How to Plan a Mexican Theme Party

To plan a Mexican theme party for 30 to 40 guests, you want to create the perfect scene for salsa dancing, sangria and breaking the pinata. Follow these steps and send your friends home from a fun-filled fiesta still shaking a maraca.

Things You'll Need

• Activity:
• pinata
• rope
• baseball bat or sturdy stick
• candy
• Decorations/Party Favors:
• maracas (enough for all guests to take one home)
• red string lights (best if shaped like chili peppers)
• three sombreros
• salsa music
• 20 colorful paper flowers
• two vases
• Food:
• two bags tortilla chips
• one jar of salsa
• one container of guacomole
• Sangria:
• one lemon
• one orange
• one apple
• one cinnamon stick
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• one shot of Brandy
• one bottle of red wine
• 2 cups ginger ale

Instructions

How To Plan A Mexican Theme Party

1. Scout an open space at your home that will allow a blindfolded person to swing a bat. An open space in a yard, with a strong tree branch, will work best.
   Fill the pinata with candy, if not already filled. Tie the pinata to the strong tree branch or other secure location.
   Have the baseball bat or sturdy stick and blindfold nearby for when you're ready to play "break the pinata." You'll have the participants line up and take turns trying to break open the pinata with the bat while blindfolded. The winner will break the pinata and then the race for the candy begins.

2. Set the mood for the fiesta by playing traditional salsa music of your choice.
   Take the colored paper flowers and put half in each vase. Display the flowers on side tables or as a centerpiece.
   Flip two sombreros upside down and fill the inside with chips. Display on coffee tables or serving tables, accompanied with a dish of salsa.
   Spread out the maracas across a table that everyone will pass by so your guests know to take one. It is especially good to have this near a dance floor.
   String the red lights in the room that you will be playing the music and turn out the white lights.

3. Prepare the sangria six to eight hours before the party starts, so the fruit will have time to marinate. Pour a bottle of red wine into a pitcher. Drop one shot of brandy into the wine. Add two tbsp. of sugar. Slice the the orange and lemon into wedges, then squeeze the juice into the pitcher. Leave the wedges soaking in the wine when you finish squeezing. Chop the apple into little bits and add to the mixture. For a little extra spice, add one cinnamon stick. Stir and let marinate for six to eight hours.
   Set aside 2 cups ginger ale to pour into the sangria when the party begins. Make sure to include a few pieces of fruit in each cup when you serve.

4. The third sombrero is for you to wear---you are the host. Put your sombrero on, fill your glass and get ready for an evening of salsa dancing!