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Amazing weekly Events in Mérida, Mexico
The fabulous events in Mérida
Every day of the week you’ll find a wide variety of fabulous events in Mérida - and many are free. The dates or times can sometimes change.
If in doubt, you can visit the Mérida Tourism Office, which is located at Plaza Grande in the Palacio Municipal. The office staff speak English and is friendly and very helpful.
Further tips
The Toursim Department of Mérida also lists weekly events in Mérida on the website VisitMeridaMx. In our overview of all festivals in Mérida you will find all events sorted by month.
And if you're looking for excursions beyond the city limits of Mérida, check out which amazing Day Trips the Yucatán Peninsula has to offer.
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Best Mérida City Tours
If you would like to explore the Yucatan Peninsula and Mérida with a guided tour, there are wonderful experiences from Viator - one of the wordwide market leader. We have selected the three best tours for you.
You save time and nerves, get all the insider tips you need from an expert tour guide and can join up with others if you wish. And it's also safer to travel in a group.
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Monday events in Mérida
Traditional Dances
One of the best experiences in Mérida is attending a dance performance of the local culture. Every Monday night from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm (and also every Sunday at 1:00 pm) there is a traditional dance performance at the ground floor of the Palacio Municipal at Plaza Grande (Calle 62, between 61 and 63, 2km from Casa Loltún): The Vaquería Dance is one of the most deeply rooted traditions of Yucatán.
The Vaquería is a historical dance tradition that is exclusive to the Yucatán people. Vaquerias are a religious and economic celebration honoring the patron saint of either a Hacienda or a Yucatán village. The Vaquería dance consists of three celebrations: it begins with a mass, then comes a bullfight and it ends with the famous "Jarana" - a yucatecan tap dance without fixed steps.
In Mérida, these and other traditions are also performed to protect the tradition, to pass them on to the next generation and preserve them from the changes they have undergone over the time.
Jarana Dance at the Plaza Grande
Image Source: © Спасимир, flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
The picture was modified (resized, image improvements)
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Palacio de Mérida at the Plaza Grande
Tuesday events in Mérida
Local Trovadors
Today it's "Trova Tuesday". Culture has always been a fundamental part of Mérida and every Tuesday at 8:00 pm local Trovador trios and groups perform at the Olimpo Cultural Center (Calle 62x61, s/n, 2km from Casa Loltún). Trovadores are the Yucatecan alternative to Mariachis. Enjoy a set of comprising classic Yucatecán and Méxican timeless songs.
Musical Remembrances
There is no better accompaniment to a night out than live music, and Mérida is known for it. You can also enjoy live music and dancing every Tuesday at 8:30 pm at Santiago Park (Calle 59 at Calle 72) in a light and very friendly atmosphere. It's called "Musical Remembrances".
The Municipal Orchestra plays Latin and American big-band music from the 1940s. But you can also come back for your shopping at the market every morning or for breakfast at one of the various cafes on Santiago square.
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Olimpo Cultural Center at Plaza Grande
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Musical Rembrances at the Parque de Santiago
Wednesday events in Mérida
MEL House and Garden Tour
The popular "House and garden tour" from Mérida English Library (MEL) take place every Wednesday beginning November and continuing through the end of March. The walking tour starts with an informative talk about Mérida's history, architecture, geography & culture. Then small groups, led by guides from the English Library, visit three or four houses from a variety of eras, styles, sizes, and ages in one of Centro's neighbourhoods.
Night of Cultures
Furthermore, the "Night of Cultures" takes place on Wednesdays. The event starts at 9:00 pm and takes place in the Museo Casa Montejo (Calle 63, No. 506). Here you will listen to a conversation between the conquistador Don Francisco de Montejo and a Mayan who will tell you the history of Mérida.
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Museo Casa Montejo
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Plaza Grande
Thursday events in Mérida
Open-Air Dance Event
The most popular night of the week in Mérida - the open-air dance event Yucatecan Serenade - starts on Thursdays at 9:00 pm at Parque de Santa Lucía (there is a platform at the back right). Therefore, it is the favorite park in Mérida by many and especially when live music is played, it is quite crowded.
Try grabbing a table at one of the many fabulous restaurants on the square and enjoy different bands, singers and dancers. The event lasts about a hour. Parque de Santa Lucía (Santa Lucia Park) is a place located in the historic center. Already since 1965, the event takes place every week. If you want a seat, you should come as early as possible (best two hours before the start of the show) or make a reservation.
Guided Cemetery Tour
The main cemetery ("Cementario General") is a very different experience. The burial sites were built of stone in the same architectural style as the houses in which the deceased lived. A 50-minute guided tour of the cemetery is offered every Wednesday evening at 8:00 pm (but only in Spanish). This is a very good way to learn more about Mérida's history and burial rites from pre-Hispanic times to the present day.
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Parque de Santa Lucía
Cementario General in Mérida
Friday events in Mérida
Yucatan Symphony Orchestra
The elegant Teatro Jose Peon Contreras (Calle 60, near Calle 57, 1.6km from Casa Loltún), built over one hundred years ago between 1900 and 1908, is a worthwhile visit, even if you only want to have a look around.
Typically, the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra performs at the theatre on most (not all) Fridays at 9:00 pm (and Sundays at Noon). At this time performances have been paused while restorations are in at the teatro and are still being at the same time at Palacio de la Musica (Calle 58x59).
Light Show
The Catedral de San Ildefonso (Plaza Grande, Calle 60 s/n, 1.9km from Casa Loltún) is the oldest cathedral on the mainland of the Americas. Every Friday, 7:30 pm, there is a video mapping on the exterior of the cathedral. The light show is the main cultural event of the Friday evenings in Mérida. During this event - known as "Sacred Stones" - the Cathedral is lit up with images and animations about Yucatán's history.
