Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Every year in mid-September, Mexico bursts with pride as cities across the nation celebrate Las Fiestas Patrias, commemorating the events that led to the country’s independence from Spain.
In Puerto Vallarta, the festivities are nothing short of spectacular, with a series of events that showcase the rich culture and patriotic spirit of the community.
The celebrations kick off at 8:30 am on September 13 with the anniversary of the Battle of Chapultepec, honoring the Niños Héroes who bravely defended Mexico City, in the Plaza de El Pitillal. The following day, September 14, marks El Día de la Bandera de Jalisco. This day is celebrated with a civic ceremony at 8:30 am in the Plaza Armas outside the Municipal Presidency.
Saturday, September 14 is also el Día Nacional de la Charrería, which will be celebrated with a parade that begins at 10:30 am at the intersection of Lázaro Cárdenas Street and Aquiles Serdán in the Romantic Zone. From there, they will parade north across the Cuale River bridge to Morelos Street, and continue on to Galeana Street. From there, the parade will go up the Malecón and continue north to 31 de Octubre Street, then continue along Av. México until reaching República de Chile Street, where the route will end.
On September 15, the Vallarta Institute of Culture invites everyone to the Malecón at 6:00 pm for a lively celebration of Mexican traditions. The event promises music, dancing, and delicious traditional food, making it a perfect outing for the whole family.
Highlights include performances by Ballet Xiutla, comedian Memo Rios, Komando Mr, Arcano, Mariachi Internacional de México, and La Sonora Dinamita de Javier Algain. The evening will also see the presentation of the 2024 Reinas de las Fiestas Patrias, beauty queens from various delegations of the municipality.
As the night progresses, the highlight of the Independence Day celebrations unfolds at around 11:00 pm when interim mayor Francisco José Martínez Gil takes to the presidential balcony to lead El Grito de Dolores. This powerful call to independence is typically followed by a dazzling fireworks display over Banderas Bay, accompanied by the lighting of castillos & toritos, and a public street dance on the Malecón.
September 16 is a national holiday, similar to July 4th in the United States. Banks, government offices and about half of the businesses in Puerto Vallarta will be closed in observance of the holiday, which allows locals and visitors alike to enjoy the traditional civic-military parade, which will start at 8:30 am at the corner of Guerrero and Morelos streets and end at Hidalgo Park, and feature members of the Army, Navy and National Guard, along with school contingents and groups from Citizen Security, Civil Protection and Firefighters.
For those looking to extend the celebrations, Puerto Vallarta’s restaurants and bars offer a variety of festive experiences throughout the month, honoring 214 years of Mexico’s independence.
¡Viva México! Celebrate the spirit of freedom and the rich culture of Puerto Vallarta all month!