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Puerto Vallarta Local Events Calendar
January
Jan 1st - New Year's Day: Mexican Holiday
Jan 6th - Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Kings): Mexico celebrates the "Christmas Season" on this traditional gift-giving day. Children receive toys and gifts in honor of the "Three Kings" visit to the baby Jesus. Each year on this day, the local charitable organization, the International Friendship Club, brings truckloads of toys to local children in hospitals and rural communities.
February
Feb 5th - Constitution Day: Mexico celebrates the Politic National Constitution Day. Mexican Holiday.
Feb 24th - Mexican Flag Day
Feb 26th - Ash Wednesday: First day of Lent.
March
1st Tuesday of the month - Carnival Day: Party before Lent Period with masks. Kids parade along the streets.
Mar 18th - Oil, Mexican Expropriation.
Mar 21st - Benito Juarez Birthday: Former Mexican President. In 1806 this humble and indigenous man became the president. Juarez is known as "the Lincoln of Mexico". Mexican Holiday.
April to May
Spring is for Seniors: Senior Travelers are offered an extra special welcome to PVR during the spring months. The town puts together an extensive calendar of activities, concerts, events and excursions just for seniors. Many shops and restaurants offer discounts.
April
Apr 13th to 27th - Easter week: From April 17th to the 20th, celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ culminates on Easter Sunday (Domingo Santo).
Apr 30 - Kid's Day: Children parade on the streets and have parties at schools.
May
May 1st - Labor Day: Mexican Holiday.
May 5th - Battle of Puebla: Commemorating the defeat of the French Army at Puebla in 1862.
May 10th - Mother's Day.
May 16th to 31st - Fiestas de Mayo: Visitors can celebrate spring with the local residents. It is a traditional fair, complete with games, attractions, livestock, displays, exhibits, food, drinks and entertainment.
May 24-28 ( dates are not confirmed yet)
10th annual, PVR International Sports Classic. This event includes competitions in tennis, basketball, soccer, beach volleyball, aerobics marathon and a bike marathon. Events will also be held at Sheraton Buganvilias, Carlos O' Brians', and Christine's disco.
June to December
Sea turtle, preservation months. Summer fun and family vacation times coincide with Puerto Vallarta's peak time for ecological preservation and protection. Turtle liberation ceremonies are held daily at participating hotel beaches.
June
Jun 14th - Charro Day:
Mexican horsemen/women parade through town in the morning (beginning at 10am) wearing traditional charro outfits. Festivities continue throughout the day and evening at various charro rings. Celebrations include bullfights, calf roping, food and dancing.
Jun 15th - Father's Day.
July
Jul 2nd - National Elections Day: Mexican election day is every six years.
August
Aug 15th - Feast of the Assumption: Carpets of flowers decorate Mexican churches.
September
Sept 15th - Independence Eve: On this night, revelers fill the central plaza to participate in the traditional 'Grito". First is the lighting the flame of independence. Then from the balcony of City Hall, the Major leads the crowd in the cry 'VIVA MEXICO". For the grand finale, it is followed by an impressive fireworks display. Food stands, music and folkloric dance exhibitions are all part of the festivities.
Sept 16th - Independence Day: National Holiday. The celebration from the night before continues with a parade through the "center of town".
October
Oct 12th - Columbus Day, known in Mexico as "Dia de la Raza": It's an effort to celebrate the Hispanic heritage of the Americas.
Oct 31st - Halloween: even in Mexico you will find costume parties. Local custom dictates, that costumes be on the ghoulish side. Maybe your costume, win one of the cash prizes offered by local discos that can be up to the thousand-dollar range.
November
Nov 1st - All Souls Day (Dia de Todos los Santos). Mexicans pay homage to the souls of children who have passed on. So family members prepare altars specially created for the occasion with sugar skeletons, skulls and treats.
Each year City Hall and the Cyltural Center on rio Cuale Island have a special altar exhibition.
Nov 2nd - Day of the Dead: The adults have their return on this day. Family leave the deceased's favorite foods and drinks on a special altar built in their home. Sweets shaped in symbols of death fill bakeries, and flowers and memorials fill the cemetery. Particularly popular is the Aztec sacred flower of death, the marigold.
Nov 12th - Guadalupe Day in Quimixto: On the remote southern shore, Mexicans pay respect to the Virgin of Guadalupe. A delightful morning flotilla of decorated fishing boats (pangas) that process along the shore. All the natives sing hymns in praise of the Virgin.
Nov 16-19 - Sailfish International Tournament: Participants will enjoy for three full days of fishing on the beautiful Banderas Bay. On these days look for the boat with the largest sailfish caught according to regulations, with prizes also awarded to the largest marlin and dorado.
Nov 20 - Revolution Day: This is a national holiday and a parade marks the anniversary of the Revolution of 1910-1917.
December
Dec 1-12 - Processions for the Virgin of Guadalupe during 12 days, take place in downtown PVR to the Church of our Lady of Guadalupe. Hotels, restaurants, neighborhoods and civic associations make up the processions of floats, singing, fireworks and dancing.
Dec 12 - Virgin of Guadalupe's Day: A whole day to celebrate the honored Virgen de Guadalupe on the anniversary of her miraculous appearance to a peasant in Mexico. Processions culminate in the central plaza where people celebrate this traditional Mexican Holiday.
Dec 16-24 - Las Posadas parties: A "Posada" is a traditional re-enactment of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging in Bethlehem. Groups carrying candles arrive in a procession to a designated house asking for a place to stay by song. The host must refuse several times before request is granted, which is when the party starts.
Dec 24 - Christmas Eve: All Mexicans Catholics have special parties at their homes with "pinatas" for the children and having as main food "Turkey".
Dec 25 - Christmas Day: National Holiday.
Dec 31 - New Year.
December to April
Whale watching: If you are lucky to be in the area in the winter season, you can enjoy an excursion to view the Humpback whales in their winter home in Banderas Bay. Each year at these months, you can see these gentle giants breaching into the air as baby calves learn the way of their underwater world. The National Environmental Agency licenses local Eco-tour operators to assure respectful watching of these magnificent mammals.
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