Puerto Vallarta Events and Festivals
(Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico)
There are always things to do in Puerto Vallarta and the city boasts a varied events calendar, with both local and national celebrations. Popular festivals in Puerto Vallarta include the May Day Parade, the Anniversary of the Founding of Puerto Vallarta and also the exciting rodeo events at the city's Charro Day, all of which take place during the month of May.
November is another busy month in Puerto Vallarta and both the International Sailfish Tournament and the International Gourmet Festival always attract large crowds. Each Thursday, look out for the free concerts, which take place at the Camino Real Hotel resort and often include dancing demonstrations. Puerto Vallarta's annual events calendar is shown and includes the main festivals.
Puerto Vallarta Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Dia de los Reyes Magos - January 6th, this traditional Mexican event is a time for giving and receiving presents and an alternative to Christmas Day, with Three King Celebrations being especially popular with visitors and families staying in Puerto Vallarta
- Virgin of the Peace Day - January 24th, churches throughout Puerto Vallarta remember the Virgin Mary and love ones, feasting the night before
February
- Anniversary of the Mexican Constitution - February 5th, a large parade through central Puerto Vallarta and along the Malecon is the highlight on this event, along with a grand ceremony outside of the City Hall
- Friendship Day - February 14th, a time for romance, with many restaurants joining in the fun and offering evenings banquets and buffets, often punctuated by special events
March
- Holy Week / Semana Santa - early April, a religious time in Puerto Vallarta and a time to party hard, with events ranging from classical music concerts to lively themed parties and many nightclub venues
- Kid's Day - 30th April, this is a national Mexican event and in Puerto Vallarta, the lives of the city's many children are the cause for much partying. Many hotels join in the family fun
- Spring Parade - March 21st, the Malecon boardwalk celebrates the arrival of spring in style, with live music and entertainment around the amphitheatre. The birthday of former president Benito Pablo Juárez Garcia is also remembered on this day
April
- There are no significant events in Puerto Vallarta during the month of April
May
- May Day Parade - May 1st, the Malecon area forms the basis for the main festivities on May 1st, with live music, family orientated entertainment, food stalls, dancing, parades and ceremonies - something for everyone
- Cinco de Mayo Celebration (May 5th Celebrations) - May 5th, the historic victory over the French is remembered on this day and includes extravagant carnival processions through central Puerto Vallarta
- Puerto Vallarta International Sports Classic - late May, various sporting tournaments and competitions are held at the Municipal Stadium, including football matches, basketball games and exciting games of volleyball on the beach
- Anniversary of the Founding of Puerto Vallarta - May 31st, founded more than 150 years ago, the city's history is celebrated and remembered on this special day, with live music, markets and large crowds around the Malecon
- Fiestas de Mayo (May Festival) - throughout May, this month hosts one of the most appealing festivals in Puerto Vallarta and offers visitors the chance to enjoy a series of events over a period of some four weeks, with highlights including various concerts, theatrical performances and special entertainment at nightclubs
June
- Sea Turtle Season - June, sea turtles begin to nest at locations around the coastline of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay, being observed and protected by many locals and visitors
- Municipal Band Concerts - June to August, outdoor summer concerts are held in Puerto Vallarta completely free of charge, being performed by the Municipal Orchestra outside of the City Hall on both Thursday and Sunday at around 18:00
July
- Canada Day Celebration - early July, a cultural celebration in Puerto Vallarta, with many restaurants around the city featuring special themed Canadian evenings
August
- Feria del Elote (Festival of Corn) - mid-August, close to Puerto Vallarta, the Festival of Corn takes place in the nearby town of Xalisco and includes horse racing, dancing, fireworks and plenty of food stalls
September
- Charro Day (Cowboy Day) - mid-September, expect to see horse riding and parades on this day, along with a series are daring rodeo events, demonstrations and live music
- Independence Day - September 16th, Independence Day in Puerto Vallarta means a time to gather and celebrate everything about the country. Many people choose to shout 'Viva Mexico' and there is always a party nearby
October
- Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) - mid-October, Mexico's Columbus Day is embraced by locals. Puerto Vallarta remembers Columbus's discovery of America and features processions around the city centre, drawing large crowds
- Halloween - October 31st, a time to dress up in ghostly and ghoulish costumes and party, as Halloween celebrations have never been more popular in Puerto Vallarta
November
- Fiesta del Mar (SeaFest) - throughout November, various events are held along the coastal Marina Boardwalk, including racing with jet skis, art exhibitions, beach games and a large boat show
- International Sailfish Tournament - mid-November, experienced anglers gather to compete to land the biggest catch of tuna fish, marlin and large specimens of the much sought-after sailfish
- Gastronomic Festival / Puerto Vallarta International Gourmet Festival - mid-November, an event for foodies everywhere to enjoy and sample the local cuisine at its best, with events at various venues and restaurants around central Puerto Vallarta
- Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution / Dia de la Revolución - November 20th, a time to remember the fight for freedom, with processions, fireworks and feasting well into the night
December
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival - early December, lasting around two weeks, this traditional Mexican event is extremely popular in Puerto Vallarta and includes parades and various festivities, which tend to be centred around the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Puerto Vallarta Film Festival - mid-December, a chance to enjoy a series of local premieres and national film screenings at the Cinema Paradiso, located along South East 6th Street
- Whale Watching Season Starts - mid-December to March, huge humpback whales can often be observed off the coast of Puerto Vallarta from elevated positions. Whale watching tours are one of the best ways to observe these creatures and readily available at this time of the year
- La Posada - mid-December, one of the true seasonal highlights, featuring the religious Christmas nativity and a candlelit parade around downtown Puerto Vallarta
- New Year's Eve Extravaganza - December 31st, seeing in the new year is always cause for major celebrations in Mexico and Puerto Vallarta is no exception, with many parties around the city, fireworks and themed New Year's cruises