15 Cheap Cinco De Mayo Party Ideas on a Budget

Cinco de Mayo is what everyone celebrates on the fifth of May! Cinco de mayo is often mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day. This is not the case.

This day commemorates 1862, when the Mexican army defeated the French Empire in the Battle of Puebla. This day is often used to celebrate Mexican culture.

Check out these tips if you want to celebrate Cinco de mayo this year by throwing a party, but also save money. If you're not of Mexican descent you should learn about the holiday and its traditions to avoid cultural sensitivity.

Paper invitations are unnecessary.

You can send out your party invitations digitally to save money and trees. You can create digital invitations using sites like Evite.com or Punchbowl.com.

You can also add a personalized message to your evite, along with the title, location and description of the party. Add pictures to your layout and play around with fonts.

You can use an email card to create a private message board and an RSVP system. Some e-vites charge extra for additional features, while others are free.

Brighten up your table with paper flowers.

Create tissue paper flowers. This Cinco de Mayo decoration is a must. This Cinco de Mayo Party Idea only requires four sheets of 6" x 12" tissue paper, one pipe cleaner and some creativity.

You don't want to do the work yourself? Chayo's Flower offers handmade paper flowers for only $3.95 per bunch.

Create your own pinata.

A pinata is a must for any party! Check out DIY pinata instructions and collect the materials for your own. You will need tissue paper or crepe papers, newspaper, glue and scissors, as well as water, flour, tape masking, cardboard, or a balloon.

Walmart and Michaels offer affordable arts and craft supplies.

Another idea? You can also put some candy and crinkled up newspaper in a decorative bag. Tape or staple the bag closed, then hang it high enough to make it difficult to hit. Blindfold your guests and let them take a swing at the colorful creation.

Build your own taco bar.

Taco bars can be assembled quickly, easily, and inexpensively. They also allow guests to show off their culinary talents. Taco bar garnishes and fillings are limitless. Here are a few suggestions.

Corn tortillas are cheaper, healthier, and more authentic than flour tortillas. Cheese that has been shredded. In a Mexican blend of cheeses, Colby, Jack, and cheddar cheese are usually shredded. You can make salsa with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Variety of garnishes. Separate bowls should contain sliced avocados, pickled onion, and pickled Jalapenos, along with shredded salad, cilantro, and sourcream.

Ask each guest to bring a dish if you don't wish to pay the entire bill.

Make a margarita cocktail bar.

It might be fun to have a margarita-pouring bar. You can add a variety of items to your margarita bars:

A pitcher of margaritas. Straws and glasses with salt rims are acceptable. Be sure to have plenty of glasses available. Freshly cut limes. Paloma Cocktails are also available as an alternative to the margaritas. They are made from tequila, grapefruit juice and a splash of gin.

You could ask your guests to bring different ingredients, just like you did with the taco bar.

6. Create your own papel picado.

In the original Mexican art, papel picado or "pecked papers," intricate designs are cut into sheets of tissue paper. This can be a fun family project using construction or tissue papers, tape, scissors, glue sticks, or tape, and pencils.

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Attend a fiesta or parade.

The US has made Cinco de mayo a holiday that is celebrated with parades, reenactments and tandem skydiving. You might find the following fiestas and parades interesting:

Los Angeles. The Fiesta Broadway festival takes place every May 5th in Los Angeles: it is the largest Cinco de Mayo festival in the world.
Denver. Denver's Celebrate Culture festival celebrates Cinco de Mayo in a fun and upbeat manner. From authentic street food to beautiful handcrafted goods and Mexican folk art, vendors will sell everything in the city's Civic Center Park during the full weekend of festivities.
San Antonio. There's nothing better than strolling through San Antonio's historic Market Square during the Cinco de Mayo celebration, which is filled with delicious foods and music all weekend.
Chicago. Since Chicago goes all out for St. Patrick's Day, it shouldn't surprise us that it also celebrates Cinco de Mayo. Several marching bands, mariachi bands, and beautifully decorated parade floats will lead the parade from Little Village to Douglas Park.
Puebla, Mexico. Since the battle took place here, it has become the most popular place for Cinco de Mayo. Puebla has a lot to offer, such as street parties with food and music and the reform of the Puebla battle. The Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Puebla are also among the best for families. Additionally, in 2012, an International Mole Festival was added to Cinco de Mayo. This makes visiting Puebla one of the best trips you can have.

8. Visit a museum.

Hispanic Americans have made a significant contribution to the culture, history, and society of America. Many museums in the United States have exhibits on Hispanic art and social movements.

San Antonio. La Villita offers a more hands-on experience of history. The small village that was once a part of the town has been transformed into a vibrant arts community. New York City. The National Museum of Mexican Art features art and culture from Mexico, Latinos, and Chicanos. Mexican and American art and culture are fundamentally linked. The Mexican Museum, as part of its program, promotes dialogue with a broad audience about Latino arts throughout the Americas.

