A look at Saturday's parties (with a few bonus events on Friday at the end):
COMBO DEALS: 2 THEMES, 1 PARTY
Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown. Cinci De Derby Day, 11 a.m. A Mexican and country cookin’ fusion menu. Drink specials include: Bourbon Margaritas, Tequila Juleps, Mint Juleps and regular Margaritas until the race is over. Music by the Cincinnati Dancing Pigs at 9 p.m. 513-421-6234; www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com.
FB’s, 126 W. Sixth St., Downtown. FB’s Derby De Mayo, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tacos and tequila specials. With Pinata races, Mint Julep Margaritas and entertainment. Best dressed guest wins a prize. Fancy sombreros for women; patterned bandanas for men. 513-246-4333; www.fb-cincy.com.
Nada, 600 Walnut St., Downtown. Cinco de Nada, noon-12:30 a.m. Tacos, vegetarian quesadillas, sliders, and four Mexican beers, carts, outdoor tables, games, magicians and face painters. Television screens to watch the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby and band follows. During the day whole street is reserved. Benefits Transitions Global. At night: food, games, photo booths, fire breathers, music by DJs and more. 513-721-6232; on.fb.me/Jke9jM.
Saddle Club, 1 p.m., 2487 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell. Derby Fiesta. Free food during the race with drink specials all day. 859-331-0430; www.saddleclubbar.com.
CINCO DE MAYO: THE FIESTAS
aliveOne, 941 Pavilion St., Mount Adams. aliveOne Cinco de Mayo Celebracion, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Drink specials include: $3 Corona, $3 Corona Light and $3 Pacifico. No time for a siesta because we’re having a fiesta. 513-721-6977; www.aliveone.com.
Bakersfield OTR, 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. Buck’s Badass Bash, noon-11 p.m. Parking lot adjacent to Bakersfield. Bands, DJs, mariachis including Jon Evans, DJ Yosemite Sam and Dallas Moore. Rain or shine. (And many, many tacos.) Benefits OTR Community Housing. 513-579-0446, www.facebook.com/Bakersfieldovertherhine.
Cinco de Mayo TurnUp: 1-5 p.m. Day party at Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 700 Race St., Downtown. Music by DJ HD. $1 shots of Patron. Women 18 and up. Men 21 and up. Followed by UC Programs and Activities Council Spring Concert at University of Cincinnati, featuring Big Boi and Kendrick Lamar. ADHD follows at Mixx Ultralounge at 10 p.m. with DJ Etrayn and DJ Bandcamp. 513-241-9477; www.otrfresh.com.
Cincy-Cinco Latin Festival, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday, Fountain Square, Fifth and Vine streets, Downtown. Authentic Latin American food, art, vendors, exhibitors, music, dancing and children's activities. Benefits local charities that support the Hispanic population. Free. Through May 6. 513-721-3555; www.cincy-cinco.com.
The Drinkery, 1150 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. Cinco de Mayo, 1 p.m., Music by Archers Paradox, the Kickaways and Broadcaster. Craft tacos by Forklife. $1 tequila, $3 Dos Equis. Hosted by Cincinnati’s Self Proclaimed Most Interesting Men. 513-827-9357.
Keystone Bar & Grill Hyde Park, 3384 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. Cinco de Mayo, 10-2 a.m. $3.50 Corona, Corona Light and Negro Modelo. Eight specialty quesadillas available. Ages 21 and up. 513-321-0968.
The Lackman, 1237 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. Cinco de Mayo, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. $3.50 Breckenridge Agave Wheat drafts and $3.50 Pacifico drafts all day. $3 Corona and Negro Modelo specials 4-8 p.m. Ages 21 and up. Free. 513-381-0741; www.lackmanbar.com.
Mayday, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside. Mayday Fest, 4 p.m. Margarita station, first-time-ever Django Western Taco food tastes, Mexican beers on tap, Shot and a slap booth and music by the Cincinnati Suds and Buenos Crotches. 513-541-0999; www.maydaynorthside.com.
Mount Adams Pavilion, 949 Pavilion St., Mount Adams. Cinco de Mayo at Mount Adams Pavilion, 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Drink specials: $3.50 Corona, Corona Light and Pacifico. Ages 21 and up. Music by DJ Ice Cold Tony and DJ the Ripper. With Snidely Whiplash performing on the bottom deck. 513-744-9200; www.mountadamspavilion.com.
Mynt Martini, 28 Fountain Square, Downtown. Cinco de Mayo at Mynt Martini, 11-2:30 a.m. Drink specials include: $6 Beergaritas and $4 bottles of Coronas or Corona Lights. Music by three DJs and two bands. Ages 21 and up. 513-621-6968; www.myntcincinnati.com.