Fiestas on Calle 60
While on Sundays Paseo de Montejo is closed to traffic (for biciruta Mérida), on Fridays Calle 60 is often closed to traffic for fiestas, so you can also take a relaxing stroll along the shopping street.
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Teatro Jose Peon Contreras
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Catedral de Mérida
Saturday events in Mérida
Cathedral Tour
On Saturdays, 10:00 am, there is an English speaking tour at Mérida’s Grand Cathedral (Cathedral San Ildefonso) at Plaza Grande (Calle 60 s/n, just inside the south door). It takes you up to the organ level and through the bell tower. You will have a great view over Mérida.
Mexican Night
On Saturdays, from 8:00 pm (sometimes even a little earlier) to 10:00 pm, the "Noche Méxicana" (Mexican Night) takes place at the Paseo de Montejo Remate (800m from Casa Loltún) with folk dances from different states of the Mexican Republic. There are also artisanal market stands and food stalls. Tickets are available at Centro Cultural Olimpo (Calle 62x61) from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
MACAY Workshops for Kids
Museo de Arte Contempoáneo Ateneo de Yucatán (MACAY) is dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of modern and contemporary. MACAY (at Pasaje de la Revolución, between Calle 58 & 60) hosts various activities, including free painting and drawing workshops for children that take place on the last Saturdays of each month.
Mayan World Museum
The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya offers various regular guided tours and workshops. There are museum tours that take place every Saturday and every Sunday at 11:00 am (in English) and 12:00 pm (in Spanish). For children, there are free activities in the reading room every Saturday at 10:00 am. Every Saturday and Sunday at 11 am, children can participate in educational workshops in the museum.
Mayan Ball Game Pok Ta Pok
The tradition of the ancient Mayan Ball Game Pok Ta Pok is kept alive during a weekly event on Saturdays between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm in front of the Catedral de Mérida. Pok ta Pok is a ritual ball game that is over 3,000 years old. Watch the players battle it out while traditional live music accompanies the spectacle.
To score a goal, the ball must be shot through a ring with the hips. Does that sound complicated? Yes, scoring is quite rare, because it is extremely difficult, especially in the short playing time. The Ball Game is a free event and one of the popular things to do in Merida at night. It is advisable to come early enough if you want to get a seat.
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Catedral de Mérida
Pok Ta Pok in front of Catedral de Mérida
Image Source: © AramBobba, wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link (resized)
Sunday events in Mérida
Mérida Bike Ride (La Biciruta)
Since 2006 every Sunday one lane of the main street, Paseo de Montejo, is closed for car traffic and "La Biciruta" - the bike ride in Mérida - takes place from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. It is most active around 11:00 am.
The roads (5km in total) are blocked from La Ermita de Santa Isabel (Calle 77 at 64) to Plaza Grande, then north to the end of Paseo de Montejo just past the Monumento a la Patria. The exact starting and ending points of the Biciruta in Mérida may vary, as the route is occasionally adjusted. However, there are helpers at all intersections who will show you the way.
If you don't have a bike: All varieties of bicycles are also available for rental along the Paseo de Montejo. If you don't have a bike: All varieties of bicycles are also available for rental along the Paseo de Montejo. For example, there is a larger bike rental shop on the Paseo de Montejo, between Calles 47 and 45 and a smaller one on Calle 43 between Calle 56 and Calle 54.
Sometimes bike rentals from sponsors are even free of charge if you arrive early enough. The Mérida City Council is also offering a free bike-sharing program through August. To do this, you need to scan the QR code at the bike stations or through the app "En Bici - Muévete por Mérida".
Find more information at the City Administration of Mérida. The app is available for Android (En Bici in the Google Play Store) as well as for Apple (En Bici in the Apple Store). You can also have a look at the photo blog Biciruta Mérida to get some impressions of the event.
Mérida en Domingo
Mérida on Sunday (Mérida en Domingo) It’s an all-day event and beautiful Sunday tradition that compliments the Sunday bike ride. Plaza Grande (1.9km from Casa Loltún) and a section of Calle 60 extending to Parque Santa Lucía close to traffic and transforms into a big street market (mercado domingo).
Besides the craft stands, there are also many food booths. At 1:00 pm there is also a dance performance at Plaza Grande, the Vaquería Traditional Dance. As night approaches, more and more bands begin to play and people start to dance.
Mayan World Museum
The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya offers regular guided tours and workshops. There are tours that take place every Saturday and every Sunday at 11:00 am (in English) and 12:00 pm (in Spanish). For children, there are free activities in the reading room every Saturday at 10:00 am. Every Saturday and Sunday at 11 am, children can participate in educational workshops in the museum.
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Mérida Bike Ride (La Biciruta)
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Plaza Grande at Mérida en Domingo
Daily events in Mérida
Music and Dance Performances
Not every day, but most evenings, there are music and dance performances at Centro Cultural Olimpio (Calle 62x61, s/n, 2km from Casa Loltún). Information about upcoming events is available in the entrance area. These events are very popular in Mérida, so you should come early if you want to have a seat. Already the beautiful building is worth a visit. In addition, there are also frequent exhibitions.
Free Mérida Walking Tour
One of the best ways to get to know Mérida is walking by its streets. Every morning from Monday to Saturday there is a free Mérida walking tour that departs at 9:30 am from Plaza Grande (Calle 60, s/n, 1.9km from Casa Loltún).
The walking tour is a great way to learn more about the city. Although free, you must make a reservation at the Tourist Information Center at the Centro Cultural Olimpio (Calle 62x61, s/n). However, this is also possible up to 15 minutes beforehand if there are still places available.
Olimpo Cultural Center at Plaza Grande
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Plaza Grande