Fun Games for Kids and Adults to Play at a Cinco De Mayo Party

If you tend to have a family gathering or even some friends over to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5th then you want to make sure to have plenty of great food and beer. The problem is that most people don't think about having a variety of activities to keep everyone having fun. There are several games that you can have for the kids and even some that the adults may want to get into. It would also be a great idea to have some sort of prize for each winner (and how about even a smaller prize for the non-winners) at the end of each event.

Mexican Jumping Beans - If you remember the game Red Light Green Light then, this game is basically played the same way. Have the kids (adults can even play this one) line up. Hopefully you have picked up a CD of salsa music or something similar and play a song. Instruct everyone to hop towards the finish line when the music starts and when you stop the music, anyone who is caught moving forward is out. Even if someone falls forward, but their feet don't move, they are out. That's going to be the hard part of this game, stopping mid jump. Continue this until one player reaches the finish line.

Pass the Sombrero - You can get a big floppy cheap sombrero at any party supply store and can probably even put your hands on one at Wal-Mart or a similar retail store. If you're ordering some party supplies on-line, then order one of these also. Have everyone sit in a circle, on chairs or the floor is fine, and one person starts with the sombrero on their head. When the music starts the person wearing the hat passes it to the person on their left by setting it on that person's head. That person then takes it off their head and puts it on the head of the person to their left and so on until someone stops the music. Whoever is holding or wearing the hat when the music stops is out of the game. Continue until the last person is left with the hat and they are declard the winner.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey - Need I say more? A traditional and well, a game that fits fairly well into the Cinco de Mayo feel. You think of burros you think of Mexico.

Chili Pepper Relay - Blow up a couple long red balloons which represent your chili peppers. Divide everyone into two even teams and have each person on each team stand one behind the other. The person in the front will take the balloon and pass it over their head to the person behind them. The next person will pass the balloon between their legs to the person behind them who will then pass over their head and so on. Once the balloon reaches the last person, he or she will run to the front of the line and start passing it back the same way. Once the original person is back at the front of the line with the balloon, that team is the winner.

Don't forget the most important game you can play at a Cinco de Mayo party and that would be the traditional Pinata. Hang a pinata from a tree or any convenient structure outside. Make sure it hangs low enough for everyone to reach it with a bat or large stick. Each person that wants a chance at it has to be blindfolder and spun around three times, then stand them in the direction of the pinata and give them three chances to hit it and bust it open. Make sure to keep it to three swings so more people get their chance. While everyone gets to go for the bounty that falls out of the pinata once broken, the person who actually manages break it should have a special gift just for them.