Newport Syndicate, 18 E. Fifth St., Newport. Planet Mambo Cinco de Mayo, 8 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Salsa-Bachata Explosion. Music by Orquesta Kandela, Cla’ve Son, Tropicoso and Son del Caribe. DJ Jorge in Main Mambo Room. DJ Dani in Rumbaton Room. Ages 21 and up. The Tri-state Bachata Open Championship Finals. $20, $15 advance. 513-351-7222.
Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. 10 p.m., Cinco_DeMF: Dance party with DJ and art installation. Ages 21 and up. Free. 513-542-3603; www.facebook.com/projectmill.
The Righteous Room, 641 Walnut St., Downtown. Cinco de Mayo at Righteous Room, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Drink $3 bottles of Corona, Corona Light and Pacifico all day. Ages 21 and up. Music by DJ Identity. 513-381-4408; www.therighteousroom.com.
The Sandbar, 4609 Kellogg Ave., East End. Cinco de Sandbar, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Corona and Corona Light bucket specials. Music by the Suburners. Ages 21 and up. 513-533-3810.
The Stand, 3195 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout. Cinco de Mayo, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. $3 Corona, Corona Light and Pacifico. DJ Matt Joy spinning at 10 p.m. Ages 21 and up. No cover. 513-871-5006.
The Upper Room Bar and Grill, 3201 Jefferson Ave., Corryville. Ciroc de Mayo, 10 p.m.-3 a.m., Upstairs remodeled with a new bar and sound system. Two levels to party. Drink special $1 shots of Ciroc all-night-long. $10. 513-221-7666; nocstarlife.com.
Winedog Fine Wines & Fine Art, 451A Ohio Pike, Anderson Township. Cinco de Mayo Paired Wine Tasting, 4-7 p.m., Wines provided by Winedog Wine Shoppe and Cutting Edge Selections, art provided by Souleiado Art Gallery, hors d'oeuvres by Baby Bites Catering and Latin guitar music by Nick Tuttle. Ages 21 and up. $19.75. Reservations required. 888-288-0668; www.winedog.com
DERBY DAY: PONY PARTIES
Blinkers Tavern, 318 Greenup St., Covington. Kentucky Derby Party, 3 p.m. Lounge. Food and drink specials. Wear derby attire. 859-360-0840; www.blinkerstavern.com.
Dinsmore Homestead, 5656 Burlington Pike, Burlington. Derby Day at Dinsmore, 4-7 p.m. Appetizers, desserts, cash bar with mint juleps, race coverage on TV, silent auction, house tours and men and women’s hat and costume contest. Benefits Dinsmore Homestead. With music by Ricky Nye and the Paris Blues Band 3:45-5:45 p.m. $35. Reservations required. 859-586-6117; www.dinsmorefarm.org.
Keystone Bar & Grill, 313 Greenup St., Covington. Kentucky Breakfast Stout on Kentucky Derby Day, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Homemade brunch items. Ages 21 and up. 859-261-6777.
Turfway Park, 7500 Turfway Road, Florence. Noon-8:30 p.m. Traditional drink and food specials. Hat contests. Music by My Sister Sarah. Free. 859-371-0200.
BONUS: FRIDAY PRE-PARTIES
Cactus Pear Southwest Bistro, 9500 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash. Cinco de Mayo @ Cactus Pear, 10 p.m. With DJ Rudy Alvarez. $5, free students before 11 p.m. 513-791-4424; www.midwestlatino.com.
Dive Bar, 2608 Vine St., Corryville. Dive Bar Deck Grand Opening, 6 p.m.-midnight Back Deck. Drink specials include $12 Corona and Corona Light Buckets,$7 Mint Juleps, $5 Martinis of the Day and $4 Modelos. With cookout. 513-221-0931; www.facebook.com/divebarcincinnati.
Step-N-Out Studio, 721 Madison Road, Covington. Pre-Party and the Tri-state Bachata Open Championship, 8:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. One minute all couples dance, free style. One minute and 45 seconds to two minutes and 30 seconds choreography. One minute all couples dance, free style. Trophies and cash prizes for first three places. Music by DJ Latin Spy from Indianapolis and DJ Rumbero from Northern Kentucky. Preliminary Round. Barchata class by Salsa Underground free 8 p.m. Open dance floor 9:30 p.m. $7. 859-291-2300.
Boogie Nights Nightclub, 777 Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg. Derby Hat Night, 9 p.m. Wear your best Derby hat and receive free admission. Fridays and Saturdays in May for ladies, free admission. Cover. 888-274-6797; www.boogienightsindiana.com.
