The small town of El Cedral in the south of Cozumel is getting ready for its popular annual festival. This year the Festival of El Cedral and the Fiestas of Santa Cruz will be held from Friday, April 25 to Monday, May 5.

Folkloric dances at El Cedral.

The 2008 program was officially announced last week by the new Mayor of Cozumel, Juan Carlos González Hernández.

The event is said to have been started over 150 years ago by Casimiro Cárdenas, one of a group that fled to the island from the village of Saban, on the mainland, after an attack during the War of the Castes.

Every year revellers enjoy fairs, traditional feasts, rodeos, bullfights, music and competitions - not to mention a few bottles of ice cold Mexican beer!

See our Event Calendar for more information and this year's program of events.