Puerto Vallarta Festivities

January

1 - New Year's Day (Año Nuevo), national holiday

6 - Day of the Kings (Día de los Reyes). This is the traditional gift-giving day in the Mexican celebration of holidays when children receive toys and gifts in honor of the Three Kings' visit to the baby Jesus. The local charitable organization, the International Friendship Club, annually visits local hospitals and rural communities bringing truckloads of toys to local children.

February

5 - Constitution Day, national holiday and parade.

14 - Friendship Day / Día de Amistad: Here in Mexico, not just love, but friendship as well is celebrated on February 14!

24 - Mexican Flag Day. Mexican celabration.

Regatta Action!

Banderas Bay fills with sails as a series of regattas takes full advantage of the gentle breezes, clear skies and calm waters surrounding Puerto Vallarta.

March

First Tuesday - Carnaval Day. Party with masks, kids parade in the streets.

First Wednesday of the month - Ash Wednesday.

17 - San Patrick's Day. USA Celebration.

21 - Benito Juarez Day - national holiday in honor of the popular president known as "the Lincoln of Mexico". Also the First Day of Spring!

April

First weeks of April: Semana Santa - Puerto Vallarta is at its peak occupancy during this pre-Easter Holy week, a time of national vacations and "spring break" from schools. Culminates with Easter Sunday (Domingo Santo).

26 - Secretary's Day. International Celebration.

30 - Kids' Day. Kids make a parade on streets and have party.

April - May

Spring is for Seniors: Senior Travelers are offered an extra special welcome to Puerto Vallarta during these spring months. Hotels offer special rates and value packages, the town puts together an extensive calendar of activities, concerts, events and excursions geared just for seniors. In addition, many shops and restaurants in town offer discounts just for those over-60 travelers enjoying Vallarta during springtime.

May

1 - Labor Day - national holiday

5 - Cinco de Mayo, national holiday celebrating the defeat of the French at Puebla in 1862. Parades.

10 - Mother's Day, national holiday

Fiestas de Mayo (All of May)

Visitors can join the local residents in this spring celebration! It' s a traditional fair, complete with midway games attractions, livestock displays, exhibits, food, drinks and entertainment... a Vallarta tradition!

June - December

Sea Turtle Preservation Months

Summer fun an family vacation times occur when Puerto Vallarta is at its peak in terms of ecological preservation and protection. Children and adults can participate in Turtle Liberation ceremonies, held daily during the season at participating hotel beaches. Puerto Vallarta is an important breeding ground for several endangered, protected species of sea turtles, and has implemented a community-wide preservation program that combines protected nurseries for the eggs, plus educational projects.

July

1 - Marine Force Day. Mexican Celebration.

2 - National Elections Day. Held in Mexico every six years.

18 - Death of Benito Juarez. Former Mexican president.

Semptember

Fiestas Patrias! Mexico's independence

Commemorated during the month of September, with the famed Independence Eve celebration taking place on the 15th. On this night, the central plaza is filled with revelers participating in the traditional grito, or Cry for Independence. The following day is a national holiday, celebrated by a parade through the center of town and continuing festivities.

14 - Charro Day. Charros (Mexican horsemen/women) parade through town in morning (beginning at 10:00 am) wearing traditional charro outfits which are beautifully decorated jackets, pants and sombreros. Their finely brushed horses are decked with their best equipment. Festivities continue throughout the day and evening at various charro rings, celebrations include bullfights, calf roping, food and dancing.

15 - Night- Independence Eve - On this night, the central plaza is filled with revelers participating in the traditional "grito", or Cry for Independence. Led by the Mayor from the balcony in City Hall, it is preceded by the lighting of the flame of independence and a parade through the center of town. Then, at 11:00 p.m., the cry "Viva México" is made, and an impressive fireworks display follows. Food stands, music and folkloric dance exhibitions are all part of the festivities.

16 - Independence Day - national holiday celebrated by a parade through the center of town and a continuance of the evening festivities and more fireworks in the center of town.

October

24 - United Nations Day. International Day.

31- Halloween: Even in Mexico you'll find costume parties, treats and a couple of tricks thrown in. Local custom follows that costumes be on the ghoulish side -- local discos offer cash prizes on up into the thousand-dollar range. The real bewitching hour, however, comes a few days later with the Day of the Dead.

