Your Guide To Cinco De Mayo Freebies And Special Offers In 2019

Cinco de Mayo, commemorating the Mexican army's victory over French forces in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, has evolved into a widely celebrated occasion across the United States. While historically significant, the holiday has become particularly known for the abundance of food and drink promotions offered by restaurants and brands. In 2019, consumers could access numerous freebies, special offers, and discounts across various establishments. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Cinco de Mayo freebies and special deals available during the 2019 celebration, focusing on restaurant promotions, product giveaways, and local events.

Restaurant Chain Promotions

Several national restaurant chains and regional establishments offered special deals and freebies in connection with Cinco de Mayo 2019. These promotions ranged from discounted margaritas and complimentary food items to special events and sweepstakes opportunities.

Margarita and Drink Specials

Multiple restaurants featured discounted margaritas and other beverages as part of their Cinco de Mayo celebrations:

• Bahama Breeze offered $5 margaritas for the holiday, with the deal starting early on May 1. The Caribbean restaurant chain made this offer available at participating locations.
• California Pizza Kitchen provided fresh agave lime margaritas for $5 during the celebration period.
• Cantina Laredo celebrated with $5 Tajin watermelon margaritas, $5 La Favoritas, and $3 bottle or draft Mexican beers.
• Chili's offered $5 margaritas or $5 beers on draft, served in commemorative Cinco de Mayo cups that customers could take home.
• Chuy's, a Tex-Mex restaurant, provided a variety of drink deals from May 4-6, including $1 Floaters and $1 off Coronas on May 4.
• Applebee's brought back $1 margaritas for the entire month of May, extending beyond just the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

Food Freebies and Specials

Several restaurant chains offered complimentary food items or special meal deals:

• Baja Fresh provided a free taco with any purchase when customers signed up for Club Baja, the restaurant's loyalty program.
• Chevy's Fresh Mex offered a free appetizer with the purchase of two adult entrees for members of their eClub.
• On-After Bar & Grub in Fayetteville featured $4 margaritas, $3 Coronas, and $2 well tequila, along with tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas.
• Paul's Place in Fayetteville provided free food that was self-serve, along with beer specials and a Bloody Mary bar.

Extended Promotions

Some restaurants extended their Cinco de Mayo promotions beyond the single holiday:

• Chipotle announced it would give away up to $1 million worth of free burritos during the 2019 NBA Finals, which took place from May 30 to June 9. This promotion was timed to coincide with the basketball championship rather than specifically with Cinco de Mayo but represented a significant food giveaway.

Local Events and Establishments

Beyond national chains, numerous local establishments and venues hosted Cinco de Mayo events with special deals and freebies:

New York City Celebrations

New York City offered several options for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with special promotions:

• Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina celebrated with their "12 Days of Cinco" event running from April 22 to May 5, 2019. The event featured premium tequilas and Mexican beers each weekday, culminating in the main Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5. The cantina partnered with brands to offer special deals, freebies, and prize opportunities, with free tequila and cerveza tastings every evening.
• NYC bar crawls were organized with $10 admission providing access to participating bars, drink and food specials. Registration took place at Libation on Ludlow Street, with participating bars including Libation, Sweet and Vicious, The Skinny, Casa Mezcal, and Rochelle's.
• Tap Room No. 307 offered $8 margarita specials and $4 taco specials all day on May 5, along with live music.
• Bierhaus featured margarita specials all day on May 5.
• McFadden's Saloon hosted "Cuatro de Mayo" on May 4 with a $30 open bar pre-sale including well mixed drinks, margaritas, domestic drafts, house wine, and $5 tequila shots.
• Dive Bar locations featured Cimarron tequila at all four of their New York City locations.

Fayetteville Area Events

The Fayetteville area in North Carolina hosted multiple Cinco de Mayo celebrations:

• Paddy's Irish Pub offered performances by Automag and DJ Slim Smooth, giveaways, and Cinco De Mayo signature drinks along with food trucks on Saturday evening.
• Jamaican Vibez Restaurant & Lounge featured $3 tequila shots and $5 margaritas on Saturday, with free entry for women before 11 p.m.
• Spring Lake Outpost and Camelback Brewing Company's "Canoes and Cervezas" event on Saturday offered authentic Mexican food with complimentary beer included with all reservations.
• Quarter Mania, hosted by the Harnett Animal Welfare Coalition, combined a quarter auction with Cinco de Mayo games, prizes, raffles, and vendors to benefit a spay/neuter program.

Product Freebies and Promotions

Beyond restaurant offers, several brands and organizations provided product freebies and promotional opportunities:

• Avocados from Mexico hosted a sweepstakes called #avosweepstakes, offering participants the chance to win one of up to $750 in gift cards.
• Rock Your Homeschool offered a free printable pack of Cinco de Mayo activities for families. To obtain these materials, individuals needed to subscribe to the Rock Your Homeschool email list, after which they received an email with the PDF file and a password to access the VIP Resource Library containing all freebies. Current members could access the materials directly through the VIP Resource Library.

Tips for Maximizing Cinco de Mayo Freebies

When seeking out Cinco de Mayo freebies and special offers, consumers should consider the following:

1. Check Participation: Not all deals are offered at every location. It's important to check with specific locations to confirm participation in any promotion.
2. Join Loyalty Programs: Many restaurant freebies require membership in email clubs or loyalty programs. Signing up in advance can ensure eligibility for special offers.
3. Plan Ahead: Some events, like bar crawls or special parties, require advance registration or purchase of tickets.
4. Verify Dates: While many promotions aligned with Cinco de Mayo on May 5, some offers extended throughout the month of May or occurred on surrounding days.
5. Read the Fine Print: Some promotions may have limitations, such as requiring a purchase minimum or being valid only during certain hours.

Conclusion

Cinco de Mayo 2019 offered numerous opportunities for consumers to enjoy free food, discounted drinks, and special promotions across various restaurant chains and local establishments. From $1 margaritas at Applebee's to free tacos at Baja Fresh with loyalty program signup, the holiday provided significant savings for those seeking to celebrate. Local events like bar crawls, restaurant specials, and family-friendly activities added to the festive atmosphere. Additionally, product promotions like the Avocados from Mexico sweepstakes and educational materials from Rock Your Homeschool provided non-dining related freebies. By planning ahead and verifying participation with local establishments, consumers could maximize these opportunities and enjoy the celebrations while taking advantage of the numerous deals available.

Sources

1. Murph Guide - Cinco de Mayo 2019 NYC
2. Fayetteville Observer - Cinco de Mayo and May Fourth Events
3. Chicago Free - Freebies and Deals on Cinco de Mayo
4. USA Today - Free Food and Deals May 2019
5. Daily American - Free Coffee, Doughnuts, Cheeseburgers and More
6. Rock Your Homeschool - Cinco de Mayo for Kids