The 8 Best Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas to Make Your Fabulous Fiesta Come Alive
Fiesta like there’s no mañana! The fifth of May celebrates Mexican heritage, independence and democracy. Our friend, Anya, hosted a Cinco de Mayo party for 12. We couldn’t be more thrilled to help her bring the heat with our fabulous fiesta ideas. From colorful decorations and festive cocktails to mouth-watering Mexican dishes and sweet treats, we’ve got you covered on Cinco de Mayo party ideas. So, let’s get ready to spice things up and celebrate this fun and lively fiesta in style!
What is Cinco de Mayo?
Ay caramba! It’s Cinco de Mayo, amigos! Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico’s victory over France during the Franco-Mexican War. The holiday celebrates Mexico maintaining its Independence and Democracy, which is not to be confused with Mexico’s Independence Day (this falls on September 16). While it is a minor holiday in Mexico, it is a big celebration in the US. So let’s get to the Cinco de Mayo party ideas.
Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas: A Little Bit About the Host
It’s time to salsa the night away! Anya, our friend and the host of the Cinco de Mayo party, is a true Mexican at heart, having grown up in the vibrant city of Mexico City. She wanted to ensure that her guests had an authentic dining experience, and thus put together a menu that included several signature Mexican dishes. Each course was thoughtfully paired with a unique cocktail that complemented the flavors of the dish. Anya’s attention to detail and her passion for Mexican cuisine was evident in every aspect of the party, from the table decor to the drinks, and of course, the delicious food.
Spice Up the Cinco de Mayo Party: Use a Bold, Colorful Palettes
This Cinco de Mayo party table is nacho average party setup! When it comes to creating the perfect Cinco de Mayo party atmosphere, the color palette can make a big difference. We wanted to make sure that our guests were immersed in a lively and energetic environment, so we opted for a mix of bold and vibrant hues. To achieve this, we incorporated a range of colors that are commonly associated with Mexican culture, including red, yellow, green, orange, blue, and white. By using these colors as a basis for our decor, we were able to create a visually stunning tablescape that perfectly captured the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
Add Some Flair to the Cinco de Mayo Party: Create a Vibrant Tablescape
Taco ’bout this Cinco de Mayo party table setting. To bring our color scheme to life, we started by covering our table with a bright red tablecloth. We had to set two tables, one rectangular and one circular, because our party was so large. The more, the merrier at our Cinco de Mayo party.
It’s time to taco ’bout how amazing this Cinco de Mayo party place setting looks! To add some variety to the place settings, we opted for a mix of blue and red plates. The combination of colors worked beautifully together, creating a fun and festive atmosphere that really set the tone for the rest of the party. For formal dinner parties, we recommend assigned seating. Kanchana created custom Cinco de Mayo party place cards.
Incorporate Flowers That Match the Cinco de Mayo Party Color Palette: Ideas and Inspiration
This Cinco de Mayo, let’s fiesta with a floralista! No Cinco de Mayo party is complete without some beautiful floral arrangements to liven up the party. For our own gathering, we decided to create a stunning bouquet that would serve as the centerpiece of our table. We started by selecting a mix of bold and bright flowers including ruby red roses, yellow ranunculus, red-orange tulips, green ball flowers, and solidago. These blooms added a stunning pop of color to our decor and perfectly captured the lively spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
You can’t marigold on Cinco de Mayo! To really make our bouquet stand out, we arranged the flowers in a large mason jar, giving it a rustic and charming feel that was perfect for our festive occasion. The final result was a stunning and eye-catching arrangement that added an extra touch of beauty to our already vibrant decor.
Decorate the Cinco de Mayo Party with Alebrijes
Let’s add some alebrije-ance to this Cinco de Mayo party! If you’re looking to add a touch of traditional Mexican art to your Cinco de Mayo party, incorporating alebrijes as decorations can be a great idea. These colorful and whimsical creatures are made by Mexican artisans and are often carved out of wood or crafted out of papier-mâché. How adorable is this mermaid?
Let’s raise the alebrije-ito and cheers to Cinco de Mayo! They can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small figurines to large sculptures. Not only do alebrijes add a unique and festive touch to your party decor, but they also serve as a way to pay homage to Mexican culture and art. Look at how cute the Armadillo is.
Sip on These Refreshing Mexican Drinks at the Cinco de Mayo Party
When life gives you limes, make margaritas and host Cinco de Mayo party! As the first guests began to arrive, we greeted them with a Passion Fruit Margarita, a delicious and refreshing cocktail that perfectly embodies the spirit of Cinco de Mayo. Made with fresh passion fruit puree, tequila, lime juice, and a touch of orange liqueur, these margaritas were the perfect way to start the evening.
Lime me up, it’s margarita time! The cocktail set the tone for a fun and festive evening. We even added a little extra flair to the drinks by rimming the glasses with a blend of salt and chili powder for a spicy kick. Our guests couldn’t get enough of them, and we knew we had set the bar high for the rest of the drinks to come.
Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas: What Is The Difference Between Mezcal And Tequila?
Mezcal is smokin’ hot! Mezcal is a Mexican liquor that is produced from a variety of up to 30 different types of agave plants. Mezcal has a distinct flavor profile that differs from Tequila. Generally, Mezcal is sweeter and stronger than Tequila and has a smoky flavor.
Tequila mockingbird Tequila is a Mexican liquor that is produced from the Blue Agave plant. Tequila is manufactured in five regions of Mexico: Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Nayarit, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. There is even a town in Jalisco called Tequila.
