Zihuatanejo’s event calendar is anchored by a February sailing regatta, a March guitar festival, and a May sportfishing tournament, with Mexico’s national holidays filling in the rest of the year. Most events are free to watch and cluster in the dry season, when the weather cooperates, a stretch the Zihuatanejo weather by month guide details month by month. Here is what happens month by month, with dates and locations where they are fixed, and the Zihuatanejo travel guide guide has the broader destination picture.
Zihuatanejo Events in Winter (December to February)
Zihuatanejo SailFest (early February)
SailFest is the bay’s biggest annual event, a week of sailing races, live music, and charity fundraisers that draws boats and crews from the US and Canada. Racing happens on the bay in front of Playa La Ropa and Ixtapa, and the waterfront around the municipal pier hosts concerts and street food in the evenings. It runs in the first half of February, and hotels book out, so reserve early, and the where to stay in Zihuatanejo guide lists where to sleep.
Christmas and New Year
The week between Christmas and New Year is peak season. Hotels and restaurants host special dinners, and the bay fills with Mexican families on holiday. New Year’s Eve brings fireworks over the water, best watched from Playa La Ropa or a waterfront restaurant. Book restaurants for December 31 well ahead, and expect premium rates on rooms.
Zihuatanejo Events in Spring (March to May)
Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival (March)
The Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Zihuatanejo brings classical, flamenco, and Latin guitarists to town for a series of concerts in the first half of March, with performances at venues around El Centro and the waterfront. Many shows are free or low-cost, and masterclasses run alongside the concerts. Check the festival’s schedule in January for the exact program and any ticketed events.
Semana Santa (Holy Week, March or April)
Semana Santa, the week leading up to Easter, is Mexico’s biggest domestic travel period, and Zihuatanejo’s beaches fill with families from Mexico City and inland Guerrero. Dates shift each year between late March and late April. It is festive but crowded, so book rooms and buses early and expect slower service everywhere, and the Zihuatanejo neighborhoods guide notes which districts handle the crowds best.
International Sailfish Tournament (May)
The Torneo Internacional de Pez Vela, held in May, is a catch-and-release sailfish tournament that packs the marina with sportfishing boats. Weigh-ins and award ceremonies happen at the Ixtapa marina, and the public can watch the boats come in with their flags flying. The things to do in Zihuatanejo guide has details on booking a fishing charter if you want to enter as an angler rather than a spectator.
Zihuatanejo Events in Summer (June to August)
Summer is the quietest stretch of the year, when the rains arrive and the big festivals pause. There are no major fixed events, but July and August bring discounted hotel rates and local life at its most relaxed. The best time to visit Zihuatanejo guide explains why this low season can still work if you keep mornings free for the beach.
Zihuatanejo Events in Autumn (September to November)
Independence Day (September 15 to 16)
Mexico’s Independence Day is marked on the night of September 15, when the mayor gives the traditional El Grito from the town hall, followed by fireworks over the bay. The plaza and waterfront fill with families, and street vendors sell antojitos. It is a genuinely local celebration, not a tourist show, and rain is possible at this time of year.
Día de Muertos (November 1 to 2)
Day of the Dead brings ofrendas (altars) to homes, shops, and the town plaza, decorated with marigolds, candles, and photos of the deceased. The cemetery on the edge of town fills with families on the nights of November 1 and 2. It is a respectful, family event, so observe quietly and ask before taking photos of people, and the Zihuatanejo travel tips guide covers the transport and money basics for your visit.
Zihuatanejo Events: What to Book Ahead
- SailFest and Semana Santa: book accommodation 3 to 6 months out; these are the two busiest periods.
- Guitar festival: check the program in January and book ticketed concerts early.
- Sportfishing tournament: reserve a boat as soon as dates are announced in spring.
