Best Spots to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in San Diego

Old Town San Diego is one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Diego to spend time with my family. The area is full of unique shops and places to eat. I especially enjoy the Mexican cuisine at Tahona Bar which we feature as part of our list of the most unique things to do in San Diego.

But for me and my family it’s more than just the great shopping and tasty Mexican food, it’s the history! Home to the Whaley House, Cosmopolitan Hotel and a couple of my favorite ghost tours, the birthplace of California is the perfect location to celebrate Cinco de Mayo as well!

Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town, located at 2754 Calhoun Street, will be holding their Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday, May 3rd, Sunday, May 4th and of course Monday, May 5th for Cinco de Mayo itself!

When I think of Fiesta de Reyes, sure I think of their delicious Mexican food like their crispy tacos or empanadas, but mostly I think about the live music and performances which are always a big hit with my family.

What’s the Performance Schedule for the Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo at Fiesta de Reyes?

Our team at Go Visit San Diego wanted to make sure you knew exactly when the performances would take place for Cinco de Mayo 2025 and so we called over to make sure we had all the correct information directly from the Fiesta de Reyes team.

What we found was a full schedule of events scheduled from 10:45am until 9:30pm or Saturday, 10:30am until 8:15pm on Sunday, and 11:45am until 10:30pm on Monday.

Each day will kick-off with Folklorico in the morning, a celebration of dance and music with colorful traditional costumes all highlighting Mexican culture, followed by the energy of Los Trinos in the afternoon.

But for me, Luis Max is the one I’m really looking forward to hearing! He’ll be performing in the evening slot starting at 5:45pm, 5:30pm, and 6:45pm respectively.

As one of our featured activities on our Complete Guide to All the Holiday in San Diego article, if you can only pick one Cinco de Mayo celebration in 2025, our team would all agree that taking your family to Fiesta de Reyes for Cinco de Mayo would be an excellent choice!

If you’re looking for a unique Cinco de Mayo experience this year that’s away from the full-on energy of the restaurants, performance stages and crowds, we have a suggestion for you that you likely won’t find on a more generic list.

The Cinco de Mayo Sunset Sail Aboard San Salvador, also part of our best-of-the-best Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego, will set sail over the weekend before Cinco de Mayo Monday. Scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd & Sunday, May 4th, boarding will start at 5:00pm from the Maritime Museum in the Embarcadero, with a sunset cruise set for 2-hours from 5:30pm until 7:30pm.

I can personally recommend the San Salvador as I’ve sailed on it before with my family and can tell you in just a few words that it is super cool! A replica of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s 16th-century Spanish galleon, you just have to see it to believe it! The masts and sails are enormous, which will surely only add to the incredible sunset pictures you’ll be able to get as you sail during the golden hour on the beautiful San Diego Bay.

While I love most San Diego Bay sightseeing cruises, there’s something really special about the San Salvador. As a reproduction of the first European ship to explore America’s West Coast in 1542, it feels special to be sailing on such an interesting vessel.

What will the Cinco de Mayo Sunset Sail Aboard San Salvador Include & What’s the Cost?

Special for the Cinco de Mayo celebration, you can expect live Spanish guitar, custom cocktails, and light Mexican appetizers. You’ll also get a specialty tequila cocktail onboard with a cash bar available for the duration of the trip.

The event is $150 per person or $260 for couples and reserved for guests 21 and up.

If you’re looking for a lively Cinco de Mayo celebration that’s family-friendly, free to attend, and good for all ages, the 2025 Fiesta Cinco de Mayo in the Gaslamp Quarter could be the perfect event for you!

As our team at Go Visit San Diego was building our list of special Cinco de Mayo events for this list, this was the first that came to mind as there is just so much variety in its offerings. Spread over 6 blocks centered at Fifth Avenue and Market Street, the Downtown San Diego celebration is set to be the largest Cinco de Mayo event in San Diego in 2025!

The restaurants will be in on the action, many with food and drink specials and the shops will be open late as well. You can expect live mariachi music perfect for dancing, plus Latin bands and DJs spinning Hispanic and Latin beats.

The Main Stage will feature ballet Folklorico starting at 11:00am and continuing until 5:30pm, with the Cantina Stage offering the dance performances from 2:00pm until 7:00pm.

