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Taxco is at its best during a festival, and two events justify a trip on their own: the Holy Week processions, among the most dramatic in Mexico, and the National Silver Fair that fills the town each November and December. Here is the Taxco events and festivals calendar, with dates, locations and what to expect.
Taxco Events and Festivals: Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Semana Santa, the week before Easter in late March or April, is Taxco’s most famous event. Each night from Palm Sunday onward, hooded penitents called encruzados walk barefoot through the steep streets carrying heavy bundles of thorny branches strapped to their shoulders and arms, led by candlelight and drumbeats. The most intense processions are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when the routes fill the narrow lanes around the church. Hotels sell out weeks in advance and prices roughly double, so book early if you want to be there. The where to stay in Taxco guide lists where to stay close to the procession routes.
Taxco Events and Festivals: Feria Nacional de la Plata
The National Silver Fair runs roughly the last week of November through the first week of December, usually around November 27 to December 5, though dates shift slightly each year. The plaza and surrounding streets fill with silver exhibitions, a national design competition, live music, and food stalls. Silversmiths from across Mexico come to show work, and many shops run promotions. It is the second busiest stretch of the year after Holy Week, so book accommodation a month ahead. For weather during the fair, see the Taxco weather by month guide.
Taxco Events and Festivals: Fiesta de Santa Prisca and Jornadas Alarconianas
Fiesta de Santa Prisca (January 18)
The patron saint feast of Santa Prisca falls on January 18 and brings religious processions, masses, fireworks, and street stalls around the church and plaza. It draws a mix of local families and day-trippers from Mexico City, so the town feels lively but not overwhelmed. It is a good winter weekend to visit if you want the festive side of Taxco without Semana Santa’s crowds. The best time to visit Taxco guide covers January weather and pricing in more detail.
Jornadas Alarconianas (Late May)
This theatre festival honours Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, the baroque playwright born in Taxco around 1581, and typically runs in the last week or two of May. Performances, readings, and workshops take over venues including Casa Borda and the Ex Convento de San Bernardino. It is a smaller, more relaxed event than the silver fair and a good excuse for a cultural long weekend before the rains intensify in June. Pair it with the things to do in Taxco guide to fill the days between performances.
Taxco Events and Festivals: Day of the Dead and Christmas
Día de Muertos (November 1 and 2)
Taxco marks Day of the Dead with altars and marigold ofrendas in homes, shops, and public spaces, plus candlelit visits to the town cemeteries on the night of November 1. It is quieter and more local than the celebrations in Oaxaca or Mexico City, which makes it a calm place to experience the tradition. Many businesses close early on November 2. The Taxco neighborhoods guide can help you pick a district near the cemetery or the centre for easy walking.
Feria de la Nochebuena (December)
Taxco and the surrounding Guerrero hills grow poinsettias, and the Feria de la Nochebuena, held in December, fills the plaza with hundreds of the red plants plus local food and crafts. Dates vary but it usually falls in the first two weeks of December, often overlapping with the tail of the silver fair. It is a compact, family-friendly market rather than a major festival. For getting there and what to pack in December, read the Taxco travel tips and FAQ guide, and the full Taxco travel guide rounds out the town.
