Host a Casual, Outdoor Cinco de Mayo Celebration

On Cinco de Mayo, keep things colorful and casual at home with an afternoon of food, family, and fun.

Place single stems of bright sunflowers in old glass jars to set the mood for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Let the party begin!

Set up a bar area with colorful decanters arranged on a bold tablecloth. For added ambiance, string outdoor party lights around the deck.

Line your deck or porch railing with cacti in terra-cotta pots, along with lanterns or luminariaslit with brightly colored candles.

Look to the produce department at your grocery store for an easy Cinco de Mayo centerpiece. Simply arrange fresh cilantro in small vases filled with water. The herb, popular in Mexican cooking, emits a pleasantly pungent fragrance.

Try this simple recipe for guacamole:Mix two mashed, ripe avocados with 3 tablespoons finely diced white onion and 4 tablespoons diced Roma tomatoes. Next, stir in 4 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno peppers and the juice of one lime. Add salt to taste, and serve.

Serve your Cinco de Mayo meal buffet-style to keep with the party's casual tone. Outfit the spread with vibrant linens and fun serving dishes.

Offer guests an array of salsas and sauces to satiate their appetites for flavorful Mexican food. Look for various types in the ethnic aisle at your grocery store or at specialty food stores.

Editor's Tip: Use gravy boats to hold salsa and sauces.

Arrange miniature tortillas on a colorful napkin next to the sauces for guests to use when sampling flavors.

Editor's Tip: Label hot sauces to warn guests which ones have a bite.

Use sturdy margarita glasses to serve homemade salsa or guacamole, or any suitable appetizer, salad, or soup that fits your Cinco de Mayo menu.

Add fillings to tacos before bringing them to the buffet table so guests can grab and go without slowing down the line to assemble their own.

Make it easy for friends to remember which glass is theirs with monogrammed limes. Simply use a zester to initial a lime wedge for each guest's drink.

Set up a party area inside just in case the weather doesn't cooperate. Decorate with colored glass hurricanes and small arrangements of bright carnations or other casual flowers.

An inexpensive cactus plant wrapped in tissue paper makes an easy, creative party favor. Tie a coordinating ribbon around the plant and tissue paper. Use the original plant stakes to attach tags printed with the word "besos" (Spanish for "kisses").

For a less prickly favor, present young guests with tumbling block toys (also called Jacob's Ladders), a popular handicraft in Mexico.

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