Cinco De Mayo is on its way and this year is the first year in a while that people are actually considering getting out and enjoying the occasion. If you’re looking to enjoy Cinco de Mayo, but you’re worried about your budget, there are lots of ways that you can enjoy the fun without spending a lot of money. These ten ideas are just scratching the surface and will allow you to truly enjoy the fun you have while you celebrate with your loved ones.

1. Local Festivals
Depending on where you live, there is a good chance that you will find some sort of local festival to enjoy. However, you may have to travel a bit if there isn’t one in your community. Generally, local festivals are open to the community, but in some cases, you may have to pay a small fee in order to enter. If the festival is free, you will most likely have to pay for extra items like souvenirs and food, but if you plan accordingly, you should be able to avoid these too. Festivals are a great way to enjoy some of the traditions of Mexican culture, so enjoying one during Cinco de Mayo can help you get the most out of the holiday.

2. Celebrate with Friends
If you don’t have plans for a festival, then one of the best things you can do is celebrate with friends or family. You might check in to see if anyone is hosting a party or a dinner. If not, you might consider hosting a potluck to help cut down on the costs of the holiday. If you do get invited to parties then you might make time to visit more than once, so you can enjoy how different people enjoy the holiday. This should give you more perspective on the holiday while allowing you to visit more loved ones.

3. Cook From Scratch
If you’re planning on having Mexican food to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, then you might consider making the meals from scratch. This can be a whole lot cheaper than purchasing from a restaurant and is a lot healthier than purchasing premade meals from the store. Mexican food doesn’t have to be intimidating either. You’ll find that there are a lot of great recipes online. You can even find some tutorial videos to get you where you’d like to be. You may even find a new recipe that you’ll want to add to your monthly menu.

4. Enjoy a Parade
In some communities, Cinco de Mayo tends to come with its own parade. So, if you’re living in a community that tends to make a big deal over the holiday then you might ask around to see if there is going to be a parade you can see. If not, then there are a few options that you can watch online. This should help you to completely enjoy the holiday with the whole family while staying in. You can also enjoy creating a parade of your own, by crafting flags, hats, and banners to help celebrate the family.

5. Find a Signature Drink
During Cinco de Mayo, it can be very tempting to enjoy a wide variety of drinks. However, if you’re hosting a party, then it might be best to find a signature drink and just stick with it. There are many to choose from, so you can easily find one that suits ingredients that you already have in the home or those that are cheap to purchase. By just making one drink, you can actually spend more time with your guests so you can actually enjoy yourself even more.

6. DIY Pinata
If you’re hosting a party, then a pinata is definitely going to bring you plenty of fun. You can purchase a pinata for a fair price in many places, but you might also find that you can make a pinata just as easily and for much cheaper. Most pinatas are made of paper mache, but if this process seems too time-consuming then you might want to look for some tutorials online as many people have come up with lots of great methods to create a pinata. You will also find that there are many cheap items that you can put in the pinata to add even more fun to the mix.

7. Tissue Paper Flowers
Tissue papers are a traditional form of décor for the holiday and can be a great craft for anyone hoping to learn more about Mexican culture. Paper flowers are very easy to create at home too, which can ensure you have a fun activity to do with the whole family. There are many ways you can approach tissue paper flowers too, so you should be able to create a wide variety of options. Once you finish your flowers, you can transform them into accessories like necklaces or you can use them as décor to help make your home even more festive for the holiday. If you like the look of the flowers, you might even consider keeping them up in your home.

8. Pottery
Pottery is one traditional craft that you might enjoy partaking in for the holiday. You don’t have to spend a small fortune on pottery either, which makes it a great activity to share with the family if you’re on a budget. You can find a wide variety of clays to work from too. If you have young kids and you don’t want to invest the money, then try to create traditional crafts using playdough. If you choose to keep the items, then simply let them dry out for display later on. Pottery can also be painted to add even more to the craft, so you can make the project a day or even weeklong craft. There are lots of examples of traditional Mexican art online too, which can help you if you’re not sure where to start.

9. Dance
Another great activity that you partake in whether you’re alone, with family, or at a party is to dance. Find a playlist that speaks to you and enjoy moving to the beat. You can easily find traditional music on most streaming platforms, which will help cut down on the cost of your celebration. If you’re not sure how to do traditional dances, then you may find comfort in knowing that there are lots of tutorials online. You can learn as a group on the holiday, or you can brush up on your skills before Cinco de Mayo even arrives. Best of all, dancing is a great exercise that will help you work off some of the drinks and food that you’ll be partaking in throughout the occasion.

10. Mexican Films
If the hot weather doesn’t sit well with you or you’re busy working on Cinco de Mayo, then you might consider looking into some Mexican films to watch as you unwind. There are so many options to choose from, so you should be able to find something from your favorite genre. You might try listening to the movie in Spanish as well and using the subtitles to help you understand. If you want to celebrate with friends, then make up some traditional Mexican snacks and enjoy the show together.

Cinco de Mayo doesn’t have to be another expensive holiday for the books. These ten easy tips will allow you to enjoy a fun experience while you celebrate with loved ones. These budget-friendly ideas will certainly make it easy to plan your holiday in advance or on the fly.