Experience the country’s rich cultural heritage in Puerto Vallarta

The city hosts multiple celebrations focusing on religion, gastronomy, history and nature from the months of September and into the New Year, proudly celebrates Mexican national holidays with exciting sights, tastes, sounds, and experiences for locals and tourists alike.

The following are just some of the major celebrations taking place in the upcoming months.

Culture Comes Alive el Dia de Charro

September 14 marks el Dìa de Charro, or Cowboy day, where men and women ride through the town to honor the Mexican cowboys. Locals will ride on the ornate horseback through the streets wearing sombreros and brightly embellished jackets representing the colors and culture of Puerto Vallarta. The festivities continue into the evening with rich food, celebratory dances, and traditional charro style calf roping.

Mexican Independence Day Celebration

On September 15, the Eve of Mexican Independence Day, thousands gather below the balcony of the Municipal Square to listen to the Mayor proclaim “el Grito de Idependencia”, or the cry for independence: “Mexicanos, Viva Mexico” at 11 PM. El Grito is an event not to missed as it is followed by much celebration, food, drink, and fireworks. Widely celebrated throughout Mexico, el Dia de la Independencia on September 16th commemorates the day that Miguel Hildalgo announced the Grito de Dolores, starting the Mexican revolt against the Spanish rule. Businesses and government offices are closed and locals hold festivities with plenty of food and dance to celebrate their liberation.

Join Puerto Vallarta on November 20 to commemorate “el Dia de la Revolucion,” or Revolution Day, the start of the Mexican Revolution ignited by Francisco Madero. More commonly known as el veinte de noviembre, Revolution Day is celebrated in Puerto Vallarta with colorful grand parades, festive parties as well as patriotic speeches and official ceremonies.

Day of The Dead Festivities

Puerto Vallarta celebrates the most representative traditions of Mexico,
Day of the Dead, with events across the city. Taste some delicious Pan de Muerto while visiting art galleries, hotel lobby’s or view traditional altars and flower carpets on the Malecon.

2016 Taco Festival

Is there anything more delicious and representative of our country than good tacos al pastor? Enter the unique world of true Mexican Tacos on Saturday, September 16th.

Vallarta-Nayarit Gastronomica 2016

Gastronomical harmony culminates in Puerto Vallarta to offer a feast of flavors. Taking place from October 23 to 26, the 8th edition of the Vallarta-Nayarit Gastronomica will have 3 Michelin stars and Chef Jordi Roca from El Celler de Can Roca, winner of Best Restaurant of the Wold.

International Fishing Tournament

Club de Pesca Puerto Vallarta (est. 1956) is proud to invite you to its annual International Marlin & Sailfish Fishing Tournament.

On November 11, Puerto Vallarta will be receiving the strongest contenders, and from November 12, you’ll be able to fish the best marlin and sailfish in our oceans with your bare hands. Check out the itinerary and save the date for you can’t miss this!

International Gourmet Festival

A world-class dining experience, it is held annually during the month of November in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding locations at participating hotels and restaurants.

Guest chefs from the international gourmet scene participate in the festival, enriching this great celebration of good food with their sensational art in contemporary cuisine.

The special attraction of the Gourmet Festival is the inspiration of working as a team, as the guest chefs, in conjunction with highly-awarded extraordinary culinary masters of local hotels and restaurants, lend a seal of the highest quality and creativity, making this event a unique experience where they surprise visitors with their latest trends, creations, and secret recipes.

Fiesta de Guadalupe

One of the most celebrated holidays in Puerto Vallarta is the Fiesta de Guadalupe on December 12, honoring the appearance of the “Queen of Mexico” in 1501 as well as the day that Puerto Vallarta was founded. The midnight ceremony in Mexico City is televised nationwide as she is serenaded with Mariachi and dancers who chant to the spirits and continue to dance the next day in front of the Basilica. Hotels throughout Puerto Vallarta commemorate this famous image on property with statues and flowers. After the religious ceremony, join the celebrations on the Malecon with fireworks, and a variety of street food vendors offering Mexican delicacies.

Christmas Overseas

La Navidad, or Christmas, is widely celebrated in Mexico. In Puerto Vallarta, the nine days before the religious holidays are celebrated in joyful anticipation of the special day with Las Posadas, or processions, throughout the streets to symbolize Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. People of all ages gather in El Centro on Christmas Eve at Our Lady of Guadalupe church with piñatas and colorful clothing to listen to music and partake in the exciting festivities that carry on into the night.

Shortly after Christmas, the festivities continue on into the New Year when Puerto Vallarta gathers on the Malecon, the preferred spot to watch the fireworks display. After the fireworks, follow the crowds and celebrate the night with music and dance in the street in the Romantic Zone. Puerto Vallartans celebrate New Year’s Eve by honoring the Catholic traditions of the Spaniards who came centuries ago by eating the 12 grapes of happiness, one grape every time the clock strikes at midnight.

Travelers visiting Puerto Vallarta will have the unique and memorable opportunity to experience these cultural celebrations first hand. The local community welcomes tourists to join all of the festivities and learn about the cultural heritage of Puerto Vallarta.

The city hosts multiple celebrations focusing on religion, gastronomy, history and nature from the months of September and into the New Year, proudly celebrates Mexican . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • Body with signs of crocodile attack found in Ameca River, a leg was found last monthPurple Flag Warns Beachgoers after Crocodile at Los Muertos Beach Authorities raised a purple flag after a crocodile at Los Muertos Beach was spotted swimming near shore, advising visitors to avoid entering the water until safety checks ended. Local authorities recorded a crocodile swimming in the vicinity of Los Muertos Beach, one of Puerto Vallarta’s busiest tourist spots. Lifeguards spotted the reptile in shallow water…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • puerto vallarta loses three blue flag beachesPuerto Vallarta retains four Blue Flag Beaches, down from eight Puerto Vallarta will enter the 2025–2026 season with four international Blue Flag distinctions in Puerto Vallarta, even after tourism-driven environmental damage cost it half of its previous honors. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico confirmed that three resort flags will be revalidated at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, The Westin Resort &…
  • cancun-beaches-50-tons-sargassum-cleanupSargassum in Quintana Roo Hits 76 Beaches from Cancun to Tulum, Only 24 Clean Beaches Sargassum in Quintana Roo has reached moderate to excessive levels on 76 beaches—including Cancun—as cleanup crews race to protect tourism and coastal ecosystems. A recent survey from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network and the Sargassum Citizen Observatory shows 76 out of 100 beaches on the state’s Caribbean coast now face moderate to excessive seaweed…
Scroll to Top