August Festivals Highlighting the Best of Mexico, from Sawdust Carpets to Classical Guitars

August Festivals Highlighting the Best of Mexico, from Sawdust Carpets to Classical Guitars

By Julie R Butler

It’s summertime, one of the best times to travel to Mexico because, among other reasons, there are so many great festivals and events going on throughout the country. Our last blog post in this series highlighted a variety of July festivals in Mexico; so now, it’s time to learn a little about what’s going on south of the border this August so you can plan to attend a fun event during your summer vacation in Mexico. And be sure to check back with us over the next few weeks for even more great Mexico summer vacation ideas. 

Feria Nacional de Huamantla – Huamantla, Tlaxcala – 2-18 August 

The Feria Nacional de Huamantla is the event of the year in the state of Tlaxcala, attracting more than 800,000 people from Mexico and around the world to the town of Huamantla. Throughout the entire first half of August, the city hosts social, cultural, artisanal, sports, equestrian, automotive, and bullfighting events, as well as a carnival, all either at low cost or free.

The main attraction is La Noche Que Nadie Duerme, which takes place on 14 August. Throughout the day, the streets of Huamantla will be covered with over 10 km of colorful “carpets” made of sawdust, flower petals, and other organic materials creating beautiful designs in preparation for the midnight procession in honor of Our Lady of Charity, the patron saint of the town. Then, on Saturday, 17 August, La Huamantlada will again fill the streets, this time for the thrilling running of the bulls.

Huamantla carpet of sawdust
Photo by Rosalba Muñoz RomeroLia , CC BY-SA 3.0 

XXVI Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y de la Charreria – Guadalajara – 23 Aug - 1 Sept 

Guadalajara’s twenty-sixth annual Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y de la Charreria showcases world-class mariachis, rodeos, traditional dance, and other cultural events, with the Concierto Magno featuring Filippa Giordano, Natalia Jiménez, and Yuri performing together in an exclusive mariachi ensemble on Saturday, 31 August. 

LXXIV Feria Internacional de la Uva y el Vino de Parras 2019 – Parras, Coahuila – August

Parras de la Fuente, in the northern state of Coahuila, is not only the birthplace of winemaking in the Americas, but also the host of a month-long celebration of the 400-plus-year-old tradition of winemaking in the region. The LXXIV Feria Internacional de la Uva y el Vino de Parras begins on Friday, 2 August, with the coronation and initiation of the queen of this year’s festival, and they continue with grape harvest festivals at local wineries each weekend in August. International exhibitors will participate in the festival, along with all the wine houses from the Parras Valley.

Church of Saint Madero, Parras, Coahuila
Photo by Filiberto Lara Salcido, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fiesta de la Vendimia 2019 – Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro – 2-4 August

August is the grape harvest season throughout Mexico, and another great celebration of wines, food, and music is the Fiesta de la Vendimia at Finca Sala Vivé in the Bernal Valley of Querétaro state. There will be artisanal cheeses and food pairings as well as a bazaar, tours of the deepest wine cellar in Latin America, musical entertainment, a children’s area, and grape stomping for the whole family.


Underground wine cellar
Photo by Flickr user Keirn OConnor, CC BY-SA 2.0 

8th Annual Baja Blues Fest – Rosarita Beach, Baja California – 9-11 August

If beaches and blues music is more your thing, head to Rosarito for the Baja Blues Fest for some fun in the sun. With the stage set up just yards away from the Pacific Ocean, this year’s lineup will feature the blazing-hot soul-blues rocker Tommy Castro.

Rosarito Beach
Photo by cesar bojorquez from Tijuana, Mexico, CC BY 2.0

XLIV Festival de Guitarra de Paracho 2019 – Paracho, Michoacán – 4-9 August 

Or, you might want to head to the hills to cool off and enjoy a lineup of internationally acclaimed classical guitarists at the Paracho Guitar Festival. While you’re there, you can pick up a beautiful handmade guitar and shop for some of the artesanias that the Purépechas of the region are so famous for. 

Of course, there are lots more festivals and events throughout Mexico in August, ranging from cultural events to fishing tournaments to one of the largest biker events in CDMX. So check them out, and watch for more articles in our series on vacaciones de verano en México for more summer travel ideas.

JULIE R BUTLER IS A FREELANCE WRITER AND EDITOR LIVING IN PÁTZCUARO, MICHOACÁN. SHE HAS 20-PLUS YEARS' EXPERIENCE EXPLORING MÉXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, ARGENTINA, AND URUGUAY. IN ADDITION TO WRITING ABOUT THE WONDERS OF LIVING IN MÉXICO, SHE SPECIALIZES NEW TECHNOLOGIES – PARTICULARLY, HYDROPONICS AND SMART-CITY TECH. ONLINE PORTFOLIO: HTTPS://JULIERBUTLER.CONTENTLY.COM/
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