Events

This week Merida is privileged to host an exhibit of artworks by the famous Spanish artist Goya. There is also another tango dance party, multiple films, trova music and much more!

Las Mayas Internacional… if you haven’t seen them, run and get your tickets early because they do sell out. This all-women’s group is a unique treasure of Merida, and just one of many great musical performances this week.

Great Yucatecan music this week, as well as visiting mezzosoprano Carla Dirlikov. Also art on sale from the fabulous Purpura Plastika program, a fun night at Hotel Zamna and much more…

The music scene is really heating up here in Merida, along with the summer temperature. Some amazing voices are filling the air, from the children’s orchestra to trova, opera, and much more. Best thing this week? A milonga (tango dance party), open and free to all… it’s time to learn the tango!

There is so much going on this week… GREAT music, including the beginning of the Spring Cultural Festival. The Barber of Seville, an opera in two acts, performs three times this week… and the world-famous band Kinky is playing on Friday night.

The Yucatones are back for a few weeks before they go away for the summer, great trova this week, and a slew of movies you don’t find every day on cable TV. Add to that a fiesta in Akumal and a seminar at Habla from a visiting expert on the global experience of education…

All of the regularly scheduled events listed on our Ongoing Events pages will be held as usual. It is only the special events that continue to be postponed until they can be rescheduled.

See our page of Regularly Scheduled Events! They are all back! By the end of this week, there will be special events as well. The rest of the month of May is packed with great events, so see our Coming Soon section to keep up with the latest on what there is to do in Merida and Yucatan.

This week’s events have all been canceled due to precautionary measures against the spread of the H1N1 virus, at least until May 6. When events begin again, check back here for listings…

While there is a lot scheduled this week (and both Children’s Day and International Worker’s Day happen this week), there may be fewer events than usual, due to the swine flu outbreak. Unfortunately, all events have been cancelled, even the Yucatones!

This week, good trova is being sung downtown, and there will be multiple modern dance performances. Alfred plays sitar again on Thursday night, and the Charlie Chaplin cinema extravaganza continues…

Fiestas and more fiestas, as well as more Charlie Chaplin, dance, theatre and even puppet shows! Check out the week’s event highlights here…

The baseball season is underway, and now is your chance to support our great team, the Leones. This week, there will only be one Yucatone, but he’ll be singing his heart out… don’t miss it. Films with Charlie Chaplin, a fiesta in Timucuy and much more…

This Week… starting March 30, 2009

A quick note to remind you about the Merida Month-At-A-Glance Calendar. This calendar will be continually updated by our staff… as soon as we know about an event, we’ll put it here. The monthly calendar is color-coded, so you can see what’s going on in a Merida minute […]

This week marks the end of the Annual Festival of Trova, with some fabulous performances, a caminata and awards. Also, Christopher Collins Lee, a world class violinist who happens to make his second home in Merida, is back and performing with the Symphony.

This week finds Madrigal singers from Mountain View in the park, wonderful old films in the theatres, and dance, theatre and much more. We’re enjoying springtime in Merida!

If you have always wanted to visit Oaxaca or find yourself craving chapulines (fried grasshoppers!), be sure to visit Santa Ana Park this week. Booths are set up to sell everything from food to pottery and there is a full schedule of dancing and music.

Women’s Day is this week, and there are a lot of interesting films playing all over town. Also, the Merida 2009 Festival of Trova and art openings at the Museum of Popular Art and the Soho Galleries. Also, read about Yucatan Living’s new Merida Month-At-A-Glance Calendar!

Here we are in the midst of Carnival… which ends with the burning of Juan Carnival on Wednesday night in the Plaza Grande. But of course, there is more going on…

Get ready to party! Carnival starts this week on Wednesday night, with the ritual Burning of the Bad Humors. Leave your frowns at the zocalo (you can always pick them up next week…) and dance, eat, drink and enjoy the rest of the week!

What better place to celebrate the beauty of romance than in Merida? Movies and music on Valentine’s Day… and lots more!

Movies, music and fiestas this week… not much else. Everyone is home sewing their Carnival costumes!

In just one week, the festivities of Carnival will descend upon the city. In the meantime, there is a whole host of fiestas to attend while you wait. And lots of great movies, too!

On Tuesday, you can catch the Inauguration of Barack Obama at the Fiesta Americana. Later this week, the famous Merida English Library Chili Cookoff! What a great week…

The Festival of the City continues in full force, with some fabulous musical performances, and a great Luis Buñuel flurry of films. But Merida isn’t the only municipality enjoying a fiesta… be sure to check out our continuing list of fiestas in all the cities of Yucatan.

