Cinco de Mayo decorations are easy to buy and easy to get wrong. A lot of the aisle is costumes and jokes, and very little of it has anything to do with the day itself. So before the shopping list, here is what the day marks.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, according to History.com. It isn’t Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16. We picked decorations that fit a good party without making anyone the punchline.
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Quick verdict: which decorations to buy for May 5
Buy the DOMESTAR papel picado banners for overhead color and the Fun Express paper fans for the tables. Add Beistle inflatable maracas if you want one big, silly touch. If you host every year, get the Hxezoc cotton runner.
Five Cinco de Mayo picks at a glance
Five picks, one for each job. All seven are reviewed below.
| Decoration | Best for | Size | Key detail | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fun Express Fiesta Paper Fans, Set of 12Best overall
|
Small tables and warm May afternoons | 12 fans, 10 inches | Folding paper | View on Amazon |
DOMESTAR Papel Picado Banners, 3-PackBest banner
|
Yards and long walls | 3 strings, 18 feet each | Plastic; pre-strung | View on Amazon |
Fun Express 6-Foot Jointed Cactus CutoutBest photo backdrop
|
Photo corners and blank walls | About 6 feet tall | Jointed cardstock | View on Amazon |
Beistle 30-Inch Inflatable Maracas, 2-PieceBest big decor
|
Doorways and buffet ends | 2 maracas, 30 inches | PVC with beads inside | View on Amazon |
Hxezoc Serape Table Runner, 14 x 84 InchesBest runner
|
A table that gets used again | 1 runner, 14 x 84 inches | Cotton with tassels | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Details come from the listings named in each pick.
Our picks for the best cinco de mayo decorations
Party goods rarely get careful reviews, so these rest on their listings and makers’ details. We chose things that decorate without dressing anyone up, and we say where a claim is only the seller’s.
1. Fun Express Fiesta Paper Fans, Set of 12 – Color Guests Can Actually Use
Early May can be warm in much of the country, and in Houston it certainly is, so we like a decoration that does a job. These are folding paper fans from Fun Express, 10 inches long, in a set of 12. Lay them across a table for color, slip them in a basket by the door, or send them home as favors.
There is no assembly and nothing to inflate. They are also about the lowest-stakes item on this page. The listing gives little beyond size, count and material, so check the photos for the colors you will get. Twelve is enough for most backyard gatherings, and you can always add a second set.
This is first because it is simple, useful and sold directly by Fun Express. It isn’t a statement piece on its own, so pair it with a banner overhead. It rests on the listing. The Recall API lists one 2006 Fun Express recall for children’s toys, which doesn’t name this product.
Why we like it
- Useful as well as bright
- No setup
- Works as a favor
- Sold by Fun Express when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Folding paper fan |
| Count | 12 |
| Size | 10 inches |
| Material | Paper |
| Where it goes | Tables and baskets |
| Reuse | A few uses, in our view |
| Sold by when checked | Fun-Express |
Why we recommend it
It suits a host of a small daytime party who wants color that doesn’t need hanging.
Skip it if you want a decoration that fills a room. These are small, so add the banners below.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No setup
- Doubles as a favor
- Simple to store
Cons
- Small on its own
- Few details on the listing
- Paper won’t last long outside
2. DOMESTAR Papel Picado Banners, 3-Pack – 54 Feet of Plastic Flags
Papel picado is the decoration most people picture for a Mexican celebration, and it does most of the work in any room. This pack from DOMESTAR holds three pre-strung banners, each 18 feet with 9 flags, 54 feet in total. Each flag is listed at 16.5 by 12.2 inches, with extra ribbon on both ends for tying.
The flags are plastic, and the listing says they have a waterproof and fade-reducing treatment. Designs include birds, flowers, cacti, guitars, palm trees and suns. DOMESTAR is an Amazon-first brand, one of two on this page, and we can’t confirm its weather claims from another source.
The listing title also names Hispanic Heritage Month and Day of the Dead, so these would get used more than once a year. Our best papel picado guide compares more options, including paper. It was sold by Rainbow Town when we checked, and it rests on the seller’s details.
Why we like it
- Long total run
- Pre-strung with spare ribbon
- Plastic for outdoor use, per the listing
- Reusable for other holidays
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Papel picado banner |
| Count | 3 strings |
| Size | 18 feet each; flags 16.5 x 12.2 inches |
| Material | Plastic |
| Where it goes | Indoors or outdoors |
| Reuse | Reusable |
| Sold by when checked | Rainbow Town |
Why we recommend it
It suits most Cinco de Mayo parties. If you buy only one big decoration, this should be it.
