Major Events & Festivals in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

All Topics about Guadalajara All Cities in Mexico

1. Festival Internacional Cervantino

A massive cultural festival featuring theater, music, dance and visual arts from around the world, held annually in October.

Global Participation: Showcases artists and performances from over 50 countries.
Unique Venues: Performances take place in a variety of unique venues, including historic theaters and outdoor spaces.
Cultural Exchange: Promotes cultural exchange and understanding through artistic expression.

National Independence Day celebrations taking place on September 16th, featuring parades, fireworks and traditional music.

National Pride: Celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain in 1810.
Community Spirit: Brings the local community together to celebrate their national identity.
Traditional Foods: Offers opportunities to try traditional Mexican foods such as tamales and pozole.

A livestock fair showcasing the best in ranching, agriculture, and animal husbandry, held annually in February.

Livestock Competitions: Features competitions for cattle, horses, and other livestock.
Agricultural Exhibits: Displays the latest agricultural technology and equipment.
Cultural Activities: Includes cultural activities such as mariachi music, traditional dances, and regional cuisine.

A season of charreadas (Mexican rodeos) held from December to March, showcasing traditional horse riding skills and cultural performances.

Equestrian Skills: Displays exceptional equestrian skills in various events such as cape-work and lassoing.
Cultural Preservation: Preserves the rich cultural heritage of charrería (Mexican rodeo).
Community Involvement: Encourages community involvement through participation in events and celebrations.

A lantern festival held annually on December 8th, where participants create and release handmade lanterns into the night sky.

Lantern Making: Offers opportunities for creative expression through lantern making.
Community Bonding: Brings the community together in a beautiful and peaceful celebration.
Spiritual Significance: Honors the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico.

A mask festival held annually in June, featuring traditional and contemporary masked performances from around the world.

Global Mask Culture: Highlights the cultural significance of masks across various societies.
Artistic Expression: Provides a platform for artists to showcase their creative talents.
Interactive Workshops: Offers interactive mask-making workshops for participants.

Easter Week celebrations featuring processions, religious services, and cultural events throughout the city.

Religious Devotion: Expresses deep religious devotion through various traditional practices.
Cultural Exploration: Allows visitors to explore the rich cultural history of Guadalajara during this important religious observance.
Community Participation: Encourages community participation through processions and other events.

A festival celebrating the indigenous Tocharo people and their culture, held annually in July.

Cultural Preservation: Promotes and preserves the unique traditions of the Tocharo people.
Community Unity: Brings together the Tocharo community in celebration of their heritage.
Cultural Exchange: Provides opportunities for visitors to learn about and engage with Tocharo culture.

A festival celebrating the Nahua (Aztec) culture and language, held annually in August.

Cultural Preservation: Promotes and preserves the unique traditions of the Nahua people.
Language Revitalization: Encourages the learning and use of the Nahuatl language among participants.
Community Bonding: Brings together the Nahua community in Guadalajara for a celebration of their cultural heritage.

A wine harvest festival held annually in October, featuring grape-crushing contests, wine tastings, and cultural events.

Wine Tasting: Offers opportunities to taste the finest wines from Guadalajara's vineyards.
Cultural Activities: Includes cultural activities such as mariachi music, traditional dances, and regional cuisine.
Community Involvement: Encourages community involvement through participation in events and celebrations.

A mariachi music festival featuring performances by some of the best mariachi bands in Mexico and around the world.

Global Talent: Showcases exceptional talent from both local and international mariachi musicians.
Cultural Preservation: Preserves the rich cultural heritage of mariachi music in Mexico.
Interactive Workshops: Offers interactive workshops for visitors to learn more about mariachi music and its history.

A tango festival featuring performances by world-renowned tango dancers and musicians.

Global Talent: Showcases exceptional talent from both local and international tango artists.
Cultural Exchange: Provides opportunities for cultural exchange between Argentina and Mexico.
Interactive Workshops: Offers interactive tango workshops for visitors to learn more about the dance and its history.

An airmail festival commemorating the first airmail delivery in Mexico, held annually on October 2nd.

Historical Significance: Celebrates the historical significance of the first airmail delivery in Mexico.
Community Bonding: Brings together the community for a unique and memorable celebration.
Interactive Activities: Offers interactive activities such as model airplane-building workshops.

A Day of the Dead festival featuring parades, altars, and art installations dedicated to the iconic calavera catrina (elegant skull) figure.

Cultural Celebration: Celebrates Mexico's rich cultural tradition of honoring the dead during Día de los Muertos.
Artistic Expression: Provides opportunities for artistic expression through calavera catrina-inspired installations and altars.
Community Involvement: Encourages community involvement through parade participation and altar creation.

A summer solstice festival celebrating the longest day of the year with music, dance, and cultural performances.

Cultural Exchange: Provides opportunities for cultural exchange between various indigenous communities.
Community Unity: Brings together the community to celebrate the beginning of summer.
Interactive Activities: Offers interactive activities such as traditional craft-making workshops.