Nayarit
Events
National Mexican Culture Fair
Tepic
March
This festival, also held in other states, celebrates everything Mexican. It praises the culture, the races, the crafts, the food, the celebration, the dance and the tradition…..all in a multi-colored festival befitting Mexico.
International Nautical Festival
Bahía de Banderas
March
This international festival is carried out in the tranquil waters of the Bahía de Banderas. The festival is accompanied by a fishing tournament, boating competition, a catamaran regatta, and a jazz concert. This festival attracts competitors, navigators, locals and tourists from many different locations.
Santa María del Oro Festival
Santa María del Oro
May
This is a religious festival that commemorates Santa María del Oro, the patron saint of the town. The festival is celebrated in the main plaza of the town with musical groups and much joy.
Amado Nervo Cultural Festival
Tepic
Mayo
This is one of the most important cultural festivals in the sate. The state capital hosts artistic presentations, theater works, dance, song, and all types of great activities to promote the cultural values necessary for personal development.
San Pedro and San Pablo Festival
Isla de Mexcaltitán
June
An interesting religious festival is held in this small coastal town. It consists of a regatta around the island in which each boat must carry a statue of the saints San Pedro and San Pablo.
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.