This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Cuernavaca’s events and festivals run year-round, anchored by a spring fair, a pre-Lenten carnival, and the Day of the Dead celebrations that light up the city each November. Most gatherings are free and center on the Plaza de Armas, the JardÃn Borda and the Expoferia fairgrounds. Here are the key events and festivals in Cuernavaca by season, with dates and locations, set against the backdrop described in our complete guide to Cuernavaca guide.
Events and Festivals in Cuernavaca: Spring
Feria de la Primavera (Spring Fair)
The Feria de la Primavera, also called the Expoferia Cuernavaca, runs for about two weeks around late March and April at the Expoferia grounds on the northern edge of the city. Expect nightly concerts from regional and national acts, carnival rides, livestock and craft exhibitions, and dozens of food stands. Entrance to the grounds is inexpensive, and headline concerts are often free with admission. For help choosing dates around it, see our best time to visit Cuernavaca guide.
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Holy Week, in late March or April depending on the liturgical calendar, is Cuernavaca’s busiest tourism week. Religious processions pass through the historic center, especially around the cathedral, and hotels and restaurants run at full capacity. Book lodging months ahead, and check our where to stay in Cuernavaca page for options if your dates fall on this week.
Carnaval de Cuernavaca
The pre-Lenten carnival, held in February or early March, brings comparsas, costumed parades and street dancing to the center. The exact dates shift each year with the Catholic calendar, so confirm the weekend before you go.
Events and Festivals in Cuernavaca: Summer
Fiesta de San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista is Cuernavaca’s patron saint, celebrated around June 24 with masses at the cathedral, fireworks and a neighborhood fair. It’s a local, low-key event rather than a major draw, but a good chance to see the city’s religious traditions up close.
Events and Festivals in Cuernavaca: Fall and Winter
DÃa de la Independencia (September 15 and 16)
On the night of September 15, the mayor delivers the grito de independencia from the Palacio de Cortés balcony overlooking the Plaza de Armas, followed by fireworks and music. The next morning brings a civic parade. It’s the biggest patriotic celebration in Morelos, and the plaza fills to capacity, so arrive early for a spot. The Palacio itself is one of the things to do in Cuernavaca worth seeing any day of the year.
DÃa de Muertos (November 1 and 2)
Day of the Dead transforms Cuernavaca in early November with marigold-covered altars, ofrendas and candlelit vigils. The city erects large public altars around the zócalo and in the JardÃn Borda, and a Catrina parade walks the center on the evening of November 1. Cemeteries across the Cuernavaca neighborhoods host family gatherings through the night.
Fiestas decembrinas (Christmas Season)
From mid-December through the posadas of the week before Christmas, the zócalo is strung with lights and a holiday fair appears with food, rides and piñatas. The season peaks on December 24 with the Nochebuena celebrations, and December’s clear, dry days keep the outdoor events comfortable, as the Cuernavaca weather by month page shows. For arrival details, see our Cuernavaca travel tips guide.
