Fiestas

Guadalajara, as Mexico's second largest city, celebrates her cultural heritage through being the Mariachi center of Mexico and the world. Every year she showcases Mariachi and the other Arts through the Festivales de Octubre and the Mariachi Festival every fall.

Fiestas de Octubre

Throughout the month of October, the city of Guadalajara organizes a great variety of events, such as parades, arts and craft shows, concerts, dances, indigenous and folk dancing, sporting events, bullfights, cockfights, serenades, fireworks, rodeos, and all kinds of shows. This event is world famous and the city organizes performance by international artists. Most of the paid shows are held at the Benito Juarez Auditorium in downtown Guadalajara. The city is the birthplace of Mariachi music and musicians from all over the country meet at the festival and have concerts.

Mariachi Festival Inaugural Parade

The parade runs through downtown Guadalajara and spectors will be able to see all of the participating Mariachi bands in action, in their costumes singing and dancing with the passion and romance of Mexico. Some of the groups are all women bands. The parade draws about 2,000,000 spectators every year. The festival provides a great opportunity to sample the local food and drinks including tequila and othre regional treats.

Some of the other traditions of Guadalajara include Gran Fiesta Mexicana which is a free open public event with performances by mariachi groups from around the world. Sung Masses is a catholic mass held at the historic Cathedral Guadalajara and accompanied by more music and dance. Another Mexican tradition is Street Music where Mariachi bands and folk dancers perform on the street free of charge for all to enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere.

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