How to Decorate for a Mexican Theme Party

Turn authentic sombreros, maracas and serapes into party decorations.

While many Mexican-themed parties focus solely on the food, the culture has a number of iconic symbols and traditions worth featuring on festive occasions. Look to the country's rich history and the customs of its distinctive regions for unexpected decoration ideas. Embellish the decor with items inspired by traditional Mexican holidays such as Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Dead.

Things You'll Need

• Mexican serapes
• Sombreros
• Mexican dancer skirts
• Full-sized piñatas
• Mini, hand-sized piñata replicas
• Chimineas (full-sized and mini)
• Maracas
• Multicolored Mexican cutout banners
• Margarita glasses
• Glow sticks
• Clear marbles
• Dried Mexican chili pepper wreaths
• Multicolored pillar candles of varying heights and sizes

Instructions

1. Spread the Mexican serapes on the buffet table in place of tablecloths. Embellish the spread with small decorative momentos, such as a display of maracas or a real sombrero used to serve chips. Highlight the location of the buffet by suspending a few multicolored Mexican cutout banners above it. Add light to dark tables with decorative mini-chiminea candle holders.

2. Create an overlay on round party tables by placing a tiered Mexican dancer skirt over the top of each tablecloth with the waistband creating a circle on the center of the table top. Cover the opening left by the waistband with a centerpiece including staggered, multicolored pillar candles of varying heights placed in the center of a dried Mexican chili pepper wreath. Adorn every place setting with a candy-filled mini piñata as a take-home gift for the guests.

3. Suspend multicolored Mexican cutout banners above the dance floor with a full-sized piñata at the center. Hang additional full-sized piñatas at the opposite end of each banner to cap it off.

4. Add an urban, adult touch to the bar by dressing the area with the ornate, colorful skull decorations that are used during Day of the Dead celebrations. Add an edgy touch to the bar by filling margarita glasses with clear marbles and inserting Glow sticks inside to make them shine.

5. Surround working full-sized chimineas with a handful of serape-covered chairs to create cozy areas for intimate conversations at outdoor parties. Decorate trees and empty wall space with more full-sized sombreros, piñatas and dried chili peppers.

References

• Sunset Magazine: Easy Mexican Party
• Sunset Magazine: Viva Mexico South-of-the-border Style
• Good Housekeeping: Party Planner Timetable

Resources

• History.com Channel: Mexico
• AZ Central.com: Day of the Dead History
• University of Los Angeles: Cinco de Mayo History