Events calendar Pacific Coast

The Miguel Bernal Jímenez Music Festival (named after the famous Mexican composer and organist), which was founded in 1989, is a major classical music event in Morelia. Also focused on exchange and education, the festival received the Mozart Prize from the Austrian government in 2009. Major orchestras perform at the festival, including the Mexico City Philharmonic.

The pastorelas are a kind of medieval mystery about the journey of the Magi to see the Child Jesus. They take place in the Vasco Quiroga square during the Christmas holidays. Eight villages take part in this event with masked dances simulating the struggle between angels and demons, including San Lorenzo, Santa María Huiramangaro and Sevina. It is interesting to visit these communities, as each has its own dances, rituals and costumes. The masks are made by craftsmen and are impressive in their color and diversity.

The Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Morelia was born in 1991 on the initiative of guitarist Raúl Olmos. During one week, the program includes a guitar contest, numerous concerts, courses, but also exhibitions of instruments and photos on this theme. The vast majority of the festivities take place at the Teatro Ocampo in Morelia, just a few minutes from the Zócalo, but other venues throughout the city also host certain events.

This festival was created in 2003 to showcase new talent in Mexican cinema. Four categories are in competition at this event, which is known throughout the world for the quality of its screenings: Mexican short film, Mexican documentary, Mexican feature film, and the Michoacán section. It's a bit like our Cannes Film Festival! International artists such as Werner Herzog or Gus Van Sant always participate in the event.

The major event of the city of Guadalajara takes place in October with Fiestas de Octubre. A large number of festivities are organised for the occasion: colourful parades, sale of handicrafts or trinkets, exhibitions, stalls selling local specialities, beauty contests... All this is done to music, with concerts of traditional music and mariachis. It is a very popular festival with families, which is meant to be joyful and which usually extends a little into the beginning of November.

The International Book Festival held in Guadalajara is the largest literary event in Latin America. Each year it attracts an audience of more than 700,000 people. The event provides an opportunity to discover the publications of nearly 200 publishing houses from dozens of different countries, to attend literary debates and conferences, and to participate in various cultural and artistic activities.

In honour of the patron saint of the village, from 18 to 22 January each year. ., charreadas, and traditional dances.