Lots of events mark the birthday of Merida this week. Merida is almost 500 years old! Come celebrate with music, dancing, theatre and much more…

Dance, Christmas films, music and more. We look forward to ringing in the New Year… Happy Holidays from Yucatan Living!

Christmas celebrating abounds, from the city to the pueblos to the beach. There is music and film almost every night… there is no excuse to be bored this week! Join the fiesta that is Merida!

This week, the Christmas season begins in earnest. The tree is up at the end of Paseo Montejo and the Christmas lights are strung all over the Centro. Catch the Russian Ballet performing the Nutcracker or do your shopping in Merida’s extended days of all-night dancing in the streets…

There are fiestas happening this month is Sotuta and other towns. Lots happening in Progreso… we have a whole list! An International Festival of Dance with performances by local and international dancers, the NAFTA party, a Christmas choir, and an informative symposia at the Merida English Library. Read all about it here…

Free piano music, a flurry of Fair activity, turkey dinner at the Hyatt, a lecture by a leading Mayan archaeologist, a book benefit to add street dogs and eat Greek food, and a few art openings. So much to do, so little time…

During this week that celebrates the Mexican Revolution, there will be a parade (I can hear it in the distance as I type…). The Fair is going on in Xmatkuil, providing more things to do than is humanly possible in one week. Suerte! (That means “good luck!”)

Sign up for the Seventh Annual Yucatan Bird Festival! There’s also the Fair at Xmatkuil, which begins this week, and the beginning of the Hashers in Merida. Of course, films, music and dance galore as well… Merida is hoppin’!

US expats will be watching election returns on Tuesday night, then the famous Yucatan Fería starts on Friday and goes on for the rest of the month. Also, of course, a typical assortment of music, dance and films!

The cultural events keep coming, with lots of great musicians and singers all throughout the week, as well as the Russian ballet and other dance events. At the end of the week, Day of the Dead altars will be set up (on Friday) in the main square (the Plaza Grande)… don’t miss it!

The biggest fiesta this week is a transplanted one: Octoberfest! Germany has always had a thing for Mexico, after all. Why shouldn’t the favor be returned? There’s also a Mexico-Germany Trio at the Daniel Ayala Theater this week, and a German musician at the Teatro Merida. Viva Allemagne!

There are so many events coming up now, our heads are spinning! Three great fairs begin pueblos outside of the city, and trova opportunities abound. Coming in a few weeks, a world-famous DJ, Air Supply and the Harlem Globetrotters, to name a few…

This week marks the beginning of the Otoño Cultural, the Autumn Culture Festival, in the Yucatan. The snowbirds are starting to fly in for the winter and the locals are starting to cool off and prepare for a lively winter season ahead. Look for art openings this week and a special performance opening the Festival by Celso Pena, one of Mexico’s most important musicians.

This week the Home and Garden Tours are back; this is your opportunity to see some of the finest homes in Merida. Also, Placido Domingo’s concert in Chichen Itza and some great movies all around town.

If you don’t go to the fiesta out in Ticul this week, surely you will want to catch one of the outstanding (and generally hard to find) indie films being played around town. If not a film, perhaps you’ll want to catch the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra, or a trova performance… or maybe the Yucatones! So much to choose from…

Independence Day begins the week, and the week begins the season of gremios around the Plaza Grande. Of course, lots of films, music and more!

Everyone is back from the beach, and the events calendar is lengthening! Lots of foreign and indie films being shown, some great music (the Yucatones are IN this week…) and a number of exciting events coming up that you’ll want to plan for! It’s all right here on Yucatan Living…

A schedule for the Symphony, some great indie films and Mexico’s Independence Day, all coming up this week! Watch football Thursday night at Mercer Cigars: NY Giants play the Washington Redskins.

It’s a very quiet week… everyone is at the beach! But for those of us who aren’t soaking up the sun, there’s still music and dance and a whole slew of fiestas…

Now’s the time to get your tickets for some great events. While you see a few movies and the Yucatones this week, think about lining up tickets for a tango performance, the National Ballet of Georgia and Placido Domingo at Chichen Itza. Wow!

How to get Placido Domingo tickets. Also, There are a myriad of fiestas going on both within Merida and in the pueblos throughout the Yucatan. Also, the Yucatones are BACK on Thursday night, and there are a lot of GREAT films that you won’t see in your local video store….

