How to Throw a Fiesta Party

Tacos, guacamole and margaritas become a festive Mexican fiesta with a few decorative elements, games and favors.

By: Camille Styles

Related To:

Party in Five

Throw your own Mexican fiesta with just five ingredients: a paper flag garland, guacamole, a piñata, margaritas and small potted succulents

Raise the Flag

Transport your guests to a south-of-the-border locale by stringing cut paper garlands called papel picado throughout the party space. There's nothing prettier than these festive flags fluttering lightly in the breeze.

All Decked Out

Stage a taco bar that, in addition to being the party's main event, serves as an eye-catching focal point. Start by dressing a table with a bright woven runner (or folded blanket or tablecloth) to provide a pretty surface for the food. Fill vases with tall, colorful flowers like zinnias and earthy materials like branches and air plants for a high-impact centerpiece. Layers of white and fuchsia papel picado strung on the wall behind the bar create the perfect in-theme backdrop.

Taco Time

No fiesta is complete without tacos! Let guests build their favorite combinations by setting up a self-serve taco bar. Fill a variety of wood and glass bowls with an array of toppings, ranging from spiced grilled chicken and fresh veggies to chips and guacamole. Want more ideas for taco mix-ins? See our Top 10 Taco Recipes.

Top It Off

Salsas, dips and hot sauces serve double duty as toppings for the tacos and accompaniments to a big bowl of tortilla chips. Grilled Corn Salsa and Pico de Gallo are guaranteed crowd-pleasers, but it's the homemade guacamole that'll really go fast, so make more than you think you'll need.

See More Photos: Fresh Guacamole and Salsa Recipes

Frozen, With Salt

Does anything go better with chips and guac than an ice-cold margarita? Keep it simple by combining tequila, fresh lime juice and agave syrup, then blending with lots of ice. (If you think guests would prefer their margs on the rocks, use a shaker to mix ingredients instead.) Pour into tall margarita glasses with salted rims and pass around to guests on any sort of natural material or colorful lacquer tray.

Authentic Sweets

Finish off the meal with a variety of petite sweets that can be prepared the day before the party, making things easy on the host. Key Lime Tartlets provide a refreshing burst of citrus flavor after all that spicy fare, and Mexican wedding cookies are a traditional sinfully sweet treat. This chocolate and cinnamon version is a fun spin on the classic.

Festive Florals

Transform any indoor or outdoor space with vibrant flowers in shades of hot pink and orange. Here, the seating space gets a Mexican makeover with a bunch of brightly colored parrot tulips and orchids tucked loosely into a glass vase. Embroidered pillows and blankets, picked up from a local imports store, tie the look together.

Shake It Up

Colorful maracas bring a casual, light-hearted vibe to the party. Gather an assortment of these vibrant noisemakers and stash them in a basket. (Not sure where to shop? You can find a wide variety of maracas here.) After the tacos have been depleted, don't be surprised if a live percussion dance party ensues.

Light Up the Night

These "prayer candles" are available at any Latin American grocery store and are an inexpensive and quirky way to embellish a fiesta. Pick up a variety of designs and group them together in a fireplace or on a windowsill to make a bold statement and add a touch of authenticity.

I Want Candy

Hanging a piñata in the party space instantly amplifies the fun factor. Guests of all ages will get a kick out of this longtime fiesta favorite. Blindfold your guests, spin 'em around, then watch as they aimlessly swing at the piñata in hopes that their hit will be the one that releases a treasure trove of sweets.

Grow-Your-Own Favors

Send guests home with favors they'll be able to enjoy long after the fiesta ends. Save colorful Mexican food cans, clean them inside and out, then plant tiny succulents in each topped with a layer of gravel. It's a simple and organic gift that will add a touch of fiesta spirit to any space!

For even more tips on throwing a fiesta and more menu ideas, click here.