Skip it if you want traditional tissue paper. These are plastic, chosen for a reason, but they aren’t the older kind.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers lots of space
- Stated flag size
- Ready to hang
Cons
- Plastic, not paper
- Amazon-first brand
- Weather claims are the seller’s own
3. Fun Express 6-Foot Jointed Cactus Cutout – A Tall Shape for Photos
If you have a blank wall, this is a cheap way to fill it. Fun Express makes this jointed cactus cutout about 6 feet tall, in printed cardstock, with joints that fold flat for storage. The listing suggests it for photo backdrops, and that is where we would use it, standing beside a banner.
It is cardstock, so keep it indoors or out of the rain and tape or pin it in place, in our view. The listing doesn’t say how it attaches, so plan for tape. The word authentic on the listing is sales talk, since a cardboard cactus isn’t authentic anything, but it is pleasant and harmless.
We chose it over the sombrero cutouts and props in the same aisle because a desert plant doesn’t ask anyone to dress up as anybody. It rests on the listing, and it was sold by Fun-Express when we checked.
Why we like it
- Height fills a wall
- Folds flat, per the listing
- A prop that isn’t a costume
- Sold by Fun Express when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Jointed cutout |
| Count | 1 |
| Size | About 6 feet |
| Material | Cardstock |
| Where it goes | Indoors, against a wall |
| Reuse | Reusable if kept dry, in our view |
| Sold by when checked | Fun-Express |
Why we recommend it
It suits a party with a photo corner, or a room with one very bare wall.
Skip it if the party is entirely outdoors. Cardstock and weather don’t get along.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lots of size for its packed form
- Folds flat
- Easy to place
Cons
- Cardstock only
- How to attach isn’t stated
- Decorative only
4. Beistle 30-Inch Inflatable Maracas, 2-Piece – Big, Light and Rattling
Maracas are one of the safest choices in the party aisle, since they are instruments and not caricatures. Beistle’s inflatable pair stands 30 inches tall, in PVC plastic, with beads inside that rattle when shaken. They come flat, and the listing suggests buying a hand pump to inflate them.
Prop them at the ends of a buffet or by the door, or let kids of the right age play with them. Beistle says on many of its similar listings that novelty items like these are for ages 14 and older, though this listing doesn’t repeat that note. Check the box.
Beistle has been in business since 1900, according to the listing. It rests on that listing, and it was sold by Amazon when we checked.
Why we like it
- Big for a simple purchase
- Rattle when shaken, per the listing
- Store flat
- From a long-running maker
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Inflatable prop |
| Count | 2 |
| Size | 30 inches |
| Material | PVC plastic |
| Where it goes | Indoors, or calm outdoors in our view |
| Reuse | Reusable |
| Sold by when checked | Amazon |
Why we recommend it
It suits a host who wants something loud and silly that doesn’t laugh at anyone.
Skip it if you don’t want to inflate anything on the day. A pump isn’t included.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Big visual effect
- Reusable
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- You need a pump
- Plastic look up close
- Wind may move them, in our view
5. Beistle 30-Inch Inflatable Chili Pepper – One Bold Accent
A single 30-inch pepper hung over the food table is fun and tells people where to go. Beistle sells this one in red and green, in inflatable plastic. The listing suggests entrances, backdrops, food stations and wall displays, and it says the pepper is reusable.
One is a good number. A wall of them starts to look like a store display, in our view. Beistle’s guidance on this listing is a novelty decoration for adults, recommended for ages 14 and older.
It is sold by Hour Loop, a third party, and not Amazon or Beistle, so check the returns before you order. It rests on the listing.
Why we like it
- Easy way to mark the food table
- Light to hang
- Reusable, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Inflatable prop |
| Count | 1 |
| Size | 30 inches long |
| Material | Plastic |
| Where it goes | Indoors, or calm outdoors in our view |
| Reuse | Reusable |
| Sold by when checked | Hour Loop |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who likes a single playful touch above the food.
Skip it if you’d prefer a quieter room. A plain garland will do.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fun without being unkind
- Light
- Stores flat
Cons
- Sold by a third party
- Needs inflating
- Only one in the box
6. Fun Express Wooden Fiesta Maracas, 12-Piece – Small Painted Favors
These are the small counterpart to the big inflatable pair. You get twelve wooden maracas, 5 inches tall, painted with chilies, cacti and similar designs. Tuck one at each place setting and they decorate the table until the music starts, and then guests can take them home.
The listing title files them under educational activities for children, but it doesn’t state an age guide, so we won’t suggest one. Small painted items aren’t for very young children, in our view, so use your own judgment and check the package.
Sold by Wilco Trading, a third party, when we checked, so read the seller’s terms. It rests on the listing.
