Cinco de Mayo Party Tips.
Updated: May 4, 2020
Planning a stay-at-home, quarantine-style party to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year? Even if you are stuck at home thanks to COVID-19, you can still cook some delicious Tex-Mex cuisine and have a delicious time! Here's what to eat for Cinco de Mayo (and, of course, what to drink.)
The greatest minor food holiday of the year is upon us! This, of course, is Cinco de Mayo. I call it a "minor" food holiday because certainly celebrations surrounding Christmas, Hanukkah, or other mainstream holidays have more emphasis placed on food. But Cinco de Mayo has arguably the greatest food tradition, in that excessive consumption of Tex-Mex food and margaritas is required.
Here are some neat ideas to keep your Cinco de Mayo party delicious and on-theme.
1) Decorate with party-store staples.
Hit up any party store and you'll likely find inexpensive pinatas, sombreros, and tablecloths in all colors. Use these to brighten up your party space. If you can find maracas, they make both great decorations and excellent entertainment.
Here are instructions for DIY tissue paper flowers, a great look for a Cinco de Mayo party. Bonus points if you fill the pinatas with tamarind-flavored candies, common in Mexico.
Can't get out due to quarantine? Check out what Target has to offer as far as cool party favors. You can get them delivered to your door by Shipt, same-day. (If you do same-day delivery, don't forget to leave a good tip and rate your Shipt driver in the app.)
2) Set the mood.
Play mariachi music or anything by great horn instrumentalists like Chuck Mangione to give your party a wonderful Cinco de Mayo ambience. This is a great mood-lifter, if being home instead of at your favorite taqueria this year has you feeling a bit down.
3) Keep food buffet-style.
The beauty of most Tex-Mex cuisine is how easy it is to set out ingredients and let guests build a fantastic meal. Here's a sample menu; if you like it, download it for free here. Want to go above and beyond? Give this taco dip recipe a try.
4) Play some games.
If you're looking to move beyond just the pinata, why not strike up some friendly competition with whoever you happen to be quarantined with (or whoever wants to join you on Zoom or FaceTime)? Who can build the biggest fajita? Who can eat the most jalapenos (be careful with that one)? How about pin the tail on the burro?
5) Have a chips and salsa contest.
I once went to a party where every guest was asked to bring homemade salsa. People got VERY creative, making traditional salsas, fruit salsas, chocolate salsa, and even homemade cinnamon chips. This is a great activity if you've invited a large group, but it's fun to do with just your significant other, parents, or roommates, too. Winner gets to keep a sombrero!
What are your favorite Cinco de Mayo traditions? It's a great holiday for chowing down and spending time with friends. I hope you have a great one!
Danielle
