Friday, May 1

Hacienda de la Sierra (931 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) will begin its Cinco de Mayo celebrations by featuring live music with a Latin flair right after happy hour. Come celebrate with Paul Covarelli. For information call (775) 831-8300.

Caliente (8791 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach) also will begin its Cinco de Mayo celebrations tonight with an extended happy hour, food and drink specials from 4 to 10 p.m. and a contest to Guess How Many Beans are in the Jar. Win a dinner for four, with the winner drawn on May 5. Call (530) 546-1000 for details.

Saturday, May 2

Caliente’s celebrations continue with a Jalapeno eating contest at 4 p.m. There will be a grand prize for the top two contenders in the jalapeno eating contest.

The Blue Agave (425 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) always has a huge “Cinco de Funo” party. Call (530) 583-8113 for more information.

Sunday, May 3

Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center in Reno will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Sunday, May 3. Watch the tigers, mountain lions, wolves, cheetahs, bears and other carnivores pounce on piņatas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center is located at Highway 395 North, right on Red Rock, 11.5 miles, right on Deerlodge to 1265. The cost of admission is $6 for children and seniors and $8 for adults. Children 2 and under are free. For information go to www.animalark.org or call (775) 970-3111.

El Toro Bravo in Truckee will be throwing a Tres de Mayo patio opening party from noon to 8 p.m. complete with live DJ and happy hour food and drink specials all day long. For information call (530) 587-3557.

Caliente brings back its famous Chihuahua races in the parking lot starting at 3 p.m., with prizes for top three finishers.

Monday, May 4

Caliente holds a Chupacabra drinking contest at 5 p.m. with a grand prize to the Chupacabra King or Queen. Also expect happy hour food and drink specials from 4-8 p.m. in the bar.

Tuesday, May 5

La Bamba in Truckee (11760 Donner Pass Road, Truckee) plans to get Cinco de Mayo customers in a festive mood with a sweet deal — half-price dinners all evening long. Call (530) 587-3516 for details.

The Tahoe Biltmore (Highway 28, Crystal Bay) will offer drink specials all day long for Cinco de Mayo. Call (775) 831-0660.

Cinco de Mayo falls on the Bar of America’s (10042 Donner Pass Road, Truckee) normal Tuesday evening “Happy Hour All Night” promotion, meaning select drinks (including a special house margarita) will be a couple of dollars off the regular prices, and all appetizers, pizzas and salads on the bar menu are half-off from 3 p.m. until close. Call (530) 587-2626.

On Tuesday, May 5, doors open at Jake's On The Lake (780 N. Lake Blvd. in Tahoe City's Boatworks Mall) at 4:30 p.m. For more information please call (530) 583-0188 or visit www.jakestahoe.com

The River Ranch Lodge (Corner of Highway 89 and Alpine Meadows Road) will get in on the Cinco de Mayo action from 4 p.m. until close.Call (530) or see www.riverranchlodge.com.

Los Altos (11367 Deerfield Drive, Truckee, in the SaveMart shopping center) will kick their Cinco de Mayo celebration into high gear on Tuesday. Call (530) 587-7872 for details.

Casa Baeza (10004 Bridge Street, Truckee) is practically giving away beer all day on May 5. Call (530) 587-2161 for more information.

Pete ‘N Peter’s (395 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) will have tequila and corona specials all night. Call (530) 583-2400 for details.

FiftyFifty Brewing Company (11197 Brockway Road, Truckee) has a bunch of specials to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Call (530) 587-BEER for more information.

The Blue Agave continues its “Cinco de Funo” celebration with The Big Enchilada on Tuesday including live music, drink specials and fun. Call (530) 583-8113 for more information.

The Pastime Club (10096 Donner Pass Road, Truckee) will be serving up their Cinco de Mayo specialty, the Donner Lake Margarita, all night long for only $2. Add to that $4 well margaritas, DJ Nomad spinning all night, and potentially a mariachi band stopping by, and you’ll definitely want to stop by this Truckee bar. Call (530) 582-9219 for more information.

Lakeside (850 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) has a great outdoor deck to get Cinco de Mayo revelers in the right mood. Special prices on buckets of Corona on that deck won’t hurt either. Call (530) 583-2000 if you need to know more.

Squaw Valley USA and Monster Energy are gearing up for “Monster de Mayo,” the craziest Cinco de Mayo party in ski country. More information on Monster de Mayo is available on www.monsterenergy.com and or by calling (530) 583-6985.