Six not-to-be-missed events this year in Guanajuato, Mexico

Published March 5th, 2023

Guanajuato, the beautiful state in the colonial heart of Mexico, is hosting a calendar full of unique events in 2023, ideal for travelers from Spain and around the world.

This year sees the return in full form of its famed cultural festivals, the Cervantino International Festival and the Guanajuato Film Festival, as well as one of the great international gems of motorsports: Rally Mexico, part of the WRC World Rally Championship since 2004.

Spectacular landscapes, as well as towns and cities full of history, are the ideal setting for unmissable events such as the International Balloon Festival in the city of León, the Festival of the Dead in Guanajuato Capital (capital city of the state, and UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the celebration of independent Mexico in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato’s Magical Town and Cradle of National Independence.

Great stories are lived in Guanajuato, the beautiful and colorful state located in central-western Mexico. With the warm sun on their backs and incredible natural scenery shaped by the wind in their favor, the people of Guanajuato are ready to welcome the European and international public to six magnificent events to be held in different locations throughout the year.

The party begins at the dawn of spring, with Rally Mexico 2023, which returns from March 16 to 19 to the streets and highways of different municipalities in the state (Guanajuato, Silao, Leon, and Romita), including the streets and tunnels of the city of Guanajuato.

It is the perfect opportunity for the nearly 600,000 spectators expected this year to get their fill of excitement during the race, while being amazed by the beautiful natural scenery of places such as the Dunes or the El Mosquito area, near the community of Ibarrilla.

This year the state is also opting for sustainability and the mitigation of ecological impact, with drivers such as the great champion in Mexican territory, Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, will cover the 316 kilometers of the competition in hybrid cars, whose engines have been modified to offer greater power, ensuring a spectacle with a speed never seen before.

This segment of the Rally in Guanajuato is an integral part of an international circuit organized since 1973 by the WRC World Rally Championship (WRC), which takes place in more than 13 countries.

The next event is in the summer, from July 20 to 30, when the capital city of Guanajuato and other host cities such as León and San Miguel de Allende will showcase the best of world cinema at the Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF).

More than 100,000 moviegoers from all over the world will experience 10 days of cutting-edge cinema through conferences, concerts, galas with international guests, free events, and, of course, the selection and screening of nearly 340 films.

Autumn is a continuous gala with two great events that will make the respective cities shine with their own light: first, the Magic Town of Dolores Hidalgo, Cradle of National Independence, is painted in green, white, and red to the cry of ¡Viva México! in one of the most traditional and spectacular Mexican festivities of the year: the Mexican National Holiday, in commemoration of that September 15th where the Priest Hidalgo climbed the bell tower of the parish of Our Lady of Dolores that morning to call the Mexicans to the independence struggle.

Today, this Mexican Night that tastes like tequila and mariachi is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the gastronomic experience of the place, as well as to visit small neighboring towns such as El Llanito, of a totally indigenous Otomi culture.

The festivities, urban illuminations, and decorations last practically the entire month of September.

Another of Guanajuato’s cultural jewels is the famous Cervantino International Festival, which this year will be held from October 11 to 29, in its 51st edition, and for which its capital city (also called Guanajuato) expects the visit of some 300,000 people, including hundreds of international guest artists.

The beautiful cobblestone streets of the capital turn into a veritable verbena popular during this festival with its outdoor activities, bars, theaters, and alleys full of party and culture.

But the celebrations would not be complete without that unique and particular Mexican holiday that takes place de facto between October 31 and November 6: the Festival of the Dead in Guanajuato Capital, which paints the entire city of Guanajuato in cempasúchil color (name of the traditional yellow and orange flowers used to open the way of the souls) with a series of events that take us by the hand to know the city: the mega ofrenda on the impressive stairs of the University of Guanajuato; the callejoneadas, where mischievous stories and legends are told as out of magical realism for popular amusement or, the Tapete de la Muerte event, with a parade of “Catrinas”, where people dress up as skulls dressed in luxurious clothes and walk towards the indigenous underworld, the Mictlán, amidst incense and flowers.

The last great celebration we propose is the International Balloon Festival in the city of Leon, one of the three largest balloon festivals in the world, which this year will be held from November 17 to 20 and closes the festival season with an inflation of 200 hot air balloons with special figures and dirigibles that rise simultaneously to create an unparalleled spectacle of colors in the sky.

At night the party continues with parked balloons and live music, regional dance shows, and traditional food stalls. A great experience is to sign up as a crew member of one of the balloons, which allows visitors to live with pilots from all over the world and be an active part of this magnificent international festival.

The State of Guanajuato offers some of the most authentic and unusual experiences in Mexico for international tourism, with a cultural, historical, gastronomic, and sporting offer of the highest level. A must-see on any visit to Mexico.