18 Fun Mexican Party Ideas For Adults (2024)

Parties that celebrate national and international cultures are a fantastic way to plan any event! Whether you have an upcoming birthday, family reunion, or another special moment, why not make it a Mexican-themed party? Some of the ideas we have here you may even be familiar with, except you’ve never hosted your own Mexican party before. So let Peerspace give you a hand; we love helping people put together fun Mexican party ideas for adults!

Mexican party themes to plan around

1. Set up a taco bar for a taco party

Is there any food as iconic as the taco? There are so many ways to make a delicious taco…Chicken and cheese, beef and beans…Add some sauces and veggies and you have an instant hit! Why not use tacos as a Mexican party idea by setting up a taco bar? All you need is a selection of meats, vegetables, sauces, tortillas, and toppings! 

2. Throw a quinceañera celebration

Quinceañeras are traditionally celebrated by girls once they reach 15 as a coming-of-age celebration! Even if no one is turning 15, you can still make these quintessentially Mexican parties the theme of your upcoming event! Get a quinceañera gown, have a photoshoot, and celebrate with family and close friends in the venue of your choosing! Peerspace has thousands of beautiful quinceañera party halls like this urban industrial space with downtown views in Houston’s Second Ward!

3. Get some fiesta party outfits

Decorations and food are important but have you thought about a new outfit? Nothing screams “fiesta!” like dressing the part with some party apparel! A massive sombrero with a mustache, a rainbow-colored serape, Mexican dancing skirts, quinceañera gowns…There are so many ways to get dressy for this party theme!

4. Have a Cinco de Mayo party

Celebrate Mexico’s 1862 victory over France with a Cinco de Mayo party! Gather some of the recipes listed below and honor Mexican heritage even if you don’t live there. Cinco de Mayo celebrations often include trips to parades, downtown festivals, performances, and other events. So weave those into the day as you plan your Mexican party for before or after the shows come to an end!

Dress up your space using these colorful and creative Cinco de Mayo decoration ideas.

5. Paint faces for a Dia de los Muertos celebration

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of the most unique Mexican celebrations! It honors the departed through remembrance, song, dance, and laughter, rather than mourning. Skull candies, face painting, flowers, candles, and cut paper decorations are central to a proper party! While you’re party planning, pick up a few face-painting kits for an authentic look!

6. Get a piñata for the party

Did you ever have a birthday party as a kid that featured a piñata? Well, the truth is that piñatas are fun for all ages! Have a custom piñata made and hung up in a tree or from the porch for an instant outdoor party game. You can fill them with candy, money, or party favors. Or simply give guests the pleasure of smashing something!

Mexican party food ideas

7. Corn tortilla chips & dip

Corn tortilla chips are a delightful addition to any party, Mexican or otherwise. But don’t forget the dip! Queso and salsa might be two of the most popular but you can always add bean dip, sour cream, and other flavors to the mix. Go with white, yellow, or blue corn (or a mixture of all three for a beautiful snack table spread)!

8. Guacamole dip

Guacamole dip is such a must-have that it gets a separate mention from chips and queso! Especially since there are so many ways to make a good bowl of guac. You can make classic guacamole with just a few ingredients; mainly avocados, lemon juice, and salt. Many people like to level up their guac game with tomatillos, onions, tomatoes, garlic, pepper, paprika, and other additions! Start with this delicious guacamole recipe to get you going! 

9. Horchata & Jamaica juice

Horchata and Jamaica are two Mexican beverages you’ll often see in Mexican grocery stores and restaurants and served at taco shops. Both are sweet drinks but they have very different characteristics. Horchata is based on rice and cinnamon, with vanilla, milk, and sugar. Meanwhile, Jamaica is a vibrant red iced tea made from hibiscus flowers! They both should find a place at any Mexican party.

10. Tres leches cake

A sweet, rich, and moist tres leches cake is like an angel food cake made extra! The cake gets soaked in sweetened milk and then topped with whipped cream (and sometimes strawberries). Tres leches cake takes just over 2 hours to make but you likely have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already!

11. Homemade churros

Fried, crispy churros are one of the world’s most beloved Mexican street snacks! Classic churros come dusted in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon. But you can (and should) include a side of dulce de leche or warm chocolate as a dipping sauce; it makes churros even more irresistible! Churros are easy enough to make since they’re just fried dough! Follow this recipe for the best fried churros you’ve ever tasted!

12. Mexican sugar cookies

Mexican sugar cookies (polvorones rosas) are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and colorful all over! They make a beautiful addition to the table and are a must-have Mexican party idea for adults and children alike. You need to be precise with the baking temperature and time to get the soft inside and crunchy outside that the best cookies have. Many reviewers find that baking them at 350℉ for 12-14 minutes is the best recipe for proper polvorones rosas!

13. Mexican fruit salad

Spicy and sweet, salty and crunchy, there is so much going on inside of a proper Mexican fruit salad! The key ingredients include Tajín chili powder and Mexican limes for a bit of tang and a peppery bite. Watermelon, jicama, and pineapple are the three kinds of fruit you usually see for street snacks when traveling in Mexico. But there’s nothing stopping you from adding apples, banana slices, kiwi, and other fruit if that’s what you prefer! 

Check out more fun fiesta party ideas here!

14. Refried beans

Refried beans are a humble dish that has a hundred different applications! You can use it as a tortilla chip dip, include it as an ingredient in your taco bar, or keep a hot bowl set aside as a dish to enjoy for its flavor. Like all dishes, refried beans really do taste better from scratch versus a can since you can add all of the seasonings necessary to bring out its hearty, earthy flavor.

15. Mexican street corn

Mexican street corn is a vibrantly colored dish that looks beautiful both as a salad or as kernels left on the cob. Known as Elote, the corn is covered in crumbled cotija cheese and a flavorful crema sauce before serving. The spicy sauce and sweet corn are a must-try combination that will disappear fast when served at a Mexican party!

16. Margarita & mezcalita cocktails

Margaritas and mezcalitas are two of Mexico’s most famous cocktails. So naturally, you’ll be serving them if you need Mexican party ideas for adults that include drinks. Mezcalitas are cousins to the margarita, except it uses less alcohol and more citrus juice for a very different flavor. Mezcalitas also use different kinds of agave hearts, which are supposed to be roasted in a pit of lava rocks instead of being steamed, like margarita tequila is.

17. Pozole soup

Make a big pot of pozole for your upcoming party, a hearty Mexican soup with guajillo chiles, hominy, and pork! One of the great things about pozole is the combination of flavors and textures; each bowl has a lot going on inside of it.

18. Homemade tamales

Tamales are a wonderfully filling dish made of masa harina (corn dough) steamed in a corn husk and stuffed with ground meat and/or vegetables! You can find people selling tamales on the streets throughout Latin America and the United States. But you might have an easier time feeding a big Mexican party filled with guests by making your own. Homemade tamales take a few hours to make, prepare, and serve, so plan accordingly!

Mexican party ideas: conclusion

Mexican culture is such a rich and vibrant one that you’ll never run out of party ideas to work with. From Dia de los Muertos parties to making your own Mexican street corn, you could have a completely different Mexican party idea for adults to work with each month of the year! Hopefully, Peerspace has given you some ideas to get you started. And while you’re here, think about booking one of our party venues near you for the upcoming celebration!

Find unique event spaces for your Mexican party on Peerspace