Cinco De Mayo Fiesta

WHAT YOU NEED

• Party Invitations
• Build Your Own Tacos (See Recipe Below)
  
• Decorations
  
• Costumes (See below)
  
• "Mexican Hat Dance" music (Available at International or Children's Section of most music stores)
  
• 1 sombrero (Mexican straw hat available at party stores)
  
• 1 Mexican Piñata (available at party stores or make your own, see Sombrero Piñata)

Invitations

HOW TO DO IT

• Use the invitation template to print out as many invitations as you need.
  
  
• Let your children color the invitations and help you fill in the information.

Build Your Own Tacos

There's nothing easier than a "build your own taco" fiesta. Preparing and assembling the ingredients can often be as simple as opening a package or can. Each ingredient is served in its own bowl or basket. Guests simply select a crisp taco shell or soft tortilla and start adding their favorite fillings and toppings.

WHAT YOU NEED

• Baskets of warm crisp ORTEGA Taco Shells
  
• A covered plate of warm soft flour tortillas
  
• Bowls of heated spicy meat or chicken fillings
  
• Shredded lettuce
  
• Shredded cheeses
  
• Diced tomatoes
  
• ORTEGA Diced Green Chiles
  
• Salsas and ORTEGA Taco Sauce
  
• Sliced ripe olives
  
• Sour cream
  
• Guacamole
  
• ORTEGA Refried Beans
  
• Punch bowl filled with chilled NESTLÉ JUICY JUICE

HOW TO DO IT

• All of the fillings can be prepared the day before or early the day of the party and kept in the refrigerator.
  
  
• Just before the party, simply heat those fillings that need to be served hot and put the other chilled ingredients on the table.
  
  
• Have someone at the table to help the younger children fill their tacos.

Decorations

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 bag each of red, green and white balloons
  
• Coordinating crepe paper streamers.
  
• Brightly colored tablecloth (available at party stores)
  
• Brightly colored paper goods (one set for each guest) (available at party stores)
  
• Small Mexican Flags (available at party stores)
  
• Cellophane tape
  

HOW TO DO IT

• Cover the kitchen or dining room table with a brightly colored paper tablecloth.
  
  
• Set the paper goods at one end.
  
  
• Decorate the table with groupings of red, green and white balloons, coordinating crepe paper streamers and small Mexican Flags.
  
  
• Add a bunch of balloons with streamers to the front door.

Costumes

• Make a No Sew Pancho (see Related Activities) for each guest.

Party Fun

As the guests arrive, give each of them a No Sew Ponchos to wear. This will put everyone in the fiesta mood and protect their clothes when they assemble and eat their tacos.

Mexican Hat Dance

This is a fun, spirited Mexican folk dance that children love to do.

WHAT YOU NEED

• Recording of "Mexican Hat Dance" (available in international music section of record stores)
  
• 1 Sombrero (Mexican straw hat, available at party stores)

HOW TO DO IT

• Place the Sombrero on the floor. Be sure that there is enough room for all of the children participating to be able to make a circle around the Sombrero.
  
  
• Start the music and have the children move in time to the music around the Sombrero.
  
  
• STEP #1: After they become comfortable with the beat, have them clap their hands and step towards the sombrero and back out. Repeat this several times.
  
  
• STEP #2: Then, pair each child with a partner and have them lock arms and skip around in a small circle to the music. Repeat this several times.
  
  
• Repeat steps #1 and #2 until the music stops.

Piñata

Enjoy the ending of your Cinco De Mayo Fiesta by gathering the guests together to "break the Piñata".

HOW TO DO IT

• Buy a Piñata from your local party store or make one (See Sombrero Piñata)
  
  
• Piñatas are fun to make but make sure you give yourself at least 4 days to complete the project.
  
  
• Fill the Piñata with candy treats like NESTLÉ Miniatures.

HOW TO PLAY

• A circle is formed and each participant is given a turn to be blind folded and then has it strike the Piñata three times with a baton.
  
  
• If the Piñata does not break another person is given a turn.
  
  
• When the Piñata breaks and the candy contents fall to the ground, everybody scrambles to grab their share of the treats.

TIPS

• Make Music Making Maracas. Guests not participating in the Mexican Hat Dance can shake them to the music.