Festivals and Events in Mexico in March

Spring break is in full swing during the month of March, so keep that in mind if you're heading to one of Mexico's popular beach destinations. As for the weather, March in Mexico is usually dry and warm to hot. The third Monday is a holiday in commemoration of Benito Juarez's birthday, and there are lots of festivities to welcome spring. Here's a look at the important festivals and events you may want to attend if you're visiting Mexico in March.

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Banderas Bay Regatta and Nautical Festival

Sailboat on water at International Banderas Bay Regatta — International Banderas Bay Regatta

A five-day non-profit event sponsored by the Vallarta Yacht Club, this festival is especially designed with cruisers in mind, with competitive races between boats designed for coastal and offshore cruising. Race boats and catamarans join the fun too. Nightly fiestas, live music and entertainment round out the roster of activities.

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Guadalajara International Film Festival

Guadalajara, one of Mexico's largest cities located in the state of Jalisco, hosts the oldest and most important film festival in Mexico, offering the best selection of Mexican and Latin American films of the year. The festival features a variety of films including feature-length films, shorts, documentaries, and children’s films.

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Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival

The town of Zihuatanejo (neighbor to the resort area of Ixtapa) hosts an annual festival designed to bring locals and tourists together to enjoy guitar music every year in the month of March. Concerts are held on the beach as well as in restaurants and bars throughout the town. Proceeds from the festival go towards supporting arts and educational projects in the community.

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Mexico City Festival (Festival de Mexico en el Centro Historico)

Miguel Poveda performs in the Festival Centro Historico — Pedro Martin Gonzalez Castillo / Getty Images

This two-week long cultural celebration is one of Latin America's most vibrant international arts festivals and features unique and innovative events including opera, concerts, theater, art exhibits, and dance productions. Proceeds from the festival go toward the rescue and restoration of the art and architecture of Mexico City's historic downtown area.

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Holy Week (Semana Santa)

Easter celebration in Oaxaca, Mexico — Suzanne Barbezat

The dates of Easter vary from year to year, but it often falls in the month of March. Holy Week festivities take place during the week leading up to Easter, but many people have the following week off as well, stretching it out to a two-week holiday. Religious processions and passion plays re-enacting Jesus' crucifixion are commonly held, but for many Mexicans this is a favorite time to hit the beach.

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Todos Santos Film Festival

Todos Santos theatre and cinema. Todos Santos Pueblo Magico, Baja California Sur, Mexico. — Romana Lilic/Getty Images

This film festival offers an impressive collection of films that reflects the excellence of Latino cinema throughout the world and features local and Mexican filmmakers. More than 25 feature, documentary, and short films from Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Spain, and El Salvador are shown at the festival.

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Spring Equinox

Chichen Itza Equinox — Photo by Lorenia, Creative Commons

Among other celebrations to celebrate the start of the spring season in Mexico, thousands of people flock to the main Temple of Kulkulkan at Chichén Itzá to witness the play of light and shadow which shows a serpent descending the stairs of the temple on the day of the Spring Equinox, March 20.

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Tajin Summit (Cumbre Tajin, Festival de la Identidad)

Danza de los Voladores de Papantla — HAGENS WORLD – PHOTOGRAPHY/Getty Images

The culture of the Totonac people of Veracruz takes the spotlight at this annual event taking place during the week of the spring equinox. The festival includes concerts, workshops, and the opportunity to sample the unique cuisine of Veracruz, as well as a spectacular night-time show at El Tajín archaeological site. You'll also get a chance to see the Voladores de Papantla, a ritual that is part of the heritage of the Totonac people.

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Night of the Witches (Noche de Brujas)

A Mexican curandero with a conch shell — mofles/Getty Images

Shamans, curanderos (healers), and fortune-tellers are ubiquitous in the small town of Catemaco, Veracruz throughout the year, but the first Friday of the month marks their annual convention. If you'd like to have your cards or hand read, or experience a "limpia" (a spiritual and energetic cleansing), you'll find plenty of options here.

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Benito Juarez's Birthday (Natalicio de Juarez)

Monument to Benito Juarez, Alameda Park — Suzanne Barbezat

A national public holiday to honor one of Mexico's most beloved leaders, this holiday is celebrated nationwide, but particularly in Oaxaca, Juarez's home state. March 21 was the great man's official date of birth, but the holiday is observed on the third Monday in March. Benito Juarez went from being a poor Zapotec orphan to become Mexico's first (and so far only) full-blooded indigenous president. The event is commemorated with civic ceremonies at monuments to Juarez throughout the country, and a long weekend.

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International Motorcycle Week

Over 20,000 bikers from across the United States and Mexico converge in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, at the end of March and beginning of April for this annual celebration. The magnum event is the Great Parade, a colorful procession of international motorcycle clubs cruising 16 miles along Mazatlán’s oceanfront malecón promenade. Other events include an extreme acrobatics competition, drag racing events, and nightly concerts and performances by national rock bands.

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Vive Latino

One of Mexico's biggest music festivals is held in the Foro Sol in Mexico City every year in March. The festival's concept is to offer a forum for newcomer bands from all over the Spanish speaking world and in a variety of genres. For three days space is created for alternative music and new proposals from Spanish language performers.