Live music, 5-cent margaritas featured at Cinco de Mayo events in Alexandria

Published May 4, 2026 at 3:45PM

A margarita at Tequila & Taco at 540 John Carlyle Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Taco Tuesday this week promises to be something special in Alexandria as it coincides with Cinco de Mayo.

At Tequila & Taco (540 John Carlyle Street), the celebration of Mexico’s defeat over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 begins with 5-cent frozen margaritas from 9-10 a.m. The restaurant will also give out hundreds of straw sombreros and allow outdoor patio drinking until 10 p.m.

“The weather is going to be 84 degrees and sunny,” Tequila & Taco owner “Mango” Mike Anderson told ALXnow. “It should be a terrific day. We’ve got tables set up on two patios, and we’re just looking forward to serving some great Mexican food all day and some fresh-squeezed margaritas.”

A FOX5 news team will also be at Tequila & Taco in the morning, Anderson said.

Elsewhere in Alexandria, events will feature extended happy hour deals, live music and specials on food and drink, including all-day $3.50 tacos at Taqueria Picoso. More festivities are listed, below.

The regional SoberRide initiative will also be in operation, providing free Lyft rides up to $15 from 4 p.m. Tuesday through 4 a.m. the following morning in the D.C. area. The promotional code will be posted at 3 p.m. Tuesday on the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s website.

More Cinco de Mayo events

The Garden Del Ray (1503 Mount Vernon Avenue) is hosting a Cinco De Mayo trivia night at 7 p.m.
Los Tios Grill (2615 Mount Vernon Avenue and 241 S. Van Dorn Street) will celebrate at happy hour, from 3-7 p.m.
Dos Hermanos Fine Tex Mex (1603 Commonwealth Avenue) has been serving drink specials since May 2
Urbano 116 (116 King Street) has $7, $8 and $12 drink specials
Los Cuates Old Town (1116 King Street) is offering drink and food specials
Dos Amigos (525 E. Braddock Road) is offering drink and food specials
Taqueria Picoso (1472 N. Beauregard Street) is serving $3.50 tacos al pastor all day, happy hour margaritas and beer from noon to 4 p.m. and hosting live music from 6-9 p.m.
Taqueria el Poblano (2400 Mount Vernon Avenue) is expanding their Tuesday hours (usually 5-9 p.m.) to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He’s covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.