Puerto Vallarta is honoring its rich history with ten days of cultural events, art, music, and spectacular air shows to celebrate its 107th anniversary as a municipality and 57th as a city. The festivities began on May 21 and will continue through May 31, bringing locals and visitors together for a meaningful celebration of community and tradition.
Located along the Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta’s scenic bay has long been a gathering place. Before becoming a city, the area supported pre-Hispanic settlements that traded with Spanish explorers. In the 1800s, economic life centered in the silver-rich mountain towns of Cuale, Mascota, and San Sebastián, which relied on salt from the coast to process their silver.
In 1851, boatman Guadalupe Sanchez arrived from Cihuatlán and founded a trading post at the mouth of the Cuale River. He named the new settlement “Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe” in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, marking his arrival on December 12. As the town grew, its residents sought official recognition. On May 31, 1918, the Jalisco State Congress granted municipal status and renamed the town Puerto Vallarta, after then-Jalisco Governor Don Ignacio Luis Vallarta.
To celebrate this milestone, Puerto Vallarta has launched a full schedule of artistic and civic activities. According to José Juan Velázquez, secretary general of the City Council, at least one event is taking place each day in coordination with the Vallarta Institute of Culture. The goal is to highlight local talent and deepen connections between residents and visitors.
The lineup includes book presentations, art exhibits, and local talent shows, all reflecting the city’s unique identity. The main celebration on May 31 begins with a formal ceremony at 2:30 pm, followed by a musical performance from the Banda de Música de la Sedena at 3:00 pm, in collaboration with Puerto Vallarta’s 41st Military Zone.
At 4:00 pm, municipal government authorities, headed by Mayor Luis Munguía, will present the 2025 Premio Vallarta awards at Los Arcos del Malecón. The highest accolades given to the people of Puerto Vallarta, these awards are given to Vallartenses who have acted for the benefit of the community in one way or another.
At 5:00 pm, the Mexican Air Force will take to the skies over the Malecón with a parachute jump and a 25-minute performance by the Águilas Aztecas acrobatic team, featuring up to eight aircraft performing thrilling aerial maneuvers.
As evening falls, the festivities will continue with fireworks, a cake-cutting ceremony, and a surprise concert around midnight – an exciting finale to a ten-day celebration of Puerto Vallarta’s past, present, and future.
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