5 Ways To Celebrate Mexican Independence Day Slideshow

We're not necessarily recommending Mexican-inspired karaoke, but when margaritas and mariachi music are combined, you never know what is going to happen. Start with a basic margarita recipe, then experiment. Try adding watermelon juice to give your cocktail some sweetness, or choose avocado or jalapeño for something unexpected. Then set the scene with a playlist of Mexican-inspired tunes, drawing from our 36 favorite songs about tequila, or opting for mariachi classics like Jorge Negrete's Mexico Lindo or Pedro Infante's Cielito Lindo. Then throw in Ritchie Valens' La Bamba for good measure.

If you've ever given a child a pot and wooden spoon, then you likely know how much kids love to make music. So, imagine their delight when an opportunity to make their own musical instruments presents itself?

Making maracas at home is easier than you think, if you've got a recycling container of empty drinkable yogurt containers on hand. Or, purchase pre-made wooden maracas that can be decorated with paint, glitter, and buttons. Then put your instruments to action with some good tunes.

How hot do you like your salsa? Chile-eating contests aside, a how-hot-can-you-go salsa making (and eating) contest a fun way to make use of the bounty of summer tomatoes still in the market, and to have a little fun in the kitchen. Start with a simple salsa recipe like this and then add the heat in layers using our glossary of chiles as a guide. If you're feeling adventurous, experiment by adding fruit or cheese, or go all-out and make your own tortilla chips.

Piñatas are a birthday party favorite, especially when filled with treats and sweets like candy, in the U.S. Yet in Mexico, piñatas can also be filled with fruit, as found during the holidays, or flour, confetti, even water, for a trick surprise. And with some newspaper, balloons, and paper mâche paste, they're also really easy to make for an at-home piñata contest.

Follow these easy instructions to make your own, creating shapes like pigs, trees, or giant squashes. Fill the piñatas with your choice of treats, leaving one as a "trick" piñata. Then blindfold the players, twist them around, then let them swing with the bat. And with more than enough filling to go around, everyone comes out a winner.

Choosing between the burrito, fajita, and taco when dining out can be hard for many Mexican food fans. Why not have them all? Host a potluck with your friends and you can! All you need to do is assign each guest a dish, like mole, stuffed chiles, or quesadillas, and prepare a couple of pitchers of margaritas to share. Set out appetizers like guacamole and salsa and garnishes like lime wedges, sour cream, and cilantro. Then go to town!