Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the US as a homage to the national holiday of its neighbor, Mexico. It is a special event particularly in Florida because of the large population of Mexicans and Latinos here. Every year, Tampa nightlife is transformed by the May 5th parties and festivals hosted, organized, and managed by the local government and some private establishments.

Not only is this a day where clubs and bars pull out all the stops for a night of revelry, it is also a night when Tampa residents and tourists gather to drink, eat, party, and be merry.

Practice, practice, practice

Practice makes perfect, right? If you’re going to battle, would you go there without some kind of training? Think of the Cinco de Mayo party as a battleground. Your tolerance for tacos and tequila will be tested, so it is best if you can practice before going to any festivities on May 5. As early as now, start reintroducing tequila to your system… and not just tequila you can buy in a bodega. Mexican tequila. The real stuff. The strong stuff. Learn how best to handle it, or if you can handle it at all.

Go easy on the tequila

That being said, even in our best days, we might not be able to handle tequila that well. It’s the devil in disguise, tequila is. You keep drinking shots after shots, thinking nothing’s going wrong with you. The next day, you wake up all sluggish and with a massive headache you just want to pound with a hammer. Nothing goes easy with tequila in your system. Even your memories suck if you drink too much and somehow, you have to be reminded by the grainy photographs you took with your shaky hands.

Eat as many tacos as you can

Eat as many tacos as you can because you need to have food in your belly if you’re going to go full force on the tequila bar. Alcohol does not sit well in an empty stomach. You’ll be nauseous and a heartburn might make you suffer all-night-long. Don’t waste your party hours away vomiting in comfort rooms. That’s a complete waste of party time.

Dance your worries away

It’s Cinco de Mayo! Do not forget to salsa your worries away. Dance as if nobody’s watching and mingle with newfound friends. It’s always a great idea to hang out with friends during parties like these but if they are not available, you should still go and dance with complete strangers (as long as you stay safe still). You never know who you’re going to meet. Plus, it’s always nice to meet new people and gain new perspectives.