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Valladolid’s calendar is built around Catholic feast days inherited from the colonial era and Maya traditions that predate it, most visibly Hanal Pixán in late October. Most events are free and held in the main plaza or at the San Bernardino convent. Dates shift slightly each year, so confirm times at the tourist office on Calle 41. This calendar is part of our Valladolid travel guide.
Valladolid Events and Festivals: January to March
- Fiesta de la Candelaria (late January to February 2): Valladolid’s patron-saint festival runs for about ten days with processions, vaquerías (traditional Yucatec dances), bullfights, and nightly food stalls in the plaza. February 2 is the main day, and the best time to visit Valladolid guide covers this window’s weather.
- Carnaval (February or March): a week of parades and costumes in the days before Ash Wednesday, with the biggest comparsa on the Sunday and Tuesday before Lent.
- Spring equinox at Chichén Itzá (March 20 to 21): thousands gather at El Castillo to watch the late-afternoon shadow of a serpent crawl down the pyramid staircase. Arrive before 1pm to get a good spot, and see the things to do in Valladolid guide for entry fees.
Valladolid Events and Festivals: April to July
- Semana Santa (Holy Week, March or April): processions through the historic center and heavy domestic travel, so book early; the where to stay in Valladolid guide lists hotels by area.
- Feria de Valladolid (May): a regional fair with livestock shows, mechanical rides, and concerts, usually held in the fairgrounds south of town. Expect 35°C heat, so check the Valladolid weather by month before you go.
- Fiestas de San Bernardino (mid-June): a smaller celebration at the convent with religious services and a neighborhood fair in the Sisal barrio.
Valladolid Events and Festivals: August to December
- Independence Day (September 15 to 16): the Grito de Dolores is re-enacted from the municipal palace balcony on the night of September 15, followed by fireworks over the plaza.
- Hanal Pixán (October 31 to November 2): the Yucatec Day of the Dead. Families build altars with mukbil pollo (a buried tamal), and the town stages a public altar competition and cemetery visits. The Valladolid neighborhoods guide explains the barrios where altars appear.
- Feria de la Longaniza (November): a festival around the town’s signature smoked sausage, with tastings and cooking stands along the Calzada. See the Valladolid travel tips article for how to reach the Calzada.
- Christmas season (December): posadas run December 16 to 24, and the plaza is strung with lights through early January.
