Top Festivals in Mexico Tours & Vacations 2024/2025...

Festivals in Mexico Attractions & Landmarks Guide

Festivals are an excellent way to experience a new culture and Mexico holds a number of them throughout the year. Whether you're absorbing the brilliantly bright and colorful celebration of death and family on Dia de los Muertos or enjoying the raucous excitement of Carnaval, visiting Mexico during festival time is an unforgettable experience.

Dia de los Muretos (Day of the Dead)

Dia de los Muertos -Perhaps one of the best known of Mexico's holidays, this colorful and slightly morose celebration pays tribute to the dearly departed. Spanning three days from October 31-Nov. 2, this holiday is so much a part of Mexico's heritage that is has been designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Skulls, colorful costumes worn by skeletons and visits to cemeteries to offer food, drink to the deceased family member's mark this event. Likely rooted in pre-Columbian tradition, this festive day is most popular in Southern and Central Mexico.

Guelaguetza

The largest festival in Oaxaca, Guelaguetza draws members from the many diverse communities of the state of Oaxaca to celebrate their distinct cultures and traditions. Occurring on the last two Mondays of July, Guelaguetza showcases music, singing, dancing and culture from the different ethnic groups. The word itself comes from the Zapotec language and means sharing. Oaxaca is known for its wonderful mole and culinary treats and also for pottery, textiles, Mezcal and colorful ceramic folk art - alebrijos.

Carnaval

The pre-Lent celebration takes place in several cities throughout Mexico. Veracruz boasts the largest carnaval taking place for nine days. Cozumel puts on a family-friendly celebration with the event taking place starting in January with contests for adults and children, including the presentation of king and queen candidates, dances, shows and good food. This celebration ends with the burning of Juan Carnaval to mark the end of the celebration until next year. Each Mexican town does its own take on Carnaval with a variety of activities from parades to musical and dance competitions and other activities that engage the entire communities.

Three Kings Day

You've definitely heard about the 12 days of Christmas. January 6, known as El Dia de Reyes, is the '12th day' and the high point of the Christmas season. This is the day that children receive gifts, since it was the three wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus. The evening meal usually consists of tamales and hot chocolate. A special feature of this holiday is the Kings' Cake (Rosca de Reyes). This special cake hides a tiny baby representing Jesus. The person who gets the piece of cake with the baby traditionally hosts a party on February 2, Candlemas Day.

Mariachi Festival

Which type of music comes to mind when thinking about Mexico? Mariachi, of course. This annual festival takes place in August and September, bringing over 1000 musicians together to play the traditional songs of heartbreak, love and machismo - sounds like country-western, doesn't it. Musicians dressed in the traditional sombrero and black charro outfits perform in many venues in Jalisco, the capital city and also the tequila capital in the state of Guadalajara. In conjunction with the festival, the Charreria, the Mexican national sport similar to rodeo, shows the skills of cowboys as they rope, ride horses and handle cattle.

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Festivals in Mexico Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

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Day of the Dead in Michoacan

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