Free cultural events every night of the week
Mérida’s Centro, specifically Plaza Grande, is currently undergoing renovations, and some of the events for Semana Meridana have changed venues. Here are the new locations:Yucatecan VaqueríaMonday, 9 - 10 pmNew location: Parque de La ErmitaTestigo Silencioso - New eventWednesday, 8 pmMuseo de Antropología e Historia, Palacio Cantón
Isla de Luz video mapping - New eventFriday, 8 - 9 pmMonumento a la PatriaPok Ta PokSaturday, 8 - 9 pmNew location: San Sebastián
Mérida en DomingoSunday, 9 am - 9 pmParque de Santa Ana
Important!Venues, times, and dates are subject to change without prior notice; if so, we'll keep you informed.
Mérida is a vibrant, cultural city, where every day of the week, all year long, you’ll find a wide variety of fabulous free events to check out in the weekly Semana Meridana.
Genuine pride in local culture and history runs through the events of the Semana Meridana. Yucatecans are extremely proud of their heritage and the clear delight in being able to share it with visitors is a joy to behold.
While being able to speak Spanish will be useful at the events, all can still be enjoyed without doing so. If you do speak Spanish, you'll be able to be amused by the explanations of local traditional dress and dance styles as well as the poetry and jokes that accompany the events.
Monday
Vaquería Traditional Dance
New location: Parque de La Ermita
Time: 9 to 10 pm
Begin the week in the Plaza Grande with the Vaquería, a traditional celebration that began during the Spanish rule and which has stayed at the heart of Yucatecan culture. The dancers are all dressed in stunning traditional clothing, and watching their feet move in a blur is always my favorite part of this show. If you speak Spanish you’ll also enjoy the tradition of the Bomba, a comedic, rhymed pattern between each dance. Limited seating, but can stand and watch.
Tuesday
Trova Tuesdays
Location: Olimpo Auditorium
Time: 8 to 9 pm
For an evening of romantic music, you can’t do much better than the Trova Tuesday. Each week, a Trovador trio delights audiences with a set comprising classic Yucatecan and Mexican timeless songs. Trovadores are the Yucatecan alternative to Mariachis: they’re the ones to sing by your window at night, as a show of someone’s undying love. Limited seating.
Musical Memories
Location: Parque de Santiago
Time: 8:30 to 9:30 pm
If you want to see Mérida at its happiest, this open-air free-for-all dance is an absolute must. Watch young and old dance together to live music, join in the dancing, and grab a bite at the famous Parque de Santiago. Limited seating, but can stand and watch or even better, you can dance!
Wednesday
Testigo Silencioso
Location: Puerta principal del Museo de Antropología e Historia, Palacio Cantón
Time: 8:30 pm
The 40-minute event will be a multi-faceted performance showcasing the history and significance of the Palacio Cantón. It will combine mapping, music, and regional dance.
- Digital mapping: Visual projections onto the building's facade, telling the story of the Cantón family and the building itself.
- Classical music: Performances of famous opera arias from the early 20th century.
- Regional dance: Traditional Yucatecan jaranas to highlight the local culture.
The event will offer a unique blend of history, art, and culture, making it a must-see for anyone visiting Mérida.
Video mapping: Diálogos del Conquistador
Location: Casa Montejo
Time: 8 to 9 pm
Temporarily suspended this September for the renovation of Mérida's main square.
Diálogos del Conquistador is a video mapping presentation that takes place at Casa Montejo, a bank and museum by day, and an art installation on Wednesday nights. A (subtitled) interaction between Francisco de Montejo and a Maya leader, it’s a moving piece of theatre that highlights that Mérida was first a Maya city, and that it owes so much to the Maya culture.
Thursday
Serenata de Santa Lucía
Location: Santa Lucía Park
Time: 9 to 10 pm
Without a doubt, this is the most popular night of the week. I have never seen Parque de Santa Lucía as busy as it is on a Thursday night. If you don’t have tickets, you can try grabbing a table at one of the many fabulous restaurants on the square. The evening is full of joy and music in the form of different bands, singers, and dancers. Different acts are presented each week, but with the same format: the orchestra and dancers, followed by a trio, poetry, and a solo performer. Limited seating, but can stand and watch.
Friday
Video mapping:
Islas de Luz
Location: Monumento a la Patria
Time: 8 to 9 pm
The Monumento a la Patria, an imposing circle on Paseo de Montejo, comes alive on Friday nights thanks to "Isla de Luz," a spectacular video mapping that projects images onto its detailed sculptures. This monument, a masterpiece by Colombian Rómulo Rozo, narrates the history of Mexico from pre-Hispanic times to the present. While enjoying the free show, accompanied by regional music, you can savor a marquesita and admire the intricate details of the monument's four faces, which celebrate national identity.
Video mapping:
Piedras Sagradas
Location: Catedral San Ildefonso
Time: 8 to 8:30 pm
Temporarily suspended this September for the renovation of Mérida's main square.
Video mapping is something that México truly excels at. If you’re out and about in Centro on a Friday evening enjoying the pedestrianization of town, be sure to stop by for the beaming of a potted history of Mérida onto one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas. Limited seating, but can stand and watch.
Saturday
Noche Mexicana
Location: Remate de Paseo de Montejo
Time: 8 to 11 pm
Sunday
Biciruta
Location: Paseo de Montejo and Centro
Time: 8 am to 12:30 pm
Mérida en Domingo
Location: Santa Ana Partk
Time: 9 am to 9 pm
Author: Yucatán Today
Yucatán Today, the traveler's companion, has been covering Yucatán’s destinations, culture, gastronomy, and things to do for 36 years. Available in English and Spanish, it’s been featured in countless travel guides due to the quality of its content.