Puerto Vallarta is gearing up for a series of patriotic events in honor of Mexico’s Independence Day, which will take place during the long weekend from September 14 to 16. These celebrations include various cultural activities, such as the charro parades and the civic-military parade, all centered around the city’s downtown area. To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, several road closures and traffic diversions will be enforced throughout the weekend.
Road Closures for Charro Parade on September 14
The celebrations will kick off with the charro parade on Saturday, September 14, starting at 10:30 a.m. The parade will begin at Lázaro Cárdenas Street, at its intersection with Aquiles Serdán, and will proceed towards the city center. The procession will cross the Cuale River bridge heading north, continuing along Morelos Street and then turning onto Galeana Street near the lighthouse on the famous Malecón. From there, the parade will move along the Malecón before heading north on 31 de Octubre Street, and finally concluding on República de Chile Street via Av. México.
In anticipation of the parade, traffic officers will be on hand to manage road closures. At 9:00 a.m., Peru Street will be closed at its intersection with Panama Street, affecting the circulation of public transportation heading into the downtown area. Public transport will be diverted north along Colombia Street, near the intersection with Panama in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. Additionally, at 9:30 a.m., Morelos Street will be closed at Corona Street, diverting vehicular traffic onto Juárez Street, which will be opened to two-way traffic for the duration of the event. Vehicles will be routed left onto Agustín Rodríguez Street and then right onto Insurgentes Street, which will also temporarily accommodate two-way traffic until Venustiano Carranza Street.
Independence Eve Festivities on September 15
On Saturday, September 14, at 6:00 p.m., Morelos Street will again be closed between Corona and Guerrero streets for the Artistic Festival, Grito ceremony, and evening dance. To manage the influx of visitors and participants, Juárez Street will be opened for two-way traffic between Corona and Libertad streets. Public transport heading north will be rerouted via Perú and Panamá streets and will return to Colombia Street, while southern routes will remain unaffected but will not enter the city center.
These closures will ensure that the iconic Grito de Independencia and the artistic performances can be enjoyed by the public without any interruptions, while also maintaining safe traffic conditions in other areas of the city.
Civic-Military Parade on September 16
The patriotic celebrations will culminate with the traditional civic-military parade on Sunday, September 15. Starting at 8:30 a.m., the parade will begin at the intersection of Morelos and Zaragoza streets. Participants will march north along Morelos Street, proceeding through Galeana Street and up the Malecón to 31 de Octubre Street. The parade will then follow Av. México, ultimately concluding at Venezuela Street.
To accommodate the parade, several streets will be closed starting as early as 7:00 a.m. Perú Street will be closed once again at its intersection with Panamá Street, diverting public transport onto Colombia Street. Morelos Street will also be closed at Corona Street, with Juárez Street operating as a two-way road up to Agustín Rodríguez Street, from where traffic will be diverted left, and then south via Insurgentes Street to Venustiano Carranza Street.
Public Transportation Diversions and Traffic Management
Throughout the long weekend, public transport services will be subject to several diversions to prevent traffic congestion in the city center. On September 14 and 16, buses heading into downtown Puerto Vallarta will be rerouted onto alternate streets like Colombia and Insurgentes. On September 15, for the Grito and festival, northern routes will be detoured along Perú and Panamá streets. Passengers are advised to plan accordingly and expect delays due to these traffic changes.
City officials have asked residents and visitors to remain patient and mindful of the road closures, which are necessary to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the patriotic events. The Puerto Vallarta Traffic Department has deployed officers to manage roadblocks and diversions throughout the weekend, and all closures are expected to be lifted after the completion of each day’s events.
Puerto Vallarta is known for its vibrant celebrations of Mexico’s Independence Day, and this year promises to be no different. Residents and tourists alike are invited to enjoy the charro parades, cultural festivities, and civic-military events, all while celebrating Mexico’s rich history and traditions.
Stay updated on any last-minute changes to the traffic plan by following local news and advisories.
Puerto Vallarta is gearing up for a series of patriotic events in honor of Mexico's Independence Day, which will take place during the long weekend from September 14 to 16. These celebrations include various cultural activities, such as the charro parades and the civic-military parade, all centered around the city’s downtown area. To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, several road closures and traffic diversions will be enforced throughout the weekend.
