival -- Downtown Phoenix Copper Square
Washington St. between Central and 4th Ave., Phoenix

"Food City Cinco de Mayo." Nine blocks of festivities with more than 100 entertainers, and arts and crafts and food vendors. Live music with Los Lobos and KC and the Sunshine Band, Grupo Refuego, Bronco, Innovacion, and many more. 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, May 7, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, May 8. $5, children 12 and under free. Call 602-279-4669.

Desert Ridge Marketplace
21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix

"Battle of the Bands." Live music by Eighth Day, Poetic Anxiety, Clayborn, and more. CDs and shirts giveaways. 7 p.m. Free. Call 602-787-6646.

Friday, May 13

Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix

Live Latin jazz with Cinco de Moio. $8-$16. Children under 3 are free. Call 480-941-1225.

Bars and Clubs

Thursday, May 5

Anderson's Fifth Estate
6820 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale

"Cinco de Mayo Gothic Style." Area 51 Gothic night with $1 drafts and $2.50 iced tea. Call 480-994-4168.

Apollo's
5749 N. 7th St., Phoenix

Gay Karaoke with Ron. No cover. Call 602-277-9373.

Arizona Joe's
417 S. Winchester Rd., Apache Junction

Live country music with Western Electric. Call 480-983-6115.

Arizona Roadhouse & Brewery
140 W. Warner Rd., Chandler

Latin dancing with live band. Call 480-726-0505.

Baby Dolls
3522 Grand Ave., Phoenix

Corona and tequila drink specials, exotic entertainment all day. $5 cover. Call 602-336-9777.

Baja Tilly's Cantina
1123 W. Broadway Rd., Tempe

"Cinco de Mayo Fiesta" with Mega 104.3, DJ Jerry, live music from Los Bad Boys and Straight Up, and the Bud Girls and Cazadores Girls. $5 Cazadores shots. $3 Bud and Bud Light 16-ounce cans. All night. $10 cover. Call 480-968-6224.

Barwinkles
5930 W. Greenway Rd., Glendale

Karaoke at 9 p.m. Drink specials. Call 602-938-9330.

The Big Bang
501 S. Mill Ave., Tempe

Sing along with dueling pianos. Call 480-557-5595.

Brennan's Sports Bar
13610 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale

Special menu served all day. Games and cash prizes at 8 p.m. DJ at 9 p.m. No cover. Call 480-951-8837.

BS West
7125 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale

Kamikaze Karaoke. No cover. Call 480-945-9028.

Club Blaze
2740 W. North Lane, Phoenix

"Cinco Celebration" with live music and a DJ. $1 Patron and 50 cent Coronas. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 602-943-4646.

The Clubhouse Music Venue
1320 E. Broadway Rd., Tempe

Live music with Within the Moment, The Miggs, and 42 Eternal. All ages. $5 cover for 21 and up. $7 cover for underage. Call 480-968-3238.

Club Tropicana
7034 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale

DJ spins salsa and merengue. Call 480-874-1112.

Craiger's Restaurant & Lounge
5400 N. 59th Ave., Glendale

No-limit Texas Hold'em. Drink specials. Call 623-934-8071.

The Dog House
1241 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa

Live music with Carvin Jones. 9 p.m. Call 480-833-6042.

Dos Gringos -- Scottsdale
4209 N. Craftsman Ct., Scottsdale

"10,000 Square Feet of Cinco de Mayo" with MIX 96. Live music, food, beverages, tricycle races, balloon toss, scuba relay, dunk tank, tomato toss, Hula-Hoop-off, lime bob, water volleyball tournament. 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, May 5; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, May 6; 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday May 7; and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday, May 8. Live entertainment Thursday by Berlin, The Blackmood, and Feed the Kitty. Live entertainment Friday by Avion, Throttle Box, and T.A.T.E. Live entertainment Saturday by The Chadwicks, Chalmer's Green, and Thousand Yard Stare. Live entertainment Sunday by The Chadwicks, Tina Bailey Band, and 9 Ball. $5 cover. Call 480-423-3800.

Dos Gringos Trailer Park -- Tempe
1001 E. 8th St., Tempe

"Pool Party on the Beach." Bring your swimsuit and beach chairs, and hang out on the sand by the 10,000-gallon pool all day long. $3 Coronas. 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-968-7879.

Downside Risk
14950 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale

$3 Coronas and $4 margaritas. Chicken burrito special. 11 a.m. to midnight. Call 480-609-7025.

Draft House
393 W. Warner Rd., Chandler

$1.75 Coronas, $2 Cuervo shots, $1 carne asada tacos, and $5.95 enchilada or beef flautas dinner. All day. Call 480-963-5520.

Elixir
7419 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale

"International Cinco de Mayo Celebration." DJ spins music from around the world. $2 Coronas and kamikazes, $4 Long Islands, $5 margaritas. 9 p.m. No cover. Call 480-970-1945.

Flicka's Baja Cantina
2003 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale

"No-frills, neighborhood bar type fun" Cinco de Mayo party with food and drink specials. Edge 103.9 on site with live broadcast starting at 6 a.m. $2 Coronas, $4 Cuervo. Games and giveaways. Live acoustic show by Authority Zero. Disco Pimps also to perform. More live entertainment to fill the night. No cover. Call 480-945-3618.

Garcia's
3301 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix

Latin dance night playing Spanish rock and pop, reggaeton, and cumbia. Call 602-866-1850.

George and Dragon English Restaurant and Pub
4240 N. Central Ave., Phoenix

"Fiesta! English Style!" $3.50 Corona. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 602-241-0018.

Hardtailz Bar & Grill
16816 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix

Live acoustic music with Chris Hiatt. No cover. Call 602-863-3474.

Hidden House
607 W. Osborn Rd., Phoenix

"Con-Funktion Junction Fiesta" with DJ Señor Al Page. $2 Coronas, $2 shots of Cuervo, $2.50 buffet. 7 p.m. to close. No cover. Call 602-266-1763.

Hurricane Bay
4139 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix

"Loco Cinco de Mayo Party." Loco contests with mucho giveaways. $2.50 Cuervo and Coronas. DJ spins all night. Call 602-843-6100.

Iguana Mack's
1371 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler

Tent party, food and drink specials, live music, late-night DJ, "Wet T-Shirt Contest," dancing. All day. No cover before 6 p.m. $10 cover after 6 p.m. Call 480-899-6735.

Jet Lag Lounge
7908 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale

$3 tequila sunrises, margaritas and tequila shooters, lunch and dinner specials. Live music with The Randy Thomas Show. All day. No cover. Call 480-941-9144.

Joe's Grotto
13825 N. 32nd St., Phoenix

Live music with Sluggo. $2 Corona and Cuervo all night. Mexican food menu available. No cover. Call 602-992-1007.

Karamba
1724 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix

Flava with DJ Melo. Call 602-254-0231.

Lagerfields Grill and Micropub
12601 N. Paradise Village Pkwy. West, Phoenix