Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th every year. Here are the most creative Cinco de Mayo food, activities, free printables, decorations, and party ideas to celebrate this fun and festive holiday with your family!
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History of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “fifth of May”, is a celebration held every year on May 5. The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War.
Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas
1. How To Make Mini Pinata Party Favors ~ Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and these cute mini piñatas would be perfect party favors. After everyone has taken a whack at the full size piñata, send each of them home with a mini version of their own.
2. Buenas Noches Cinco de Mayo Fiesta ~ Lots of pictures and party details for a Cinco de Mayo dinner party. Fun homemade decorations, recipes, and party favors you can use for any your Fiesta.
3. Taco & Tequila Party ~ Ole! Add some spice to your fiesta with this amazing Cinco de Mayo party! Lots of pictures and party details for a Cinco de Mayo party.
4. DIY Papel Picado Mexican Banner ~ Papel Picado is a traditional Mexican banner made by cutting intricate designs into tissue paper. The perfect decoration for your Cinco de Mayo celebration, you can use this DIY tutorial to create your own. *Update: This blog link is no longer available.
Decorations
5. Cactus Balloons ~ This cactus balloon is adorable! With this fabulous post, you will learn how to create them from scratch. Easier than you would think, and super cute to boot! Perfect to help decorate for your Cinco de Mayo bash!
6. Drink Umbrella Wreath {How-To} ~ This bright festive wreath is the perfect Summer craft and would be fabulous at any beach themed party, Cinco de Mayo, etc.
7. Mexican Fiesta Centerpiece ~ Make these festive DIY centerpieces for as inexpensive as one dollar. Tissue paper is accordion folded and ruffle fringe is added to glass containers.
8. Cinco de Mayo Chile Pepper Pom ~ Hang several of these festive chile peppers from the ceiling and you have yourself the perfect Cinco de Mayo fiesta decor! It’s also another fun way to make a tissue paper pom.
9. Tissue Paper Streamers and Flags ~ Whether you have mariachi’s or not these adorable streamers and flags are the perfect accompaniment to your “fiesta”.
10. Cinco de Mayo Succulent Cans ~ Make these festive DIY centerpieces for as inexpensive as one dollar. Tissue paper is accordion folded and ruffle fringe is added to glass containers.
Food
11. Cinco de Mayo Recipes {Party Foods} ~ A collection of recipes, two dozen, to help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Every category, from drinks to desserts, has something yummy for you to make and share with your guests.
12. Sweet Mexican Corn Cake ~ Does not this corn cake look yummy? It is served as a side dish in some Mexican restaurants, but the combined sweetness from the cornmeal, whipping cream and corn make it the perfect dessert. I always save the best for last. This is it!
13. Nacho Cupcakes ~ While they may look savory, these Nacho Cupcakes are really a sweet treat. Topped with frosting and cinnamon sugar chips, they would be a perfect dessert for Cinco De Mayo.
14. Taco Salad Bar ~ This crowd-pleaser is super easy to prepare and serve. Let your guests help themselves while you sit back and marvel at how easy it was to put this all together. A tray like this feeds about 6 people.
15. Mexican Street Corn ~ Mexican Grilled Corn, or Elotes, is the perfect summer side dish and one of the tastiest ways to get your veggies!
16. Skillet Queso Dip ~ This delicious Queso Dip would be a great appetizer for your Cinco de Mayo party. *Update: this blog post is no longer available.
17. Cilantro Lime Pesto Burritos & Salsa ~ There are two amazingly yummy recipes in this post. Both use fresh ingredients. Delicioso!
Free Printables
18. Printable Fiesta Sign ~ “Let the fiesta begin”, this Cinco de Mayo printable is a free PDF download that you can turn into a colorful sign to greet your party guests for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Just add chips and salsa.
19. Cinco De Mayo Printable Banner ~ This Cinco de Mayo printable is a free PDF download that you can turn into a colorful pennant garland for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Just add chips and salsa.
20. Cinco de Mayo Party Printables ~ Quickly plan your celebration with this free printables collection. The collection consists of a 5×7 invitation, party circles, drink flags, water/beer bottle labels, and a Cinco de Mayo banner.
21. Cinco de Mayo {free printables} ~ Dress up your Cinco de Mayo party with these free printable designs. The free printables include party circles and invitation.
22. Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Printables ~ These cute printables have your FIESTA covered! The free printable a banner, tented cards, thank you favor tags, party circles, a yard sign and Spanish name tags.
Fiesta Crafts
23. Flirty ‘Fiesta’ Flower Bouquets ~ Make these gorgeous paper bouquets as centerpiece ideas for your Cinco de Mayo fiesta. You will love this technique so much, you will want to make bouquets for every season.
24. Ruffled Crepe Paper Streamers ~ Dana created these gorgeous ruffled streamers to celebrate Cinco de Mayo using inexpensive crepe paper streamers in bright colors. Change up the colors and this great tutorial can turn your boring party streamers into a fabulous decoration for any party.
25. DIY Festive Mexican Paper Flowers ~ Bring some flair and joy to your party with these festive flowers. You can make them with tissue paper or recycled newspaper. Use the popular ‘poof’ method to create these flowers and adding extra colors.
26. DIY Mexican Senorita Hair Accessory ~ Make this fun señorita hair piece in advance. They are perfect as party favors, embellishing table decor, brooches, or as a party activity.
Cinco de Mayo Activities
27. Cinco de Mayo Photo Booth Props ~ If you are looking for some fun entertainment for a party full of teenagers or adults, set up a make shift photo booth and print out a set of these photo booth props. Guest will be acting like kids as they dress up to take pictures during the celebration.
28. Cinco de Mayo Mini Pinatas ~ Whip up these festive Cinco de Mayo Mini Pinatas in minutes. Its so simple to make you can have your children help. No paper mache is used, just paper cone cups. They would make great party favors too!
29. Sombrero Dish {To-do} ~ These sombrero burrito bar dishes are a fun craft for kids. Using colored paper plates, colored cups, and pom pom’s, you can create your own sombrero dish.
30. Ojo de Dios Craft ~ These brightly colored Ojo de Dios craft is said to symbolize the eye of God. It represents the power of seeing and understanding unseen things. They are a combination of yarn and sticks. A perfect craft for kid’s 5 and older.
Our Most Popular Cinco de Mayo Ideas:
- Cinco De Mayo Fiesta Party Circles {free printable}
- 31 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Ideas {recipes, printables, party decor}
- 29 Fabuloso Cinco de Mayo Activities, Recipes and Party Ideas
Thanks, Ladies! I just adore these pictured tutorials and I’m honored to be able to feature you and send you over some new readers.
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How fun! I always get some Mexican jumping beans to hand out at Cinco de Mayo parties. They are so much fun! and now you can buy Mexican jumping beans online at http://www.amazingbeans.com
HAVE FUN:)
Wow, sooo many great ideas and party inspiration here. Thanks for sharing this!
I love Cinco de Mayo for many reason but one of the main ones is because of how colorful the decorations are. This year, Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby land on the same day so I can see how some of these decorations can work for both events!
thanks for clarifying that cinco de mayo is observed in the US. I’m mexican and I can’t tell you how many times I have discovered that people think may 5th is our independence day. It isn’t, in fact, cinco de mayo isn’t even a day off from school, it is simply remembered but not celebrated. I do like all the ides for colorful fiesta though!