How to Host a Cinco de Mayo Party

Cinco de Mayo—the fifth of May—is one of the largest Mexican and Mexican-American observations of the year.It commemorates Mexico’s surprising victory against the French in La Batalla de Puebla as well as celebrates Mexican heritage well across North America.These days, you don’t have to be of Mexican descent to wear a sombrero and sip a margarita in celebration.  In fact, we’d like to share with you some party tips and hosting ideas for your Cinco de Mayo party.

Creative Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas

There’s something fun and spicy about the colorful Cinco de Mayo celebration.  It’s an occasion open to so many creative possibilities, beginning with the cuisine.  From Mexican favorites to flavorful twists on classics, consider these Mexican menu ideas:

• Pineapple salsa with corn chips
• Chicken fajitas with peppers, onions and chipotle en adobo
• Roasted green beans with Latin spices
• Tortilla romaine salad with grape tomatoes, peppers, onions, Cotija cheese and strands of tortilla

BONUS menu idea!If you’re feeling exceptionally creative, you can design edible table centerpieces.  Use a tiered appetizer tray to house chips and salsa and perhaps even more Mexican-inspired finger foods.  Dress your tiered tray with paper flowers (or real ones) for added color. Visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest for more creative Cinco de Mayo recipe ideas.

Cinco de Mayo Decoration Ideas

Bold, bright colors should adorn your entire set up on Cinco de Mayo; it is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration whose famous décor and architecture are amongst some of the most colorful in the world.  Pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and blues…they all have a place on the table.Consider using:

• Brightly colored flags and banners
• Lots of green, white and red
• Paper flowers and paper lanterns
• Colorful fabrics to use as table linens
• Colorful napkins and place settings

Visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest for photos of even more Cinco de Mayo decoration ideas.

Cinco de Mayo Party Games

While most know that a piñata truly is a must-have for your Cinco de Mayo party, your guests will likely desire additional games to play throughout the day or night.  As most Cinco de Mayo fiestas are multi-generational, consider breaking down the itinerary with games for adults and children.

• For the kiddies, try the “Pass the Orange” game.  Break everyone into two teams.  One person on each team holds an orange underneath his chin and passes it to the next person on his team.  The trick is no hands allowed, and no dropping the orange, or you must start over.
• For the adults, chili pepper eating contest is a spicy favorite not meant for the weak of taste buds.  Line up contestants with a bowl full of chili peppers and a one-minute time limit.
• For both kids and adults, Mexican “kick ball” is a traditional Mexican party game.  Set up two identical obstacle courses through which two teams must dribble a soccer ball.  When the contestants reach the end of the course, they run back to their original starting point and pass the soccer ball to the next contestant.

Visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest for more fun Cinco de Mayo games.

Cinco de Mayo Music

Load your iPods and smart phones with traditional Mexican music—that means meringue, salsa, Latin and, perhaps most of all, mariachi.  With this great, upbeat music, you can expect to have people up and dancing the meringue, salsa, rumba and mambo at any moment—so it would be wise to incorporate an open space in your layout to use as a dance floor.Consider including these artists in your repertoire:

• Vincente Fernández and son Alejandro Fernández
• Luis Miguel
• Carlos Santana
• Los Tigres del Norte
• Juan Luis Guerra
• Maná
• Selena

For more great Cinco de Mayo party ideas, visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest.