By ELIZABETH SUMAN

Baltimore is a long way from Mexico, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help commemorate the 1862 Battle of Puebla in our own way. (Our sincere apologies to all French readers). In honor of the day in 1862 when Mexican forces defeated a  much larger French army, The Brew rounded up a list of five interesting ways to spend tomorrow night that seemed somehow Brewish. That means bars where you can find whole roasted pigs, live donkeys and Dos Equis for a penny.

1) Holy Frijoles’ Cinco de Mayo Pinata Bash
(908 W. 36th St.)

The festive Hampden restaurant-slash-watering hole known for its cheap Happy Hour margaritas is holding a . . . wait for it . . . pinata-bashing competition. That’s right — creative competitors from all over the city will gather tomorrow night at 10 p.m., or whenever the regular dinner crowd dies down, to beat the hell out of their one-of-a-kind homemade creations.

“The premise of it was to all make homemade pinatas and see what people make,” said Chiara Keeling, a long-time Holy Frijoles employee who had the idea for the competition, and has encouraged participants to fill their pinatas with non-traditional contents. “I tried to encourage people to put other things inside instead of candy.” Keeling, for example, has filled a pinata with lottery tickets and bouncy balls in anticipation for tomorrow night’s festivities.

She says she’s hoping that customers will pay a $20 fee to the artist, to reserve exclusive bashing rights and ownership of whatever’s inside the pinatas, but that if that doesn’t work out, she’s open to a bashing free-for-all in which participants make a “mad dash” for pinatas’ innards. She isn’t really sure what to expect either way. “I know it’s going to be a good time and that’s all I can really say,” she said.

The deadline for pinata submissions was Sunday 4/25, but anyone can come bash. Frijoles also plans to offer yet-to-be-determined Cinco de Mayo-oriented drink specials throughout the evening.

2. SoBo Sombrero Stroll for Cinco de Mayo
(No Idea Tavern: 1649 S Hanover St)

A collaborative Cinco de Mayo pub crawl among a network of Federall Hill bars: Don’t Know Tavern, Taps, No Idea, Muggsy’s, Rowhouse Grille, and The Rowan Tree . In addition to each participant receiving a FREE SOMBRERO (and t-shirt), 100 percent of the $5 registration fee for the event will benefit the Allen Center for Senior Citizens and the Lucas Down Foundation.

Lucas Dowd is a friend and patron of No Idea Tavern who recently had a brain aneurysm. The proceeds will help towards his medical recovery. The afternoon of festivities begins at No Idea Tavern at noon, where participants can buy Dos Equis’ for a penny. Here’s a list of the other drink specials throughout the evening:

No Idea Tavern 12-4pm
1¢ Dos Equis
$5 All you can drink Dos Equis

All six bars bars 4-8pm (and all day and night at No Idea and Don’t Know)
$2 Tecates (No Idea and Don’t Know)
$3 Dos Equis
$4 Absolut and Sauza Drinks
$5 Sauza Hornitos Drinks
$7 a beer and a shot

3. Mex Tequila Bar Cinco Circus
(26 Market Place)

If a quinnessential American version of the 5th of May is what you’re looking for, Mex Tequila Bar is probably where you’ll find it. The bar, whose motto is “All Fiesta No Siesta!” is hosting a full day of drink and food specials, music, and, most importantly, a live donkey.

There are also rumors that something called a “Dos Equis Cinco Circuse” will arrive with a team of Dos Equis-clad men carrying a woman on a throne. One raffle winner will receive free margaritas for a year. The bar will offer several drink specials including Dos Equis, Sols, Tecate, and Margaritas for the following prices: 3-5pm $.50, 5-7pm $1.50; 7pm-9pm $2.50; 9pm-Close $2.50 Domestics and $4 Soco and Lime, Grand Marnier, and Jager Bombs. Free MARGARITAS FOR EVERYONE at midnight. Food specials include: 1/2 Price Burritos, $1 El Corn, $1 Tacos.

Other perks? A donkey wearing a sombrero will be in the bar between 5-9pm, and a $1 raffle ticket will enter you into a competition to win free margaritas FOR A YEAR.

4. Cinco de Mayo at Miguel’s Cocina y Cantina
(1200 Steuart St); 3-10 p.m. on the Silo Point Lawn
Highlights: A taco bar with whole roasted pigs and a DJ called Rumba Latina.

5. Cinco de Mayo at Mi Viejo Pueblito
(601 South Conkling St); 5pm- 9pm
“Dancers from Mexico will perform traditional dances.”

HONORABLE MENTION

* Cinco de Mayo at Phillips Harborplace
(301 Light Street); All evening
The bar will offer specials, including $5 “blue crab” margaritas.

Feel free to let the Brew know about other Cinco de Mayo events we might have missed.