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How to Host A Charming Cinco de Mayo Party!

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Your guide to hosting a charming Cinco de Mayo party! From food ideas, to the best drinks and desserts. We’re sharing all the details and celebration ideas!

We’re all about throwing a party that features margarita popsicles, tacos and horchata and a festive Mexican folk art papel picado!!

Cactus plant with a tiny skeleton and pink flowers on a black and white table for Cinco de Mayo.

For those who are wondering, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day, it celebrates the improbable victory of the Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Furthermore, it’s a very popular celebration here in Los Angeles! We’re always down with any excuse to eat Mexican food and experience the rich culture! See the charming party details below!

Mexican pink and white cookies.
pink flowers on a marble table for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo Food

There are SO many recipes you can make. We went with a taco bar because… well it’s easy and EVERYONE loves tacos! However, if you’re in the mood take to make more food here are some great ideas that are perfect for a crowd:

Tacos, rice and beans on a black and white plate.
Black spoon with salsa pouring onto a taco for Cinco de Mayo

We also made a traditional Mexican style salad with sliced fruit and served guacamole, chips and salsa.

Three salsas in marble bowls with black spoons.

Cinco de Mayo Cocktails

It’s not a party without the cocktails! Here are some amazing recipes that will go perfectly with Mexican food. For a charming touch, you can also serve mini margaritas!

Girl holding a pineapple cocktail

In addition to cocktails, Aguas Frescas are popular in Mexican culture, especially here in LA. Anytime we go to the Farmers Market or Rose Bowl, we pick up a delicious agua fresca! We used our recipe for mango and pineapple agua fresca!

Horchata and Pineapple Agua Fresca in large jugs.
Mexican horchata in a small glass with a cinnamon stick.

Add a cinnamon stick in the horchata when serving for a charming touch!

Mexican horchata in a jug with succulents for Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo Desserts

The dessert… our favorite part! We live by some really amazing Mexican bakeries, so I picked up a few dozen traditional Mexican sugar cookies and churros and made a dessert platter!

We also made cute watermelon margarita popsicles and served those as papaya and banana coconut sorbet. Here are some more delicious Mexican inspired desserts:

papa ice cream cone with shredded coconut on top.
Colorful Mexican cookies and churros on a white platter.

In addition to cookies, we made homemade papaya and banana, coconut sorbet. Recipe coming tomorrow!

Cinco de Mayo Decorations

Colorful party decorations and art are a big part of the culture and if you’re going to host a Cinco de mayo party you must have some traditional decor!

We shopped our local Olvera street in Los Angeles to find authentic party decorations.

Papel picado

This is a hand-cut paper design that can be hung like bunting for decor.

Use Garden Stools

Garden stools are a great option for outdoor seating. They look charming around a table too.

Painted Ceramic Skulls

These are perfect decorations for Cinco de Mayo! Place them on the table or near food stations.

Cinco de Mayo party set-up outside.

On Olvera Street, I shopped for the table runner, tiny little skeletons and the traditional papel picado, which is a paper banner inspired by Mexican folk art!

Succulent in a vase with a tiny skeleton sitting on the edge.
Cinco de Mayo table setting with black napkin, wooden napkin ring, pink flowers and black flatware.

Cactus for Each Setting

Erin, from White Fig Designs, made the most beautiful floral and succulent garland for the middle of the table and brought tiny, potted cacti for each place setting!

These also make wonderful party favors for guests to take home.

Pink flower arrangements with a black and white skull and salsa on a marble table outside for a Cinco de Mayo party.
Pink flowers and succulents

Hope you’re all inspired to throw a festive and Happy Cinco de Mayo party on May 5th!! Tag us in your photos @sugarandcharm on social!

19 thoughts on “How to Host A Charming Cinco de Mayo Party!”

  1. Love this color scheme. We are having my daughter’s college graduation party on Cinco de Mayo and I was struggling with the decorations, didn’t want the “traditional fiesta” type. I’m going to use this as inspiration! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Thank you Kristin!!! I loved seeing your comment… reminds me of old times when we all had more free time! HAHAHA!! Thank you for stopping by the ol’ blog 🙂 XO

      Reply
  2. Gorgeous!!!
    Also love the backdrop for these pictures ?. You are so incredibly talented, well done!! I’m inspired just by the flowers alone!

    Reply
    • Thank you Susanne!!! By the way, the roses are bloomed and make the most gorgeous backdrop!! You did such a wonderful job planting those! We’re enjoying them! XOXOXO

      Reply

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