November

1 - All Souls Day (Día de Todos Santos) On this day, Mexicans pay homage to the souls of children who have passed on. Tradition states that the departed descend from the heavens on this day, so family members prepare for their arrival by leaving sugar skeletons, skulls and treats on altars specially created for the occasion. Each year City Hall offers a special alter exhibition, as does the Cultural Center on Rio Cuale Island. Restaurants, nightclubs and stores also set up individual altars. November 1 is also the date of the annual "Informa", or National State of the Union Address by the nation's president. All banks and government offices are closed.

2 - Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) - Once the children have paid their annual visit, the adults have their turn on this day. Families hold a graveside vigil on this night, or at least leave the favorite foods and drinks (usually tequila!) on a special alter constructed in their home or on the tomb of their departed ancestors. Bakeries are filled with sweets shaped in symbols of death, and flowers and memorials fill the cemetery. Particularly popular are marigolds, the Aztec sacred flower of death.

12 - Guadalupe Day in Quimixto - The small, south shore community of Quimixto pays homage to the Virgin Guadalupe on this day. The eventful day includes baptisms, first communions and maybe a wedding within the local community. The most beautiful part of the day, however comes early in the morning (around 10:00 a.m.) as a small flotilla of decorated fishing boats makes a procession down the shoreline. The women and children that fill the 'pangas' sing hymns in the Virgin's honor.

20 - Revolution Day - A parade through the center of town marks the anniversary celebration of the Revolution of 1910-1917. As this is a national holiday, most government offices, banks and some businesses are closed. TBA Annual Sailfish Tournament: Each year, hundreds of fishermen come from within Vallarta and around the world to compete for prizes in this annual billfish tournament. Three days of competition look for the boat with the largest sailfish caught according to regulations, with prizes also awarded to the largest marlin, wahoo and dorado.

December

1 - 12 "Guadalupe" Processions - During these twelve days, processions take place to the downtown cathedral that bears the name of the patron saint of both Puerto Vallarta and of Mexico. Guadalupe Day (Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), is celebrated on December 12, and almost every business, hotel, restaurant, neighborhood and civic association makes a procession to the church for a special mass they have devoted to the Virgin. For the larger groups, these processions resemble a small parade, with folkloric dancers, floats, singing and even fireworks following their brief mass. The Tourist Department downtown displays a poster each year listing the day and time of each organization's scheduled procession.

12 - Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe). An important religious and social day marking the anniversary of the day the Virgin Guadalupe made her miraculous appearance to a peasant in Mexico. The processions (see above) culminate on this day. Look for the central plaza to be filled with people and street vendors with lots of fruits, foods and fireworks on this evening and the ones immediately preceding it. A beautiful display of traditional Mexico. This date is also the anniversary of the founding of Puerto Vallarta by Don Guadalupe Sánchez Torres, in 1851. On this day, Don Sánchez brought his family and a few friends to settle in an area alongside the Cuale River, calling the location "Las Peñas de Santa Maria de Guadalupe".

12 - Anniversary of the Founding of Puerto Vallarta.The founding of Puerto Vallarta by Don Guadalupe Sanchez Torres in 1851.

16-24 - Christmas Week - All around Mexico, families, businesses and neighborhood celebrate the holidays with parties, known as "posadas". This tradition is a reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for a "posada", or lodging in Bethlehem. The guests come in a procession to the designated house and, carrying candles, they ask for lodging through a melodic song. The host will refuse several times before finally opening wide the door, signifying the start of the party! The main Christmas celebration is a traditional family dinner on Christmas Eve, followed by Midnight Mass.

25 - Christmas Day (Navidad) - Religious celebration and national holiday.

31 - New Year's Eve - As everywhere in the world, watch for gala New Year's Eve celebrations to take every possible form!

December - April

Whale watching

Each winter season a growing number of travelers enjoy excursions to view the migrating Humpback whales in Banderas Bay. From December to April, these gentle giants can be seen breaching out of the water as parents instruct their baby calves in the ways of their watery world. Local eco-tour operators are licensed by the National Environmental Agency to assure respectful watching of these magnificent mammals.