Celebrate Mexican independence with a south of the border inspired Mexican Fiesta.

We pretty much live in our backyard, I throw almost all my parties outside, poolside.  It makes it super easy for people to come and go as they please and it makes clean-up a breeze.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Decorations:

This is a great time to head to my favorite place to buy inexpensive party decorations – The Dollar Store.  Grab some bright colored streamers and some fiesta party platters and paper plates and napkins and you’re ready to go.

We probably all have a Mexican blanket somewhere in the house, brought back as a souvenir or purchased as a yoga blanket if you have one consider using it as a tablecloth for the beverage bar.  It will absorb some of the water that sweats off the metal tubs of soda and beer.

Cinco de Mayo Lighting:

I hang strings of lights across the pool and over the dinner table.  This works inside as well, it adds a really festive touch.

Piñata:

This is a must-have –  we don’t have too many little ones anymore but the adults seem to like them just as much or maybe more.

Cinco de Mayo Centerpiece:

Use empty and cleaned cans of Mexican Foods to hold plastic utensils.  Buy some inexpensive cactus or other succulents to decorate your table.  They can then become part of this project.  It’s one of my next projects.

Cinco de Mayo Yard Decorations:

You could make bag lights to scatter around the yard, I skip this step since I have small dogs and small dogs and open flames don’t mix.  No trips to the emergency vet, for me.

Mexican Food:

Make it simple with a couple of slow-cooker dishes and create a make-your-own taco bar.  Serve with store-bought tortilla chips and tortillas.  Fresh pico de gallo is, worth the extra effort + with a food processor this comes together in no time at all.  Same goes for guacamole, it’s so easy to make and taste so much better than anything you can buy.

Mexican Drinks:

Put Mexican sodas (available at most grocery stores – if you can’t find it grab some flavored Fanta) and Mexican beer in metal tubs filled with ice.  Serve lime and orange wedges alongside the beer + thinly sliced jalapenos (make sure to seed them).  Make margaritas or buy good quality premixed.

Tequila Tasting Bar:

We have a tequila tasting tradition – some of the guests bring a bottle of unusual tequila to donate to the tasting bar, which makes this really fun.  Buy plastic shot glasses (Dollar Store) and have cut lime wedges and salt available for the tasting.

Designated Driver:

Seems like you just have to have a cocktail or 2 on Cinco de Mayo, so make sure you have a designated driver and the Uber app ready to go.

Collect Car Keys:

I hate arguing with someone who’s had one too many about driving home.  Inevitably they think they are fine, but I’m not letting anyone in a car that has been drinking.  So I collect keys when guests arrive.  No one really thinks about why I collect keys – they just know I do.  I have a bowl by the door and ask each guest to drop the keys in.  Obstensively this is so we can move cars around if needed.  No one ever questions it.  I put the key bowl in a cabinet and give keys back to guests as they get ready to leave.  Simple.  And since we usually have to move a car or two to let folks out, my story holds up.  Hope none of my friends are reading this – otherwise, I guess I’m busted.