Fiesta in Full Color: A Vibrant Cinco de Mayo Tablescape

 

Get ready to spice up your Cinco de Mayo with a table bursting with color and personality! This year, I leaned into the festive spirit, blending bold purples and pinks with classic Mexican flair for a tablescape that’s as lively as a mariachi band. The result? A vibrant setup that’s equal parts playful and chic, perfect for sipping sangria and savoring tacos.

The star of the show is a dazzling tablecloth made from Alexander Henry’s Mexican-themed fabric, popping with intricate patterns. I layered it with leafy placemats and gleaming gold chargers for a touch of elegance. My trusty deep purple dinner plates from the Table Tops Unlimited “Primary Colors” line —total workhorses in my collection—set the foundation, topped with orange Fiestaware salad plates and the cutest Hausenware chili pepper plates in their “Hot Tamale” pattern, you’ve ever seen. They’re practically begging for a pile of enchiladas!

 

For flatware, I went with my obsession-worthy orange flatware, paired with matching orange napkins for that extra pop. But here’s where it gets fun: instead of napkin rings, I encircled them with quirky Cinco de Mayo Fiesta paper glasses atop the napkins. Once guests slip the napkins onto their laps, they can pop on the glasses for a dose of Mexican whimsy—talk about a conversation starter!

 

New this year are my Etsy finds: adorable mini cans of Mexican veggies transformed into succulent planters. They’re so charming that I couldn’t resist grabbing two! Talavera salsa dishes cradle avocado halves, and a cheeky “Happy Cinco de Mayo” sign (part of a set of four) adds a festive vibe. 

Drinks are served in style with pale green Villeroy & Boch water glasses and my new favorite orange wine glasses—perfect for holding a refreshing Mexican sangria (trust me, you’ll want seconds). At the center, a vibrant vase—gifted by a dear friend years ago—overflows with faux sunflowers in all sizes, stealing the spotlight.

  

For a touch of drama, vintage iron candlestick holders (30 years strong!) cradle twisted pink taper candles, their playful curves adding movement to the scene. It’s a tablescape that screams “fiesta” from every angle.

  

This Cinco de Mayo, I’m skipping the kitchen and treating myself to takeout from a new taqueria just down the road. Picture me with a plate of carne asada tacos, a glass of sangria, and this colorful table as my backdrop. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or keeping it cozy, I hope your day is a full-on fiesta of flavor and fun. Share your Cinco de Mayo plans in the comments—I’m all ears! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

When Witches Go Riding Tablescape

 

Does this table surprise you? Well, it surprises me! I had no intention whatsoever of doing a Halloween table this year. This came about when my aunt and my cousin came over to join me for lunch to celebrate my birthday earlier in the month. My cousin brought the napkins made out of Halloween fabric, as well as the spider tea light candleholders. She said now that her children are grown (they’re both in high school) she no longer sets tables to celebrate Halloween, and wanted to know if I would like these items. Would I? Yes, I would! The next day I took down my neutral fall table (that I really enjoyed during the month of September), and set about creating this one.

 

I started by topping the table with fabric by J. Wecker Frisch; it is not a Halloween fabric, per se, but one that lends itself quite well to the holiday.I topped it with black placemats, and Italian green chargers (that I brought forward from last week’s table). On top of the chargers, I placed bright yellow Waechtersbach ceramic dinner plates. To complete my plate stack, I added vintage Halloween plates, that I got a number of years ago from Williams-Sonoma.

I was trying to decide what flatware to use, and at one point was considering gold to pick up the gold elements in the plates (that may not be visible to you, but are very much so in person), but ultimately decided to go with that pop of orange, and I’m happy with my choice. You can find the orange flatware here. 

Witch broom handled mugs, ample enough to hold soup, a latte, or a big cup of cocoa topped with whipped cream, got a number of years ago from Pier One. The owl stemware is new this year and I found it here.

 

I paired my cousin’s luncheon size napkins with solid green dinner size napkins to pick up the green elements in the fabric and give the table some added interest.

The skeleton hand napkin ring holding the napkins can be found here. The spider votive candleholders hold green tea lights.

 

The skeleton candlesticks I got it Michael’s a couple of years ago, the candles are from Colonial Candle of Cape Cod.

 

In the center I have a vintage look pumpkin from World Market filled with fresh flowers and fern fronds.

 

Beverages (Serpent’s Venom and Cauldron Cola) are from The Potion’s Cauldron. They have a variety of fun flavors, and bottles to match.

 Considering that I wasn’t planning a Halloween table at all, I’m very pleased with the way that this one turned out.

 BOO! And Happy Friday the 13th!

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday