Want to attend the best Mexico festivals?
Mexico is a country bursting with vibrant traditions, colorful celebrations, and a deep-rooted sense of community.
Across its 32 states, you’ll find cultural festivals that showcase the heart and soul of Mexican heritage — whether it’s through dance, music, food, or religion.
These festivals are the perfect way to dive into the culture and experience the lively spirit that makes Mexico so unique.
If you’re planning a trip, timing your visit around one of these events is a surefire way to make it unforgettable.
Here are the top cultural festivals in Mexico you shouldn’t miss, from ancient traditions to modern-day celebrations.
1. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
- 📆 When: November 1-2
- 📍 Where: Nationwide, but the most famous celebrations are in Oaxaca City, Michoacán, Guanajuato City, and Mexico City
Perhaps the most iconic Mexican celebration, Día de los Muertos honors deceased loved ones in a way that’s both heartfelt and joyous.
Families build ofrendas (altars) adorned with marigold flowers, candles, photos, and favorite foods of the departed.
In places like Mexico City and Oaxaca City, you’ll find elaborate parades, colorful flower displays, vibrant costumes, and mesmerizing sand tapestries.
Lesser-known but one of the best Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, the island of Janitzio in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, comes alive with candlelit processions.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Visit cemeteries at night to witness families gathering around graves, sharing stories, and celebrating the lives of their loved ones.
It’s a profoundly moving experience, and a personal one for the families, so please act accordingly and always be mindful when taking photos.
2. Carnaval
- 📆 When: February (Dates vary by year, but it’s the week leading up to Lent)
- 📍 Where: Veracruz, Mazatlán, and other coastal cities
Mexico’s Carnaval rivals Carnaval in Brazil and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with extravagant parades, live music, endless dancing, flamboyant costumes, traditional dress, floats, and a week-long party.
The port city of Heroica Veracruz (AKA Veracruz City) is known for its Afro-Caribbean influences, while Mazatlán boasts the world’s largest Carnaval along the Pacific Coast.
If you prefer something more low-key, head to the Yucatán Peninsula, where smaller towns like Puerto Progreso celebrate with colorful parades and traditional Yucatecan food.
3. Guelaguetza Festival
- 📆 When: Last two Mondays of July
- 📍 Where: Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
- 💡 Info: guelaguetza.oaxaca.gob.mx
The Guelaguetza (pronounced geh-lah-getz-aah) is one of Mexico’s oldest festivals at more than 500-years-old.
It also also one of the best festivals in Oaxaca, celebrating the state’s various indigenous cultures.
Groups from Oaxaca state’s eight regions come together to perform traditional dances in dazzling costumes, accompanied by live music, and exchange gifts.
The festival’s name comes from the Zapotec word guendalizaa, meaning “offering” or “reciprocal exchange.”
Beyond the main performances at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca City, the entire city buzzes with street food fairs, art exhibitions, and local markets.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Don’t leave without trying tlayudas (giant Oaxacan tortillas topped with beans, cheese, and meat), memelas (a sort of thick, open-face taco), and locally-made Oaxaca mezcal.
4. El Cervantino (Cervantino Festival)
- 📆 When: October
- 📍 Where: Guanajuato City, Guanajuato
- 💡 Info: festivalcervantino.gob.mx
Named after Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, this festival has grown into one of Latin America’s largest cultural events.
El Cervantino brings together artists from around the world to showcase theater, music, dance, and visual arts.
Performances take place in stunning venues like Guanajuato’s Teatro Juárez and charming plazas throughout the city.
Don’t miss the vibrant street performances and food stalls serving local specialties like enchiladas mineras (miner’s enchiladas).
The festival’s eclectic mix of cultures makes it a must for art lovers — and one of the best things to do in Guanajuato City.
5. Semana Santa (Holy Week)
- 📆 When: The week leading up to Easter Sunday
- 📍 Where: Nationwide, with notable events in San Miguel de Allende, Taxco, and Iztapalapa (Mexico City)
Semana Santa is a deeply religious celebration in Mexico, marked by solemn processions and reenactments of Christ’s Passion.
In Iztapalapa, an eastern borough of Mexico City, the Passion Play is a massive event involving thousands of actors and attracting millions of spectators.
The dedication and detail in the performances are truly awe-inspiring — though it is not for the faint of heart, and features realistic depictions of Christ’s suffering.
In San Miguel de Allende, the streets fill with parades of penitents carrying statues of saints, while the processions in Taxco feature participants dressed in hooded robes and carrying heavy crosses.
It’s a powerful reminder of Mexico’s Catholic traditions.
6. Feria Nacional de San Marcos (San Marcos National Fair)
- 📆 When: April-May
- 📍 Where: Aguascalientes City, Aguascalientes
- 💡 Info: feriasanmarcos.mx
Known as Mexico’s largest fair, the Feria Nacional de San Marcos is a month-long celebration of music, food, and entertainment.
Highlights include concerts featuring regional and international artists, and a lively carnival atmosphere.
Note: There are also bullfights, which might not be appropriate for everyone — though they are still a part of Mexican culture in some areas.
Families will love the games and rides, while foodies can indulge in local dishes like birria (shredded meat stew) and lechón (roast suckling pig).
For an authentic experience, head to the Palenque de la Feria de San Marcos Aguascalientes, where famous Mexican singers perform late into the night, often accompanied by mariachi bands.
7. Día de la Independencia (Independence Day)
- 📆 When: September 16
- 📍 Where: Nationwide, with major celebrations in Dolores Hidalgo and Mexico City
While many think it’s Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), Mexico’s Independence Day actually takes place on September 16th.
The festivities officially kick off at midnight (basically the night of September 15th) with El Grito de Dolores, a reenactment of Father Hidalgo’s historic cry for independence in 1810.
In Mexico City, this takes place in the Zócalo (main square), with the president leading the cry from the Palacio Nacional (National Palace).
Expect fireworks, patriotic music, plenty of pozole (a hearty hominy soup) and chile en nogada.
Considered one of the national dishes of Mexico, it consists of a stuffed poblano pepper (green) topped with walnut sauce (white) and pomegranate seeds (red), which represent the colors of the Mexican flag 🇲🇽
8. Festival Internacional del Globo (International Balloon Festival)
- 📆 When: November
- 📍 Where: León, Guanajuato
- 💡 Info: vivefig.mx
One of the world’s largest hot air balloon festivals, this event transforms the skies above León into a kaleidoscope of colors.
More than 200 balloons from around the globe take flight, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
The festival also features concerts, food stalls, and nighttime shows where the balloons light up against the dark sky.
It’s family-friendly, Instagram-worthy, and a unique way to experience Mexico’s festival scene.
9. Noche de los Rábanos (Night of the Radishes)
- 📆 When: December 23
- 📍 Where: Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
Only in Mexico would you find a festival dedicated to radishes! (Yes, you read that right.)
La Noche de los Rábanos is a quirky and creative event where artisans carve radishes into intricate sculptures, often depicting nativity scenes or local traditions.
The radishes are displayed in the Zócalo (town square), drawing large crowds of curious onlookers.
It is one of the best things to do in Oaxaca City, but you should try to get there as soon as it begins, because the radishes start browning quickly.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Pair your visit with Oaxaca’s Christmas markets, where you can pick up handmade ornaments and indulge in seasonal treats like buñuelos (fried dough topped with syrup).
10. Fiesta de los Parachicos
- 📆 When: January
- 📍 Where: Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas
- 💡 Info: visitchiapas.com/en/blog/La-Fiesta-Grande-de-Chiapas
For a unique experience, head to the small town of Chiapa de Corzo (located near the popular destination of San Cristóbal de las Casas) in January for the Fiesta Grande de Chiapa de Corzo.
A UNESCO-recognized festival, this event features colorful dancers known as Parachicos, who don intricately carved wooden masks and vibrant costumes while performing to traditional marimba and drum music.
The festival, rooted in Indigenous and Spanish traditions, symbolizes gratitude and communal joy.
Over several days, the pueblo magico (magic town) of Chiapa de Corzo comes alive with parades, rituals, and a sense of deep cultural pride.
The dancers honor legends and historical figures from the region, reflecting the rich heritage of Chiapas state.
For visitors, it’s an immersive experience that offers a glimpse into a unique fusion of indigenous and colonial influences that define the area’s identity.
11. Las Posadas
- 📆 When: December 16-24
- 📍 Where: Nationwide
This nine-day celebration reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, a tradition deeply rooted in Mexican Catholic heritage.
Communities come together each evening for candlelit processions, where participants sing villancicos (Christmas carols) and carry small statues of Mary and Joseph.
The processions often culminate in a designated home, symbolizing the inn that finally provided them shelter.
Afterward, families and friends gather for lively feasts featuring tamales, ponche (a warm fruit punch made with seasonal fruits like guava and tejocote), and other Mexican Christmas foods.
Children especially enjoy breaking piñatas shaped like stars, adding a joyful and interactive element to one of the most cherishedChristmas celebrations in Mexican.
12. Festival de la Cerveza (Beer Festival)
- 📆 When: Dates vary, but it’s usually in the Fall
- 📍 Where: Guadalajara, Jalisco
- 💡 Info: gdlbeerfestival.com
While Mexico is famous for its tequila and mezcal, the beer and craft beer scene has been booming in recent years.
The Guadalajara Beer Festival brings together breweries from across the country to showcase their best brews.
From IPAs to stouts, you’ll find the perfect beer from Mexico for every taste, paired with live music and street food.
This festival is a more modern take on Mexican culture, but it’s a great way to mingle with locals and try unique flavors.
13. Festival del Mole Poblano
- When: Around May 5, but the dates vary each year
- Where: Puebla City, Puebla
This festival celebrates the national dish of Mexico, mole poblano, which is said to originate in the state of Puebla.
Held on (or around) Cinco de Mayo, it’s a culinary and cultural feast that attracts locals and visitors alike.
Here, you’ll find an array of mole varieties, from the traditional chocolate-infused sauce to creative modern interpretations, served alongside freshly made tortillas and local delicacies.
In addition to sampling the dishes, attendees can watch cooking demonstrations by skilled chefs who share the secrets of crafting the perfect mole.
Live music, traditional dances, and storytelling sessions enrich the atmosphere, providing a deeper appreciation of Puebla’s gastronomic heritage and the historical significance of this beloved dish.
Ready for Your Mexican Festival Adventure?!
Attending a cultural festival in Mexico isn’t just about having fun (though there’s plenty of that) — it’s a chance to connect with the country’s history, traditions, and people.
Whether you’re marveling at Day of the Dead altars, dancing at Carnaval, or savoring street food at the Feria de San Marcos, these festivals will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
To help you plan, here are some related blog posts:
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- 🧳 The ULTIMATE Packing List for Mexico: What to Bring & What to Leave at Home
- 📲 5 Reasons You Need to Buy a Mexico SIM Card Before Your Trip
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