Summers are quiet in Merida, when most of the action is out at the beach. But for those of us still in town, there are some great Folklorico ballets, the yearly Tunich artesans faire and a few great old movies…

Lots of interesting movies this week….from Italy, Spain, Finland and of course, the USA. Also some great trova performances and a new jazz group performing on Friday night. And at least three fiestas going on in the pueblos outside Merida….

What do Trio del Sureste, Spaghetti Westerns and Indiana Jones have in common? That’s right! They’re all here this week!

Classic cinema, art displays, classical music, live Jazz… you name it, we have it!

Last chance to see the Yucatones for over a month, some wonderful foreign films at the CA68 Center and of course, wonderful live music events. The big event this week? Summer itself…

Check our new ongoing events page for a quick look at ongoing events and classes which are held every week in Merida.

Summer is heating up, and so are the summertime activities! Take a class to make alebrijes, listen to Beatles tunes at a Jazz club played by a string quartet, go to a festival in a pueblo outside of Merida and so much more!

This week, the Yucatones at a special event and Christopher Cross sings in concert, students march against desertification and music is everywhere… jazz, classical, trova and more. Also, Placido Domingo is coming to Chichen Itza…

Events that look good to us this week: the classic movie Camille, the Symphony-bred quartet covering Beatles’ tunes and the exhibit and sale of hand-painted stones by two talented brothers from Oxkutzcab. We’re also considering signing up for those Mayan classes…

This week, the Symphony plays on Friday and Sunday, accompanied by modern dancers. There are some great classic movies being shown, and a chance to learn about how to raise orchids at Casa Catherwood…

Sometimes we wish we could take it all in…. all the different kinds of music. This week, reggae, ska, opera, pop, classical, jazz… it’s enough to make your head spin…

This week in Merida, the Yucatones play live again, and so do a lot of singers and other bands. And there are some great movies to catch in various venues around the city.

This week, opera comes town in the form of La Traviata! If past operas performed here are any clue, this will be great! Also, the Spring Book Fair, Prayers for Peace on Sunday, music and dancing and much more….como siempre!

This week has one of the most important days of the year: Mother’s Day! Also, some fascinating foreign films at the Olimpo and some great music at Jazzin’ Merida all week… a perfect time to check it out, because the Symphony is off this week.

Updated with NEW EVENTS Friday 5-2. This week has both Children’s Day and May Day… a lot of businesses will be closed, but there will be a lot of activity in the streets. Check out the trova at Amaro and keep checking back for updates throughout the week…

Every day is Children’s Day in Mexico, but the actual Children’s Day is even more special. Celebrations are going on all week! There’s a special symphony performance, parties, clowns, dancing and a lot more…

This week in Merida, don’t miss the Yucatones in their World Debut! Also, the dogs are getting together again, the Symphony plays, the children dance and various groups meet throughout the week…

This week, Armando Manzanero sings a benefit concert on Wednesday night and yoga classes are taught every weekday. Also a few classic free movies, especially for kids. And there’s a lot going on this weekend… so save your energy and go check out the French Cooks, the Dancing in honor of Cri Cri, the world-renowned Latin Jazz musician!

Semana Santa is over and Merida is getting back to normal. And normal for Merida is a city filled with music of all kinds… this week is no exception! LOTS of free trova performances this week… don’t miss your chance to see this unique Yucatecan music…

This week, Seth Montfort plays for us straight from San Francisco. Also, it’s a week devoted to Trova… you’ll hear it everywhere, even in the streets on Thursday night!

The circus is in town! And we don’t mean all the tourists that come for Semana Santa, either! Many of the government-sponsored events aren’t happening this week, but there is always enough to keep you busy…

This week, the sun makes a statement throughout the Yucatan as it reaches the Spring Equinox. Around town, there will be film noir at the Merida English Library, a book fair at Santa Ana and music everywhere.

A wide range of options this week, from traditional Trova music (all month!) to a fabulous drag show from Mexico City, lots of live jazz including a Big Band on Wednesday, the MEL Chili Cookoff on Sunday, the Symphony, a mime workshop. Seems like there is something for everyone…

This Week’s events include Charlie Chaplin, Trova, Jazz, Piano concerts, dancing in the streets and much more… come out and enjoy Merida!

This week in Mérida there are amazing shows at the Planetarium, also Classic Movies starring from Marlon Brando to Cantinflas and a beautiful Serenade for Cords featuring Charlyn Mayo you must attend!

