PEORIA – A long-running Cinco de Mayo celebration has been canceled this year following a “disheartening and humiliating” situation in 2025.
Los Cabos Cantina & Grill announced the cancellation of its annual event – hosted since 2015 – in a recent post to the business’ Facebook page. The decision comes after “continued disrespect for our very strong family values” in recent years.
Last year, the restaurant said it was forced to end the night early following fights and capacity problems. Once closed, however, the eatery said it became “the unexpected host of a dangerous parking lot party.”
Staff members were forced to shelter inside for safety after being subjected to “DISGUSTING and racist insults.” The team was only able to clean the parking lot after the gathering dispersed.
“What we were left afterwards were our own broken hearts, a horrible mess of broken bottles, garbage, dirty intimate articles of clothing and other obscene and gross things that no one would want to touch,” the restaurant wrote in its announcement.
Ultimately, Los Cabos described the experience as “disheartening and humiliating.”
“What was supposed to be a great and fun day turned into chaos and a filthy display of our community in general,” the post noted. “We DO NOT welcome, nor will we facilitate this kind of behavior! No amount of money is worth compromising our family values or respect for our community.”
Due to these issues, the eatery – situated at 7800 N. Sommer St., #106 in Peoria – will only be open for regular dine in on a first come, first served basis this year. Eventually, Los Cabos said it may host a different outdoor event.
“Now isn’t the time,” Los Cabos wrote. “We hope you understand. We need to do better as a community!”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria eatery cancels Cinco de Mayo event after ‘humiliating’ situation
Reporting by Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
