Sonora
Events
Ortiz Tirado Festival
Álamos
January
This festival is one of the most important cultural celebrations in the state of Sonora. It is celebrated in the colorful and unique town of Álamos, a magical place of cobblestone streets where time seems to have stopped. The festival commemorates Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado, a great tenor and doctor born here. The town of Álamos is completely filled during the festival that offers many concerts, artistic activities and a large, popular party.
Border Culture Festival
Agua Prieta
April
Another important cultural festival in the state of Sonora is the Border Festival. Artistic representations are shaped for the most part by the conflicts, problems and situations that occur in the border area. The festival has a large number of expositions, spectacles, presentations and popular folklore.
Obregón Expo, CANACO Enterprise Week
Ciudad Obregón
May
The CANACO Expo is put on by the National Chamber of Commerce. Many Sonoran companies exhibit their products and services in one of the most important fairs and expositions in the Valle de Yaqui. Along with this festival is the ExpoGan. This festival offers a fair, musical presentations and a lot of participation from the local citizens.
Guaymas Carnival
Guaymas
February and March (varies)
The Guaymas Carnival has gained international fame because of the many artists who attend, the excellent organization and the great celebration that represents the town. The celebration is held around the Plaza of the Three Presidents near the malecón. The streets are closed and all things musical begin as celebration and joy take over the streets of Guaymas.
EXPOGAN Sonora
Hermosillo
April – May
The state of Sonora is recognized for its cattle raising industry, so the main celebration in the capital is the EXPOGAN (Expo Ganadera). Conferences, presentations and talks are held to discuss this very important economic branch for Sonora. The Expo has musical presentations, a fair, contests, and raffles with prizes worth up to 150,000 pesos. The festival lasts for approximately 15 days and is accompanied by palenque and a rodeo.
Day of the Dead
All cities in the country
November 2
The Day of the Dead celebration is the most important in the nation and is celebrated in various ways throughout the country. Every year, on November 2nd, the cemeteries are full of people bringing their families food, drink, music and company. The cemeteries are turned into places of true celebration…the most folkloric celebration in the Aztec nation.
In general, the Day of the Dead is accompanied by a competition for the best altar. Setups are created to remember the deceased. These include items like photographs, their favorite food and drink and objects that are associated with that person.
Another activity on the Day of the Dead that is also very peculiar is the “skull” competition. The skulls are verses composed to usually be funny by rhyming and making people laugh. The best skull receives the award.
Bakeries also make a special bread for this celebration called “Pan de Muerto” or “Bread of the Dead”. It has a special shape and recipe that is only used on this day.
Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
All cities in the country
December 12
December 12th is the most important religious celebration in Mexico. The Virgin of Guadalupe is considered to be a Mexican religious icon because she is said to have appeared on December 12, 1531 on Tepeyac Hill. A beautiful dark-skinned virgin, surrounded by a starry blue cloak, with a brilliant halo and celestial light identified as the Virgin Mary appeared to a native man, Juan Diego.
She requested (in Náhuatl, his native language) he take a message to the bishop asking him to build a temple. Four days after speaking with Juan Diego, the virgin gave him the proof the friars needed to believe the message he carried. She filled his cloak with roses (which would have been impossible to find in that location and at that time of year) and he took the message to the friars again, this time showing them the roses and an image of the virgin in his cloak. When Juan Diego told what he saw in his native language, it sounded very similar to the name Guadalupe. Thus, she became known as the Virgin of Guadalupe. Since then, the image in Juan Diego’s cloak has become a religious icon in Mexico.
So, every December 11th, just before midnight, thousands of people congregate in the sanctuaries of the Virgin of Guadalupe to honor the dark skinned virgin. This important celebration also features all types of food, mariachis, famous singers and much devotion.