Why we like it
- Real wood, per the listing
- Twelve for a group
- Decor first, favor second
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Small wooden maraca |
| Count | 12 |
| Size | 5 inches |
| Material | Painted wood |
| Where it goes | Place settings and favor bags |
| Reuse | Keepsake |
| Sold by when checked | Wilco Trading |
Why we recommend it
It suits a seated dinner, where one at each place makes the table look finished.
Skip it if you are hosting a big crowd. Twelve won’t go far.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Actually make a noise
- Guests can take them home
- Painted designs
Cons
- Age guidance not stated
- Third-party seller
- Small
7. Hxezoc Serape Table Runner, 14 x 84 Inches – A Cotton Stripe for the Table
If you are hosting year after year, cloth beats plastic. This single runner from Hxezoc is 14 by 84 inches, with a striped serape pattern and tassels. The listing says it is hand woven of cotton and sewn on all four sides, and it is the second Amazon-first brand on the page.
We can’t confirm the hand-woven claim from another source. The listing also says pink in its description, and the seller may offer other colors, so check the color you are ordering. Being cotton, it should go through a gentle wash, in our view, but the listing’s only care note is that it is easy to clean.
It works for other meals too, and that alone lifts it above a one-party purchase. Our best table runners guide has more options. It was sold by Hxezoc when we checked, and it rests on the seller’s details.
Why we like it
- Cotton, per the listing
- Reusable all year
- Stated size
- Fringe finish
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Type | Fringed table runner |
| Count | 1 |
| Size | 14 x 84 inches |
| Material | Cotton, per the listing |
| Where it goes | Tables |
| Reuse | Reusable; care not detailed |
| Sold by when checked | Hxezoc |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who wants one cloth piece that can stay out after the party.
Skip it if you need to cover several tables on the day. This is one runner.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Works well beyond May 5
- Cotton
- Sold by the brand when we checked
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Hand-woven claim not confirmed
- Only one in the pack
What Cinco de Mayo marks, and why it matters for decorating
History.com says the battle took place at Puebla in east-central Mexico, where a smaller Mexican force led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, who was born in Texas, turned back a French army. In Mexico the day is mainly observed in the state of Puebla, with military parades, reenactments and festivities, and History.com notes it isn’t a federal holiday there.
In the United States it has become a wider celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly where Mexican American communities are large. History.com lists Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston among the cities with big festivals. Our own Cinco de Mayo vs Mexican Independence Day page goes further into how the two days differ.
So the honest approach to decorating is a party that celebrates Mexican culture, with music, food and color. Flags, flowers and maracas belong there. Fake mustaches don’t, in our view.
How to choose decorations for a May 5 party
Buy for the space you have. Measure where a banner will run. A small patio is fine with one string, and a yard wants all three. Allow for droop.
Plan on the weather. Plastic flags can stay up through a shower, per their listings. Paper fans and cardstock cutouts need a dry place, in our view.
Keep costumes out of it. The aisle sells ponchos, joke hats and more. We left them out, and your party won’t miss them.
Think about next year. Banners, inflatables and a cloth runner fold away for another party. That makes them better value than plates and paper cutouts, in our view, whatever the listing says.
Save the money for the food. Food is the real centerpiece, and our taco bar supplies guide covers what you need to serve it well.
How we picked these seven
We have not used these decorations. We looked for plain in-stock listings with a new lead offer from makers we could identify, mainly Fun Express and Beistle, and allowed two Amazon-first brands. Many Beistle and Amscan Cinco de Mayo items were short on stock when we checked. Others were costumes or joke items, and we left those out by choice. We read History.com’s article on the day. We ran no search for reviews of these items, so we cite none, and each pick rests on its listing. We also searched the saferproducts.gov Recall API by brand. Fun Express returned one 2006 recall for children’s toys, which doesn’t name these products. Beistle, DOMESTAR and Hxezoc returned none.
Cinco de Mayo decor questions, answered
What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?
The Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, according to History.com. In the United States it is also widely seen as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.
Is Cinco de Mayo Mexican Independence Day?
No. History.com calls that a popular misconception. Mexican Independence Day is September 16.
What colors are used for Cinco de Mayo?
Red, white and green are the colors of the Mexican flag, and bright mixes are common too. Papel picado banners usually mix many colors.
Are sombreros and ponchos okay as decorations?
People differ. We left them off this page because they tend to turn a culture into a costume, and a party looks good without them.
Can I use these for other parties?
Yes. The DOMESTAR listing names Hispanic Heritage Month, and the inflatables and runner work for birthdays too, in our view.
Our last word for May 5
Hang flags, set a good table and let the food lead. For more on banners, see our best papel picado guide. And if you don’t want to do the cooking this May 5, you can call to order from Julia’s at (346) 546-8283.