How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Themed Party

Cinco de Mayo: a Patriotic Latin American Holiday

While Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over invading French troops at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, it’s a holiday that’s more widely celebrated across the United States Latin American community than the whole of Mexico (outside of Puebla). It’s an empowering reminder of the collective pan-American values of triumphantly fighting a foreign empire’s invasion, something to which other nations worldwide still relate. So we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with that victorious spirit, and in honor of the Mexican and broader Latin American communities and cultures. If you want to learn how to host a Cinco de Mayo themed party that involves more than just boatloads of cerveza, let’s explore festive Cinco de Mayo party ideas!

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Planning Your Cinco de Mayo Themed Party

1. Create the Scene with Cinco de Mayo Decorations

Colourful decor for a Cinco de Mayo themed party: a string garland with big yellow block letters spelling 'FIESTA' and three colourfully-striped paper fans against a purple and yellow background — Photo by Polina Kovaleva

Cinco de Mayo is colourful! So even if you can’t decorate extravagantly, you’ll still do well with lots of bright colour pops. Anything you own in big, bold colours – such as throw blankets or pillows – can enhance this festive vibe. Hang vivid paper streamers across your ceiling and scatter colourful confetti everywhere. Have fun with it! While it can get pricy depending on how elaborately you decorate, you’ll find inexpensive party supplies if you know where to look. And, with a little time and motivation, you can almost always DIY your party decorations.

Here are playful Cinco de Mayo party ideas that will transform your space into an unmistakable fiesta:

2. Prepare Cinco de Mayo Party Foods

Close-up photo of a plate of grilled meat, a small bowl of lime wedges, and a small bowl of pico de gallo, nearby other Mexican foods — Photo by Los Muertos Crew

Time to share the taste of Mexico with your menu! Whether you provide all refreshments or whether you request that guests bring a Mexican dish to share potluck-style, food is one of the most fun ways to engage your guests in a theme. Everyone should experience Cinco de Mayo through their sense of taste! Likewise, serve Mexican-inspired drinks such as Mexican sodas and tequila-based libations.

Here are some delicious Mexican recipes to fully embrace the flavour of this holiday:

Several tortillas rest on a plate loaded with carne, cilantro, chopped red onion, with nearby lime wedges — Photo by Frankie Lopez

3. Set a Cinco de Mayo Ambiance with Festive Music and Inspired Scents

Music is an important component of your Cinco de Mayo themed party! Any Latin genre from Mexican mariachi to Cuban salsa will set a fun and festive vibe. If your Cinco de Mayo celebration is a dance party, amp up a fast-paced playlist. But if you want a more relaxed atmosphere where people can converse without shouting over drinks, you can opt to play something more laid back. If you can’t decide, this Cinco de Mayo playlist includes plenty of inspired songs chosen to celebrate the holiday!

Don’t forget about the sense of smell. This is another great way to engage guests in your Cinco de Mayo theme. Burn any of these delicious candles to emit an enticing Mexican treat-inspired aroma:

Horchata candle (vanilla cinnamon scented)
Arroz con leche scented candle (cinnamon custard scented)
Margarita candle

4. Dancing and Games

Two mariachi musicians wearing sombreros smile and play guitars while a smiling woman dances and shakes maracas, with colourful paper fans hanging in the background — Photo by Alena Darmel

Maybe your guests are a high-energy dancing crowd – in which case securing an awesome playlist is essential, as mentioned above! Or maybe they’re a little more laid back and would rather compete against each other with Cinco de Mayo trivia (see plenty of options below). Whatever the case, moving your body and playing games are both fun and also beneficial for stress relief. So don’t let anyone get too snoozy at your Cinco de Mayo themed party – invite them to unleash pure childlike fun! While games or planned activities aren’t necessarily required to make a great party, they can definitely make things more interesting and entertaining.

If you or another guest can play any Mexican songs or similar music on an instrument, your Cinco de Mayo themed party is the perfect opportunity to share that skill! Everyone will appreciate festive live music.

And for all trivia lovers, check out any number of these digital games you can download and print:

Cinco de Mayo trivia (4-game bundle)
More Cinco de Mayo games

5. Establish Guest Participation

Young people sit outside of a home while eating plates of food — Photo by Anna Tarazevich

Guest participation is optional and depends on how you’d like your guests to participate or contribute to your party. Maybe you invite them to BYOB and/or bring a dish to share. Just know as the host of a potluck-style party, you still need to provide at least one large dish that is both tasty and filling (just in case others end up bringing things that are less tasty or less filling). And have plenty of tasty bevvies (juice, sparkling water, etc.) for those who don’t drink as well as to keep everyone reasonably hydrated whether they choose to BYOB or not.

Of course, always choose your guests mindfully and with their interests in mind. Prioritize friends who you know would most enjoy a Cinco de Mayo themed party. But don’t shy away from others who may not know much about this holiday. You never know, you may turn someone on to it!

Checklist of Items You Need

These are the things you need for your Cinco de Mayo themed party:

Cinco de Mayo party decorations
Mexican dishes, drinks, and serveware
A good fiesta playlist
Mexican-inspired scented candles
Cinco de Mayo games

Preparation Checklist for Your Cinco de Mayo Themed Party

A folded white paper with 'Cinco de Mayo' decoratively written on it in green marker stands on a green surface/background next to a white ceramic plate covered in delicious-looking tacos with a small ceramic bowl of yellow salsa, a perfect dish for a Cinco de Mayo party — Photo by Polina Kovaleva

1. First, confirm that people can come on any chosen date:

Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well. In 2024, Cinco de Mayo is on a Sunday so it’s easy to host a festive afternoon party that most people can attend. A good alternative is the Saturday night before (which, should your party last past midnight, will turn into the actual Cinco de Mayo day!)
Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your fun Cinco de Mayo party!

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning:

Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep as listed below (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
Create invitations with all the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
In your planned time slots, DIY any party supplies and decorations
In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
In your planned time slots, set up decorations
In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)

3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):

Prepare any foods/drinks that are too fresh to do any earlier
Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations (if not up already)
Prepare ambience (music, candles)
Get dressed in your festive Cinco de Mayo party outfit
Once everything’s ready, do any preferred self-care activities to get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be a relaxed, energized, and happy host – both for yourself and for your guests, who will pick up on your contagiously celebratory spirit and automatically be happier as well! Revel in all your hard work to plan a fantastic Cinco de Mayo party and have an awesome time together.