Fiesta Party Activities

Mexican Jumping Beans
Best for: Ages 1 to 3

Guests will burn off some fiery energy by jumping and bumping to music in this active game.

You’ll Need:

• Mexican music
• Music player
• Large space to play

How to Play:

1. Gather the kids into a large space (inside or out) where there is enough space for them to play.
2. Explain that a Mexican jumping bean has a type of caterpillar inside and that when it gets hot outside, the caterpillars start to move to get out, making the beans jump.
3. Put on some Mexican music and get the kids to jump around like the beans.
4. Abruptly stop the music and as soon as it stops, everyone must remain still.
5. If you catch a ‘bean’ moving, they’re out, and anyone out starts to help you catch other moving ‘beans.’

Piñata: A Fiesta Tradition
Best for: Ages 3 to 5

A fiesta isn’t a fiesta unless there’s a piñata, and what kid doesn’t enjoy scrambling to collect candy?

You’ll Need:

• Piñata
• Broomstick
• Blindfold (optional)
• Heavy string or rope
• Somewhere to hang it (tree branch, basketball hoop, clothesline or beam in a patio overhang)
• Someone to monitor the game

How to Play:

1. Everyone gets a turn whacking away at the brightly coloured paper mache piñata filled with yummy candy.
2. Each kid may be blindfolded to make it hard to hit the piñata. We also recommend using a broomstick over a bat, as it takes a bit longer to crack open the goodies.
3. You can also pull the piñata up and down a few times to make things trickier.
4. Make sure to have all the onlookers out of the way of the person swinging, and to have a spotter watching to keep things very safe.

Pass the Sombrero
Best for: Ages 5 to 8

Arriba! Guests will hurry to pass the sombrero—don’t be the one holding it when the music stops.

You’ll Need:

• Sombrero
• Mexican music
• Music player

How to Play:

1. Similar to pass the parcel or hot potato, kids will sit in a circle and pass around a sombrero as Mexican music plays in the background.
2. When the kids get the sombrero, they must put it on their heads for a second, and then pass it on to their neighbour.
3. When the music stops, the kid wearing (or holding) the sombrero is out of the game.
4. Continue the process until one child is left—they win the round.