Published on February 11, 2022 | Last Updated on February 11, 2022

Love Mexican food? Why not have a party with a difference this year with these fun and unique Cinco de Mayo party ideas to get you started.

Decoration Ideas For A Cinco De Mayo Theme Party 

1. DIY Mini Piñatas Favors

Use cereal boxes or similar to draw the shape of a donkey.

Cut out the shape. Remember to leave a hole at the bottom.

Seal the sides with tape and glue cut strips of crêpe or tissue paper to it until covered.

Fill these fun piñatas with treats. Seal the hole and add one to each table setting.

2. DIY Fiesta Balloons

Filling a ceiling with balloons is a great and easy way to say “fiesta” for a Cinco de Mayo Party Idea.

Use multi-colour balloon packs, fill the balloons with helium, tie the balloons with ribbon and let them drift up to the ceiling.

Best thing, the balloons can also be taken home by the guests afterwards.

3. DIY Mini Sombrero Headbands

This is a creative-fun DIY party activity.

Find mini sombreros, then use a hot glue gun to stick them to a hairband (fabric ones are best).

Use ribbon or fabric in different colors and glue this to the sombrero.

Within minutes you will have a personalized party hat that is not only fun to make but ever so cute to wear.

4. DIY Pull Piñata Garland

A pull piñata garland is another great Cinco de Mayo party idea.

Use toilet rolls covered in crêpe paper (again cut these to look like a fringe). Fill these with party poppers or treats.

Glue on a handle and hang from the ceiling or some string ribbon for decoration.

This is another simple way to keep your guests entertained.

5. DIY Colourful Disposable Flatware

If you have plain flatware (knives, spoons, forks), this is a great way to liven these up for a Cinco de Mayo party idea.

Use acrylic paint in a choice of colors, paint the handles and let it dry.

A perfect party hacks every time and a great way to re-use or repurpose flatware rather than buying more.

6. Mexican Party Banners

Why not add some Mexican party banners to your balloon ceiling decoration to complete the look?

These are available in several designs and come in a multi-colour pack.

This makes it the perfect addition to all those balloons.

Bonus point, these are easy to order online.

7. Fiesta Party Decoration

These come as a complete decoration set for a Cinco de Mayo party.

The packs include pom-pom flowers, foil fiesta and cactus balloons, printed cactus balloons, a papel picado banner, paper fans, and triangular pennants.

There are lots of balloons, so you are bound to enjoy putting these up.

8. Multi-colour Hanging Paper Fans

Available in a wide range of colors, these are available online and shipped flat.

All you need to do is fluff them and then hang them from the ceiling, above a table, under your veranda or from trees in the garden.

Use them as a standalone feature or combine them with the banners and balloons for the perfect setting for your event.

9. Fiesta Theme Photography Backdrop

Another colorful Cinco de Mayo party idea!

Use this vibrant silk screen printed backdrop to create a pop-up photobooth for your next party.

It comes with brightly colored photo booth props and cut-outs, making it perfect fun for everyone.

The backdrop can also be used as a tablecloth, wallpaper or curtain.

Foods Menu Options for Cinco De Mayo Party

1. Elote

Mexican street food at its finest.

Combine

• 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
• Chili powder
• 1/3 cup of grated cotija/ feta/ ricotta cheese
• and freshly chopped cilantro

Spread over whole ears of corn and cook on the grill/ fire. Then serve with fresh lime wedges.

2. Refried Pinto Beans

Soak 1 cup of pinto beans overnight.

Combine ½ teaspoon of oregano, paprika, cumin, and chili powder to 1 ½ teaspoon salt.

Add 1/2 onion, ancho chili, pork, and 1/2 the spice mix to the beans and their soaking liquid.

Then bring to a boil and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add water as needed.

Heat some lard, add the remaining onion and jalapeno and soften. Add the garlic, cooked beans, remaining spice mix, and 1/2 cup of cooking liquid.

Cook for 3 minutes and mash until smooth. Serve with lime juice, chopped cilantro, and queso fresco.

3. Chicken Quesadillas

Fry some peppers and onion in a large pan/ skillet. Remove. 

Then season chicken strips and fry until cooked through (approximately 8 minutes).

Add 1 flour tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, chicken and pepper-onion mixture. Add some avocado and green onions (optional). Add another tortilla on top and cook for 3 minutes per side.

Slice and serve with sour cream.

4. Traditional Mexican Guacamole

Mash two avocados.

Add chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeno pepper (optional) and lemon juice.

Season and mix well.

A Perfect Cinco de Mayo party idea delight.

5. Birria de Res Tacos

Add guajillo, ancho, and arbol chili peppers and boil for 5 minutes. Soak until cool, drain (keep 1/4 cup of liquid).

Season meat and brown all over.

Grill tomatoes, then combine with soaked chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and salt to taste in a blender. Pour in liquid and blend.

Cover the meat with the sauce and bake, basting meat every 45 minutes, until birria begins to fall apart (3-4 hours).

Grill until birria is crispy. Fill tortillas with birria; top with chopped onion and cilantro.

6. Pico de Gallo

Combine chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper, and refrigerate. Serve as a dip or topping.

Fun Games to Play during Cinco De Mayo Party

1. Chili Pepper Guessing Game

Set up a table with different types of unlabelled peppers. Blindfold players and let them guess the type of pepper.

To make it extra hot, consider adding some ghost chilies.

2. The Limbo! 

All you need is a broom handle and some fun music. Limbo underneath as you lower it.

3. Piñata

Fill a piñata with treats and toys or little liquor bottles. 

Then blindfold players and see who busts it out first.

4. Pin The Tail On The Donkey 

Great for kids to write their names on the tail stickers.

Then blindfold them and see who puts their tail closest to where it should be on the donkey.

So, if you want to have a wonderful yet slightly different fiesta, these Cinco de Mayo party ideas should give you some much-needed inspiration.