For a really festive and funny experience, checkout the free Lucha Libre wrestling matches from 1:00pm until 7:00pm, and an overall celebration of Mexican heritage like no other.

There will also be face painters, a custom lowrider show and competition which I personally find really interesting, and authentic Mexican goods for sale at the Artisanal Mercado.

The Gaslamp Museum at 410 Island Avenue will have a special tasting event starting at 11:00am for adults 21+ featuring Jumex Hard, a tropical and fruity hard beverage, and Arizona Hard, a classic iced tea with a kick.

I would also recommend a stop at Urban Cantina located at 5th and Island as they’ll have live music, special drinks and a Cinco de Mayo party vibe for sure!

While the event is free to attend, they are requesting you reserve free tickets so they know how many visitors to expect.

What’s the Best Way to Get to the Fiesta Cinco de Mayo in the Gaslamp Quarter?

While there will be parking in the area, I think your best bet to avoid having to find and pay for parking is to take the red line on the Trolley. It is super easy to park at any of the stations a bit outside of the Gaslamp Quarter and catch a stress free ride into town.

You could also take the FRED electric shuttle or a rideshare like Uber or Lyft, two more options that would make your arrival and departure very convenient.

SeaWorld San Diego in Mission Bay Park is hosting a special Cinco de Mayo celebration, Viva la Musica, on May 3rd– 5th, 2025 from 11:00am daily until the time the park closes.

While we haven’t been to this event yet, we have been to the Seven Seas Food Festival, Howl-O-Scream before Halloween, and a few of the theme park’s other seasonal events and can say that they really do them right!

The Cinco de Mayo celebration will center around musical performances at the Bayside Amphitheater. The all-female Mariachi Divas will perform on Sunday May 4th at 6:00pm and Pablo Montero will perform on Monday, May 5th at 6pm. Throughout the weekend there will also be lively performances by Grupo Folklorico Herencia Mexicana & Flamenco Guitarist David De Alva and Dancer Vanessa Ordonez.

The events will feature Latin food, drinks and a celebration of Mexican culture. And if you like margaritas, the classic margaritas at Manta Bar & Underwater Cantina will be on sale for just $10.

If your kids love wildlife and of course sea life, the park can be an educational experience as well. For your older kids, the thrill rides are a big hit. My daughter loves the roller coasters and I bet your kids will enjoy them too!

How Can I Get Tickets to SeaWorld San Diego’s Cinco de Mayo Events?

The Cinco do Mayo activities are included with park admission which is an incredible add-on to what will be a great day no matter when you visit.

The cheapest SeaWorld San Diego tickets are available with a Go City San Diego pass using discount code GVSD5OFF.

The pass bundles admission to San Diego’s most popular attractions like the world-famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, LEGOLAND California and more than a dozen kid-friendly museums, plus gear rentals like snorkeling equipment, bikes, and surfboard rentals, and offers it all to you at lower than advertised rates.

Our final suggested event to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in 2025 is the Frida Fiesta, a 3-day event best for adults 21 and up. Celebrating the beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo through art, nightlife and dining, Friday and Saturday’s festivities will kick-off at Toro’s 5th Anniversary Party with Monday starting at American Junkie.

30 bars will be participating in this lively event with the Gaslamp Quarter block party set just before from 11:00am until 7:00pm on Saturday. Attendees are encouraged to dress in bright colors and enter the #FRIDAFASHION costume contest. You can expect 3-6 extra hours of fun plus 15 welcome shots, drink and dining specials, DJs, live music and entertainment all about Cinco de Mayo.

Tickets can be reserved for $33/per person with two person passes available for $61 and virgin passes for about $23. Tickets, which include 15 drink tickets and entry into 30 venues, are per day. You’ll want to reserve in advance as door prices look to be $109.

While there will be $12 overnight parking available, I think your best bet for transportation would be to take the Trolley to the 5th Avenue station or grab a rideshare for a safe ride to and from the festivities.

Are there Nice Hotels Near the Frida Fiesta?

I’d suggest the Andaz San Diego, by Hyatt which features the STK rooftop bar and the Moxy San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter by Marriott located on sixth avenue which has a young, hip vibe.

Both hotel options are walking distance to the Frida Fiesta 2025 offering clean, spacious rooms that would make for the perfect home location for a weekend of fun!