Cinco de Mayo (Thursday, May 5) is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. Regardless of whether you are Mexican, Spanish or American, why not throw a fun party? It’s a great excuse to unwind and celebrate Mexican culture.

One of the most important parts of your party is the food. Everyone loves Mexican food, and it is sure to be gobbled up. Chips and dip is an easy appetizer to make and very affordable. All you need are tortilla chips and a variety of dips: queso, salsa, bean dip and guacamole. These links are for if you are really ambitions, because you could easily buy store brand dips, although they may not be as tasty.

Quesadillas are a classic Mexican dish that is cheap and easy to make. The great thing about quesadillas is you can throw what vegetables lying around into them and use a variety of meats, or even shrimp. Ask your guests what they prefer and make a few plates of each kind.

For dessert, it is essential that you prepare a flan. All you need are three eggs, a cup of sugar, one tablespoon of vanilla extract, one can of evaporated milk and one can of condensed milk.

If you want more ideas for Mexican food that is easy to prepare, check out some videos on Food Network’s site. The fish tacos sound tasty!

And, of course, it’s not Cinco de Mayo without a margarita! There are so many different kinds of margaritas that you can prepare from a traditional margarita, to a pineapple-mango margarita, to even a jalepeno margarita! That margarita must come with an extra kick. If you will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with children, you can serve them non-alcoholic versions of margaritas.

Not sure which kind to make? Check out this website completely dedicated to different recipes for margaritas! 

If tequila makes your stomach turn, you can also opt to serve Mexican beer, like Dos Equis or Corona with lime. Mexican wine is also popular if you prefer wine to beer. 

To decorate for your party, chili pepper lights will definitely light up the party. Tissue paper flowers are part of Mexican fiesta décor, so that would be a great addition as well. If you have cacti, make sure to place some around the party area, but keep them out of the way so nobody gets hurt! And make sure to play Mexican Mariachi music or traditional latin music to go along with the theme.

Piñatas will also add a playful element to your party. When things start to seem dull, whip out the piñata, blindfold and baseball bat! Make sure to fill the piñata with goodies for your guests.

With these party ideas, your Cinco de Mayo will definitely be a hit!