Live Trova at Restaurante Amaro all week long, also Live Jazz performances at Jazzin’ Merida, and don’t forget about the regular weekly performances all arond the city. There’s something for everyone!

Well, it was a busy Carnaval week! Lots of parades in wonderful weather. Now the Centro is going back to normal and Merida’s eyes start turning toward spring.

The readers of Yucatan Living have spoken. We had seven Readers Choice Polls in the last half of 2007… here are the results!

Carnival begins this week on Wednesday and it’s party party party all weekend! Check out a few parades, eat, drink and dance on the street, listen to some live music and have fun!

Carnival and Superbowl Sunday are just around the corner, so if you are going to participate, now’s the time to start planning. There’s also a lot of live music this week…

The city continues to party with jazz, classical, pop, reggaeton and trova live music performances this week. The King and Queen of Carnaval will be crowned and the Yucatan Symphony begins its season…

There is so much going on here this week, we wouldn’t know where to start! Feast your eyes on the menu for this week as we celebrate Merida’s 466th Birthday!

2008 begins with fireworks from every corner of the Yucatan. May your 12 wishes all come true! Happy New Year from the team at Yucatan Living!

We’re publishing our events list early this week, and we’ll add to it as things come up. In general, while stores and restaurants are open, there aren’t a lot of scheduled special events, as the holidays are family time in the Yucatan and throughout Mexico…

As Christmas approaches, events take a holiday too. Still, great movies and jazz music at night, and lots of Christmas lights to see…

This is the week of La Virgen, and the voladores (firecrackers) have started flying! Also, a new jazz venue, art along the avenue, some great hard-to-find movies and Carmina Burana. What a week!!

This just in! Watch the Mayweather-Hatton fight LIVE from Las Vegas at Mercer Cigars. Details here. Lots of Christmas shopping fairs this weekend, the International Festival of Modern Dance with performances every night this week, the Virgin of Guadalupe day coming soon…

Give a hand to save a Paw!! The annual AFAD benefit fiesta! Just off Paseo Montejo near Friday’s… food, drink, raffles. Show your support! The map is here. Also, Christmas events start on Saturday…

The week in Merida features a great show at the Peon Contreras on Thursday night, Jazzeando, featuring many of Merida’s most lauded musicians covering jazz classics. More singing, art openings and dancing all over town as the week continues…

There is so much going on in the Yucatan, we’re exhausted just writing it all down! Movies, dance recitals, musical performances of everything from symphonies to trova…

This week marks the beginning of the annual Yucatan State Fair in Xmatkuil. Like any State Fair, this one has everything from livestock to cotton candy. Also, this week, the Symphony gets a harp and Merida gets a poker tournament…

This week in Merida, and everywhere else in Mexico, is about the Day of the Dead. In the Yucatan, Día de Los Muertos is celebrated mostly in homes, with the family. But there are some public events worth seeing…

Events this week include the beginning of many religious celebrations, as well as the build up to Day of the Dead or Hanal Pixan, as it is called by the Mayans. Altars will be built, music will be sung, flowers will be everywhere…

Merida’s social calendar is getting really active, and the busy season isn’t even in full swing yet! Choose from movies, a play about Empress Carlotta, traditional dance and music and even a mime class this week!

The Olimpo has re-opened and things are really starting to get busy in Merida! This week, there are art openings, Monday Night Football and a myriad of music and theatre performances…

Events in Merida this week range from the Siberian Ballet to Chekhov’s play The Bear and a documentary about Tarantulas. In between, there are a lot of good classic movies for free and some good music, as always…

Did you know Merida has a championship Fencing team? Neither did we… Here is another week’s worth of events so we can learn and see new things.

Movies, the Symphony, Dancing, Concerts, Serenades, a Tribute to The Beatles and so much more this week!

The work of sculptor Reynaldo Bolio Suárez, depicting 14 heroes of Independence and the Mexican Revolution, will be on display in the Central Patio of the Olimpo until October 6… don’t miss it! And of course, there’s more…

The fall season of events is just beginning, including film festivals and wine tastings, as well as popular favorites like the Bici-Ruta, Guitar Concerts and Piano Recitals…

This week, Merida begins to come alive again. La Temporada is over, kids are going back to school and the Symphony is back in town…

The biggest event this week is Hurricane Dean, of course, but we can’t predict when that is going to happen or where. There are a few things we do know about, however…

Even though there aren’t a lot of new events, the traditional recurring events in Merida are still going on… it’s a great time to enjoy yourself without crowds.

