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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

El Meson’s Cinco de Mayo is mas grande y mejor

The Ruiz family at El Meson. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)
The Ruiz family at El Meson. (Photo by Mark Gilliland) The Ruiz family at El Meson. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)

Live music lineup at El Meson

Hixson locationNick Lutsko, every Wednesday from 6-9 p.m.Tim Lewis, every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m.Hamilton Place locationEddie Pontiac, every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m.

EL MESON

Address: 248 Northgate Park and 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd.Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.Phone: 423-710-1201 (Hixson) or 423-894-8726 (Hamilton Place)

Last autumn, both El Meson locations expanded their bars to include additional seating, additional TVs, more margarita machines and more beers on tap. Now, the truth comes out.

“These bars were designed just for Cinco de Mayo!” Tony Ruiz, who owns El Meson’s Hixson location, told me during my recent visit.

Sí, to say that Cinco de Mayo is a big deal to the Ruiz family, which owns and operates both locations, is an understatement. Each year, both locations boast a 21-and-up parking lot party complete with live music, taco trailer, Patron margaritas and more. Both events begin at 5 p.m. and end well, when everybody goes home.