Do you have a hankering to throw your own Mexican Fiesta in honor of Cinco de Mayo, or perhaps just to celebrate the vibrancy of springtime? 
There are some crucial elements that you need to have for any successful Mexican fiesta:
Decorations!
Do you happen to have any blankets, sombreros, or other souvenirs that you picked up on a trip to Mexico? If so, this is the time to bust them out to really add to the authenticity. If not, never fear; you can pick up some cute party supplies at your local hobby or party supply store that will set the mood. Look for things like chili pepper lights, brightly colored tablecloths, paper flowers, colorful flag garlands, and maybe some props like a decorative guitar or mariachi.
For all you DIYers out there, building your own mini piñatas for table décor or garlands can really amp up the party atmosphere.
Step One: Draw a picture of the donkey on a cereal box and cut it out with scissors. You need one for the front and one for the back of each piñata. Then cut out long strips from the cereal box about 1.5″ thick. Tape the front and the back together with the strip. (See more detailed instructions here.)
Step Two: Once your armature is built its time to decorate. Cut off the end of the crepe paper fold and cut on one side to create the fringe. Add lines of glue starting at the bottom. Then glue on the fringe, wrapping it around the piñata until its all covered.
Step Three: When you are done cut a trap door at the bottom to fill with treats like small candies, gifts, party poppers, and confetti. Guests can choose to use the little door or can take it apart anyway they like to get the goods.
Paper flowers make another great DIY decoration, as tissue paper flowers are part of fiesta décor in Mexico.
Step 1: Gather Materials including six sheets of tissue paper, one pipe cleaner, and scissors.
Step 2: Select six sheets of tissue paper. These flowers are all about so choose a combination that suits your event. You can use bright, contrasting colors for a particularly festive look, or soft, related colors for a pretty, natural effect. Now, stack the paper neatly. The color that you want as the center of your flower should be on top. Likewise, the color on the bottom will be the back of the flower. I usually make this layer green to look like leaves.
Note: Using whole sheets of paper makes a fairly large flower. If you would like to create smaller flowers, You can cut your stack in half, lengthwise.Step 3: Now you will fold your stack in a 1 inch accordion fold. This is just like making a paper fan. With your stack in portrait position , take the bottom, short side of your stack and fold it up, about an inch. Flip your stack over, take your preexisting fold, and fold it upwards another inch. Flip the stack again, fold and repeat until your stack is a one inch strip.
Don’t Worry, folding tissue paper is not an exact science, so don’t worry if your folds aren’t completely parallel or exactly an inch.
Food!
Food is the whole reason you’re hosting this fiesta in the first place! It has to be delicious, and it’s got to be authentic. Taco bars are a real crowd-pleaser because everyone has the option to make theirs just the way they like it (and it takes pressure off you as a host since you won’t have to keep track of preferences or allergies).
Good ingredients to include are: ground beef or shredded chicken, grilled veggies, beans (black, pinto, or refried), shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced mango, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. (If you need some help with the guac, check out our video here.)
Drinks!
As the host, your probably want the opportunity to mingle with your guests and have a good time yourself at your Mexican fiesta, not be the constant bartender. That’s why it’s important to mix up a pourable drink before the party, so guests can serve themselves as they like!
Check out this delicious Sangria recipe from Emeril Lagasse at Food Network:
Ingredients:
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine
1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur (recommended: triple sec or Grand Marnier)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 orange, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1 unwaxed apple, cored, and cut into thin wedges
1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling water, chilledDirections:
Combine everything but the sparkling water in a large plastic container or glass pitchers. Cover and chill completely, 1 to 2 hours. When ready to serve, add the sparkling water.
Hosting a Mexican fiesta at home can be great fun, but it can be stressful to prepare. If you’re not up to hosting, or want a taste of some authentic Mexican food and drinks, then come see us at any one of our Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant locations for our delicious tacos and tasty margaritas.