Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

Tacos, margaritas, and (hopefully) sunshine – need we say more?

Just because you can’t take an extended trip to Mexico to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, doesn’t mean you can’t bring the fiesta to your very own backyard! Cinco de Mayo is the perfect excuse to get together and eat good food with friends and family while enjoying a carefree party vibe.

First, some background: Cinco de Mayo is held to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It became popular in the United States to commemorate Mexican culture and we continue to carry out that tradition today with an annual celebration on May 5th.

Now the fun stuff! Here are some ideas for throwing the perfect fiesta-themed shindig that will add some Mexican vibes to your weekend plans.

Send Festive Invitations
There is nothing better than sending out fun and festive invitations to get the excitement flowing for your party. If you’re opting for physical invitations, most party stores carry fiesta-themed invitations. Or, you can get creative and check out Etsy or make your own.  Use colorful stationary or incorporate mini maracas or sombreros. Your guests will appreciate the extra level of detail and be excited for what’s to come.

Make your Party Food-Focused
A great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is making sure you pay more attention to the food you are serving. Keeping the food Mexican-focused and making sure everything is as close to authentic as possible will really bring home the fiesta feeling. Add crowd-pleasing options like a station where guests can build their own tostadas and tacos and have an array of fresh ingredients as accompaniments. Don’t forget the guac!

Decorations
Cinco de Mayo is all about colors. While keeping with the colors of the Mexican flag (red, white and green) are always good choices for your decorations, feel free to use lots of colors in your decorations. Match the colors with chili peppers, margaritas, and other food you are serving. Have fun with your decorations – use fresh foods and citrus fruit as an added touch or incorporate some sombreros and maracas in unexpected locations. 

Drinks
Most Cinco de Mayo parties center around tequila and margaritas, so you’ll want to make sure to have plenty on hand for expecting guests. Mexican beers (think Corona and Dos Equis) are also a good bet that will keep the theme cohesive while serving to different tastes. You may also want to consider having some aguas frescas (refreshing fruit drinks) for children or other guests who don’t imbibe.

Music
Playing some mariachi music or other popular Mexican music will help set the tone of your fiesta. You can search on Spotify or Apple Music for Cinco de Mayo party music or fiesta-themed playlists and greatest hits. Keep some extra maracas on hand for any guest who wants to join in the music fun. Want an added surprise? Hire a Mariachi band to keep the ambiance upbeat or a salsa dancer to teach your guests some new moves. It will be an unexpected and delightful addition to the party.

Fun and Games
No Cinco de Mayo fiesta is complete without a piñata. You can purchase one online or search your local party stores. If you have kids, you may want to make one yourself and it can be a fun activity for everyone to take part in. You can also create a makeshift photo booth with sombreros, mustaches and maracas for guests to dress up and have fun with. Consider a separate area for pin the tail on the donkey game for kids to enjoy throughout the party.

Extras
If you’re doing party favors, an inexpensive potted succulent or cactus is the perfect farewell treat for party-goers. Not only will they appreciate the extra effort, but these plants tend to be low maintenance and will be a reminder of the fun they had at your fiesta. As an added bonus, you can paint the pots to match your colors and scatter them around the party for décor before the guests take them home.

Have Fun
While we love planning the absolute perfect shindig, it’s okay if every detail isn’t pristine. Cinco de Mayo is all about having fun - as long as you have good food, great drinks, and a fun crowd, your party will be a success.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!