How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Invitations

Make your Fiesta invitations by transferring a template or clip art of a sombrero, chili pepper or the Mexican flag to card stock.  Using a marker include all of the important details on the reverse side.  What could be simpler?!!!!

How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Decorations

The perfect color scheme for this party is red, white and green - the colors of the Mexican flag.  A nice touch would be to display a Mexican flag if you have one or some travel posters of Mexico.  Check with your local travel agency to see if they might have some travel posters you could use.

Use colorful Mexican blankets as decorative accents or as table cloths.  Decorate the table with brightly colored paper plates and cups or use colorful terracotta pottery and straw mats.  Hang maracas and sombreros.

How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Activities

How Many Beans? - For this activity you will need a large glass jar filled with beans, small pieces of paper, and some pencils.

Have children write their name on a small piece of paper and their guess as to how many beans are in the jar.  The child who guesses the right number or comes the closest gets the prize.



Word Find - Another good activity to play, especially while you are preparing the refreshments is Word Find.  For this activity, give each child a piece of paper and pen or pencil. Then select a Cinco de Mayo/Mexican related word such as:  sombrero, guacamole, burritos, festival, etc. and ask your guests to find as many words as possible before the timer runs out.

Example:  Festival
Words:  Vail, fat, fit, fail, sail, seal, set, sat, sit and tail.

How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Games

Benito Juarez Says - Before playing explain that Benito Juarez, a Zapotec Indian, was born and raised in extreme poverty.  With hard work, determination, and strong love for his country, Juarez became the president of Mexico and defeated the French, who had occupied the country.

Basically this game is played like Simon Says.  An adult chaperon or teenager should assume the role of Benito Juarez.  The "Benito Juarez" will then say something like "Benito Juarez says hop on one foot".  The children will hop on one foot. If they only say "hop on one foot".  Then the children will not hop.  Anyone who does, is eliminated from the game.  Last child standing wins.

Mirror Relay - for this game you will need for each team some small wrapped candies, a bowl to put them in, a small cup and a mirror either hand held or mounted on the wall.

Divide into teams.  First child on each team balances/holds cup on hand.  The child looks into the mirror held by another team member (or it can be mounted on the wall) and tries to fill their cup with candy.  When the cup is filled, they dump the candy back in the bowl and pass the cup to the next person.  First team that finishes the cup wins!

Freeze Dance - for this game you will need some authentic music from Mexico.  Begin playing music, everyone moves and dances until the music stops then they must "freeze" in whatever position they happen to be in.  Anyone not freezing will be eliminating.  Last child standing wins.

Pass the Sombrero - this game is a bit like hot potato, but instead the kids have to pass a sombrero instead of a potato.  Sit the kids in a circle, put on some Mexican music and get the kids to pass round the sombrero.  Each time it is passed to them, they have to place the sombrero on their head for a second.  When the music stops, the kid wearing the sombrero is out of the game.  Last child remaining in the game, wins.

Cinco de Mayo Bingo - Make your own C-I-N-C-O cards or modify some BINGO cards for the party.  Have plenty of markers on hand - dry beans work well.  Game is played like regular BINGO.

Limbo - all you need to play is a stick and two poles to balance it on, or you can get two people to hold the Limbo pole.  Start with the stick about eye height and each child takes it in turn to cross under the stick without knocking it down or touching it.

Children play this game face forward, so eventually it will involve bending their body backwards a little.  Each round the stick is placed a little lower.  For added fun, have some music going at the same time and the kids can clap to get the rhythm going.  Last child under the pole with touching it or knocking it down wins.  Tip:  Small kids can crawl under the stick - same rule without knocking pole down or touching it.

Break the Pinata - For this game you will need a Pinata filled with candies and/or trinkets, a large stick and a blindfold.  To play blindfold one child at a time and place them in front of the hanging Pinata.  Turn them three times, then let them swing.  Make sure other children are out of swing range. Once the Pinata is broken, the kids can all gather up the goodies.

How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Eats

Mexicali Popcorn -

10 cups of popped popcorn
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup grated Cheddar or Colby cheese

Place the popcorn in a large bowl.  In a small bowl, mix the seasoning with the butter.  Add grated cheese, then stir into the warm popcorn.  Makes 10 cups.

Create-Your-Own-Taco-Buffet - Keep the fare simple with a DIY main course.  Place shredded chicken, chili beef, lettuce, tomatoes, re-fried beans, grated cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa in serving bowls; then arrange hard and soft shells on a plate.  Encourage guests to pile up their tacos ... and come back for seconds.

Round out the menu with chunks of tropical fruits served on Mexican Flag Picks (IN-3/2812, $5.25/144, Oriental Trading Company) and tortilla chips paired with your favorite dip.

Kids' Sangria - this recipe calls for cranberry/raspberry juice.

4 cups cranberry/raspberry juice
3 oranges
2 limes

Pour the fruit juice into a large pitcher.  Slice the oranges and limes thinly, remove any seeds, and add the slices to the pitcher.  Serve in tall glasses filled with ice.  Serves 4.

How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Treats

Mexican Cinnamon Brownies - Bake a batch of these slightly spiced brownies is a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (May 5th).

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate squares
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt the chocolate squares and the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.  Remove pan from heat and allow the mixture to cool, about 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the eggs until they are foamy, then add sugars and the vanilla extract, and whisk until they are well combined.  Stir in the chocolate until it is thoroughly combined.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Add the dry ingredients to the egg-and-sugar mixture and beat until smooth.  Fold in pecans.
4. Pour the batter into a lightly greased 13- by 9-inch pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Makes approximately 24 brownies.  

Top brownies with vanilla bean ice cream, if desired.  

How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party - Favors

For favors for your Cinco de Mayo Party think paper fans, neon sunglasses, mini Mexican flags, fiesta donkeys (IN-16/913, $8.50/dozen, Oriental Trading Company), maracas (IN-27/1053, $16.00/dozen, Oriental Trading Company) or sombreros (IN-15/203, $26.50/dozen, Oriental Trading Company).