Buy a cup of coffee for a cause, listen to guitars or learn how to play them, and take some time to run with the dogs. It’s summertime in the city…

The big event this week is the ceremonies surrounding the change of government in Yucatan. The rest of the week is just filled with music and dancing… same as always!

This week in Merida, there will be dancing in the streets… as always! There is also the Grand Opening of the Museo de Arte Popular de Yucatan, a long awaited event…

This week we all learn what a cantautore is. There is dance, music, art and film going on this week. Hot fun in the summertime in Merida!

From Cosmic Rays to Folkloric Ballet, with new art galleries, UNAM’s Spanish classes and erotic films in between, Merida has got it all going on this week…

On the top of our list, Georgia Charuhas’ opening at the MACAY on Friday night and a few good films showing in nice air-conditioned theatres…

Check out the newly renovated Railroad Station that has found a second life as an art school. What a beautiful building! Just one of the myriad of cultural goodies available in the week ahead…

This week there are lots of great things going on, from the “Erotic Film Festival” to Tango, stepping through Chamber Music, Jazz, Silent Movies and much, much more!

Updates to the Events Calendar: New location and time for Cuarteto and UADY Choral Group celebrates it’s Fifth Year with a very special guest, both on Friday night…

A week filled with Larry Flynt, the Marx Brothers, Cuarteto Genesis, a performance by graduate guitar scholars, and the “Rocker Witches of Wallis!” Mercy! Where else in the world could all of that happen in the same sentence, much less in the same week?

This week there are a few cooking events, a major muralist opens a show, three days of cycling events, a guest conductor with the symphony and riverdancing! All that, and the start of hurricane season too…

While you are busy deciding between the various music, film and theatre offerings in Merida this week, be sure to take a look around you at the beautiful trees…

There’s always more to do in Merida than time to do it and this week is no exception, with music, photography, opera, dance and even elections for local candidates, including the governor of Yucatan…

This week, film and opera events take center stage in Merida. The Jose Peon Contreras Theatre once again is filled with the sound of arias as Madame Butterfly comes to town…

Events this week will have you singing, clapping and dancing! And we have a tip on a great way to learn to speak the Mayan language…

There’s so much going on… so here’s a separate list of events for just this weekend. And please, don’t forget to vote…

This week there’s everything from conversation to cinema, and if you like antiques, you’re in for a treat…

This week, a dance performance all the way from the opposite side of the planet. And a rundown on the regular event schedule in Merida…

Every week, there are more cultural events in Merida than any reasonable person can attend. Yucatan Living’s Khaki Scott will keep you up-to-date on what’s new and interesting, starting with a new bookstore, a film festival and a free movie…

If you’re staying anywhere near Merida next week, we hope you didn’t plan on a peaceful vacation… It’s Carnaval time!

January’s big event is a series of events under the umbrella of the International Festival of the Arts. This is the third one that has been held here in Merida, and it’s looking really good…

Yucatecos practice some fun New Years Eve traditions, which we hope to participate in this year. Time to start shopping for underwear…

The population of Merida is celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe as December 12th approaches. The Working Gringos do their best to explain the festivities…

This Sunday, original illustrations by John and Alexandra Wallner are for sale. Bring the children (there will be a place for them to color) and help the children (proceeds will benefit a local charity)…

Today students from every school in Merida marched through the streets to honor their ancestors and the Mexican Revolution. We share the words of an expatriate who shared that struggle…

The Yucatan Bird Festival “TOH” takes place in a state which has traditionally served as the region’s cultural center. It’s a perfect place to combine birds with visits to Maya archeological zones…

Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead, Mayans celebrate Hanal Pixan and little kids just want to wear costumes and eat candy. We do it all here in the Yucatan…

The ayuntamiento (city government) of Merida has added a new program for the local residents that promises to be an incredible success…

The World Cup of Football (okay, soccer to some of you) has kicked off and everyone here is Mexican and rooting for the Mexican futbol team…

Last week was Semana Santa (Holy Week), when Christians around the world celebrate Easter…

We remember the first time we saw Carnival here four years ago. It seemed hopelessly commercial, terribly tacky and badly executed. Yesterday, we took photos and video of the last parade of Carnival 2006 and the whole thing seemed fun, joyous and beautiful…

Once again, the Merida English Library’s Annual Big Chili Cookoff was a big success!..

Does November 20th ring a bell? (Actually, no. They ring the bell on September 15th for Mexican Independence Day.) This is Revolution day…

This year, we just *had* to go down to the Zocalo to see the Day of the Dead altars…