There are 5 varieties of tequila:
Blanco: generally unaged, clear, pure blue agave Gold: colorants and flavorings added, less expensive, used in mixed drinks Reposado: aged in wood barrels for 2-11 months, golden hue, balanced flavor of agave and wood Anejo: aged between 1-3 years, amber color, richer, smoother and more complex flavor Extra Anejo: aged over 3 years, mahogany color, extremely smooth and complex
We made our Passion Fruit margaritas with Patron Silver Tequila. This tequila is made from 100% Weber Blue Agave, which is grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The agave is roasted in small brick ovens and then crushed by a two-ton volcanic stone wheel, which releases the sweet juice that is fermented and distilled to produce the smooth and flavorful tequila that we all know and love. Patron Silver Tequila has a crisp, clean taste with hints of citrus and a smooth finish that goes perfectly with the other ingredients in a margarita. The result was a delicious and refreshing cocktail that was the perfect accompaniment to our celebration.
Amp up Your Cinco de Mayo Party with Perfectly Paired Cocktails and Delectable Food
Let’s guac and roll this Cinco de Mayo! Our taste buds were instantly delighted with the tangy lime chips and creamy guacamole. To elevate the flavor, we paired this appetizer with a Passion Fruit Margarita with a kick of Tequila. The tropical sweetness of the passion fruit perfectly balanced the tartness of the lime and tequila’s smoky essence. It was a perfect match, like chips and guac, or tequila and lime! The refreshing cocktail complimented the appetizer’s flavors, and the fruity notes made us feel like we were in paradise.
It was truly a-maize-ing. Esquites are definitely a fan-favorite among Mexican street food. The dish was perfectly paired with a Tamarind Margarita with Mezcal. This cocktail complemented the smoky and tangy flavors of the esquites, while adding a hint of sweetness. The mezcal gave the drink a unique smoky taste, which perfectly balanced the sourness of tamarind. Together, the flavors of the dish and the cocktail were a match made in Mexican food heaven.
Hooked on our red snapper? We thought so! The third course was Veracruz-Style Red Snapper with rice. This is classic fish dish from Veracruz, Mexico that combines ingredients and cooking methods from Spain and pre-colonial Mexico.
Habanero, more like haba-yum! This dish was paired with a Strawberry, Pineapple Habanero cocktail made with Hellisoy vodka, a habanero infused vodka founded by our friend, Eric.
Meringue-ing the day one dessert at a time. Our meal concluded with a Mexican Meringue flag and Shortbread Cookies, courtesy of Julie James from The Meringue Bakeshop NYC. We asked Julie to make the meringues in green, white and red, the colors of the Mexican flag. Then in the middle, we printed the insignia from the Mexican flag and placed it on top of a shortbread cookie. Julie baked some additional shortbread cookies and dipped them in meringue and stamped them with the words Cinco de Mayo. Meringues and Shortbread Cookies are not Mexican but sometimes we like to add some whimsy to our menus. And remember that Cinco de Mayo is of course about the Mexicans defeating the French!
Churro-mantic evenings with the perfect dessert. If you are looking for more traditional Mexican desserts, we recommend tres leches cake, churros or flan. We paired dessert with Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Snap a Pic with These Cinco de Mayo Party Photobooth Props
Strike a pose and get ready to salsa your way into the spotlight with Cinco de Mayo photobooth props! These props are so caliente, they’ll have you saying ‘holy guacamole!’ in no time. From oversized sombreros to mustaches, these props will make your photos pop with festive flair.
Whether you’re channeling your inner fiesta queen or feeling like a spicy señor, the photobooth props made us looking like a true Mexican masterpiece.
Our guests had so much fun with the photobooth props. Everyone was snapping photos left and right, capturing all the fun and excitement of the party.
The best part was seeing how each photo was different and full of personality. Each guest brought their own unique flair to their photos, whether it was through a silly pose or a funny facial expression.
Thanks to the photobooth props, every photo captured a moment of fun and celebration that we’ll all remember for years to come.
Holy Guacamole, it’s Cinco de Mayo. Our Cinco de Mayo party was a blast. The decorations were so colorful and festive that they could make a piñata jealous, and the food and drinks were so delicious that they disappeared faster than a taco in a group of hungry amigos. But the photobooth props stole the show, with guests donning sombreros, maracas, mustaches, and other silly accessories to take hilarious and memorable photos. Overall, it was a fantastic fiesta that brought people together to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. You can shop our Cinco de Mayo party ideas on Amazon.
Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America.
What a nice party that was. The food looks fantastic. I have not tried Mezcal before, but I sure would love to taste it someday, probably after the lock down, I will go look for a bottle.
Gervin Khan
May 8, 2021 / 12:47 am
It a simple but beautiful party and the food looks really delicious!
What a nice party that was. The food looks fantastic. I have not tried Mezcal before, but I sure would love to taste it someday, probably after the lock down, I will go look for a bottle.
It a simple but beautiful party and the food looks really delicious!
Everyone seemed to have a great time, the party set-up is just spot on. Love the food choice as well.
COUNT ME IN. This looks absolutely phenomenal!
Looks like yall had a blast!!! so fun, count me in next time lol!
Everything looks amazing wow!!! And yes to Patron, it is my favorite brand, I love it.
This looks like it was a ton of fun filled with tasty food and good company. Also I love the bold colors for this party!
What a wonderful way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! The food looks great as well as your decors/ props.