Learn Spanish.

You and your guests can learn some Spanish phrases from a Spanish-speaking friend to help them understand the culture of the holiday. You can also learn Spanish for free by visiting the following websites:

10. Host a movie marathon.

These films cover a range of Mexican American films from dramatic dramas, romantic comedies and kid-friendly films. The films are a great way to bring cultural experiences alive for both children and adults.

"My Family (Mi Familia)," 1997
"Roma" (2018)
"Tortilla Soup" (2001)
"La Bamba" (1987)
"Zurdo" (2003)
"Quinceanera" (2006)

Learn to dance a traditional song.

Traditional Mexican dances are a mixture of influences from indigenous, African and European cultures. The Spanish did not succeed in suppressing the indigenous dance during colonial time, but instead integrated Spanish culture into it.

As part of Mexico's identity, dedicated troupes such as Ballet Folklorico perform in the folklorico style and the jarabe style.

You and your guests can watch YouTube videos that teach any of these dances during your party:

Jarabe Tapatio. La Conquista is the Spanish word for "conquest". Danza de los Viejitos, or "Dance of the Little Old Men" (Spanish for dance of the little old men). The Dance of the Quetzals. This ancient custom, known as the Quetzal Ceremony, dates back to pre-Spanish time. This dance is usually performed during religious festivals in Puebla or Veracruz mountains.

Play football (or kickball) or soccer.

This popular Mexican sport is a great way for kids to burn some energy. In your backyard, you can host a friendly game of soccer by placing two cones on each side (as goals). Adults can also play.

Kickball is also a popular sport in Mexican villages and it is perfect for outdoor parties. However, the game is different than American kickball. Divide the partygoers into two teams. Each team member kicks a ball through an obstacle course. The team with the most members who complete the course wins. You can use chairs, cones or other items to create the obstacle course.

Enjoy the performance of the Marichai Band.

The instruments used in traditional Mexican folk music include violins, guitars and trumpets. They also use a Spanish 15th century string instrument known as a vihuela. Cinco de Mayo wouldn't be complete without mariachis, which are 18th-century bands with roots in revolution history.

You probably won't be able to hire a mariachi group for your party unless you all chip in. You might catch a live mariachi band at a fiesta or parade in your area.

What is the alternative? Listen to this Spotify playlist.

Support local businesses

There will be many Cinco de Mayo specials at chain restaurants and some retailers, but consider supporting small Mexican businesses instead of Taco Bell or Del Taco. It's more important if you're not a member of the Mexican community.

If you want to respect Mexican culture and history, do your research and purchase from Mexican businesses. Search for all the supplies you need to throw a Cinco de Mayo celebration and discover Mexican businesses that need your support. Consider having lunch in a Mexican restaurant.

Take a Siesta.

It may surprise you to know that in certain towns in Mexico, everyone takes a nap at 2 pm. During this time, it's hot and they enjoy some bread and drinks.

Why not make Cinco de Mayo a memorable event by following this tradition of siesta? If you are short on guests, ask them to bring their hammocks or patio furniture.

FAQs

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day?

It is a misconception that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican Independence Day. In fact, it commemorates an important battle that occurred in Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.

The Mexican Army, despite being the underdogs in the battle against the French, was able defeat them. Mexican Independence Day was actually celebrated 50 years earlier on September 16, 1810.

What is Cinco de Mayo known as in Mexico?

Mexicans do not call the holiday Cinco de Mayo, despite the fact that it translates as the fifth of May. This is the date when the holiday was celebrated in Puebla Mexico, the place where it originated. The official name of the holiday is El Da de la Batalla de puebla. This translates as "The Day of the Battle of Poebla."

When was the first Cinco de Mayo celebrated?

California newspapers, both American and Latino, reported on the valorous actions of Mexican soldiers a few months after the Battle at Puebla. Residents of the state were so enthused that they organized Civil War-era costume parades.

This was the first Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States.

When was Cinco de Mayo recognized as a national holiday in the United States

Cinco de Mayo, despite being celebrated in the United States within weeks of Puebla's Battle, was only officially recognized in 1933. Franklin D. Roosevelt established the "Good Neighbor Policy", which aimed to create positive relationships and exchanges with Latin American nations.

How do you throw the perfect Cinco de Mayo celebration?

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican culture, history, values and ethnicity. There is no better way of celebrating Mexican pride than with a Jarritos bottle and a tostada.

Since 1863, even after the commercialization and mass-production of Cinco de mayo began in the 1980s the Mexican feast has remained a mainstay of the celebration. This includes tacos and tamales as well as pozole and mole.