When visiting Tuxtepec and the Cuenca del Papaloapan region, you can not miss any of the following fiestas that take place all year round.
Enero
The street fair has become a tradition in Tuxtepec. Every year between Christmas and the Day of Kings the street fair is put on the Muro boulevard. The street fair includes games, food stands and comedy shows.
March
The Tuxtepec Carnival is celebrated every year in the month of March-April. In 2018 it was held from March 13 to 18.
May
The May holidays bring national and international singers every year. There are also cultural events throughout the city.
June
The Fiestas de San Juan are celebrated in Tuxtepec and in various parts of the region each year in the month of June. This fiesta is dedicated to San Juan Bautista. The fiesta lasts several days and cultural activities include daily processions from La Piragua park to Juarez park, fandangos and a Guelaguetza. In 2018 the fiestas de San Juan was held from June 16 to 23.
September
On the morning of September 16 there is a military and school parade to commemorate Independence Day. The route passes between Plaza La Piragua and Plaza Juárez.
November
On the 1st and 2nd of November, as in almost the whole country, the day of the dead is celebrated. In Plaza Juárez there is an exhibition of ofrendas and a parade is held. In this parade you see people dressed beautiful as catrinas or catrines.
On the night of November 19, on the eve of the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, La Farolada takes place. Students from different schools in the city gather and parade through the main streets of the city with lanterns lit with candles. They also disguise themselves with characters of the revolution.
On the morning of November 20 there is a parade with all the schools on Independencia Avenue to commemorate the Mexican Revolution. Unlike the parade in the CDMX that is military, in Tuxtepec the parade is about sports. The objective is to show a more peaceful face of society and to leave behind the violence of the Mexican Revolution. Different activities such as dance and executions related to sports are carried out.
December
From December 16 to 24 the traditional Rama is made. A branch of any tree is cut and decorated with balloons and paper chains in various colours. In the evenings, children gather in a group with other neighbours and/or relatives and carry the branch. They pass from house to house singing and in the end it is expected that the owner of the house will give them their aguinaldo (money).
Another tradition is the burning of the Viejo (Old Man). The Viejo is a doll made with old adult man’s clothes and stuffed with cardboard or paper and fireworks. It is made and displayed outside the houses at least a couple of days before the arrival of the new year. At midnight on December 31, the Viejo is burned to receive the new year. This is a ritual of purification where the bad vibes of the old year are burned and to celebrate the arrival of the new year with positive energy.
