Cozumel Events and Public Holidays


Mexican National Holidays and local Cozumel events calendar.

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1 January - New Year's Day - National Holiday

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6 January - Three Kings' Day - Unofficial Holiday

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2 February - Candlemas - Unofficial Holiday

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5 February - Constitution Day - National Holiday

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24 February - Flag Day - National Holiday

Mexicans remember national heritage and the meaning of the red, white and green bandera every year, on February 24th.

The celebration marks the victory of Mexicans in the War of Independence against the Spanish, a struggle that lasted 11 years.

 

Dia de la Bandera
The Mexican flag.

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February 2024 - Cozumel Carnival

The dates for Cozumel Carnival 2024 are confirmed and the biggest celebrations and parades are on the nights of Saturday, February 10; Sunday, February 11 and Fat Tuesday, February 13, 2024. It's the 150th Cozumel Carnival, so expect it to be big!


Register here for our free news updates to receive more Carnival information by email as and when it's available.

The island's spectacular annual Mardis Gras has 150 years of history and is held around February every year, although the exact dates vary. 

Cozumel Carnival 2022

In the weeks before the main events there is also an exciting program of "pre-Carnival" warm-up events, including the presentation and election of Carnival Kings and Queens, with dancing, performances, and live music from top singers and groups. To get an idea, see the full Cozumel Carnival program from 2020 published below.

Cozumel Carnival 2016

'Fat Tuesday' concludes events every year with dazzling technicolor processions along Cozumel's downtown oceanfront. Costumed revellers battle in dancing competitions and bands play live music around the city.

People line the street, dancing with the performers and catching gifts that are showered on them. After the oceanfront extravaganza, the music keeps playing and parties continue well into the night.

Then, on the Wednesday after Fat Tuesday, the closing ceremony is held with the traditional burning of Juan Carnaval.

Cozumel Carnival 2024 Program

Wed, Feb 7

Grand Opening and Coronation of Carnival Kings and Queens.

7:30pm, Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

Thu, Feb 8

Group Competitions - Kindergarten and Infant School Categories. Presentation of the Special King and Queen.

6pm, Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

Fri, Feb 9

Costume Competitions - Baby, Kindergarten and Infant School Categories, and Pets.

10am, Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

 

Group Competitions - Youth and Open Categories. Live music from Alma Libre.

10pm, Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

Sat, Feb 10

First Grand Carnival Parade.

6pm, Oceanfront Downtown

 

Live music.

9pm, Downtown Plaza - Parque Benito Juarez

 

Live music from Grupo Cañaveral.

10pm, Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

Sun, Feb 11

Second Grand Carnival Parade.

6pm, Oceanfront Downtown *FREE*

 

Live music.

9pm, Downtown Plaza - Parque Benito Juarez

 

Live music from Los Amigos Invisibles.

10pm, Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

Mon, Feb 12

Ceviche Festival

3pm, Downtown Plaza - Parque Benito Juarez

 

Paint and Run Race.

5pm, Downtown Plaza - Parque Benito Juarez

 

Live music.

7pm, Downtown Plaza - Parque Benito Juarez

 

Grand Ball. Live music from Super Lamas.

9pm,  Carnival Palace, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

Tue, Feb 13

FAT TUESDAY - Final Grand Carnival Parade.

6pm, Oceanfront Downtown

 

Grand Finale Concert. Live music from Maluma.

After the parade, Carnival Terraza, APIQROO

Wed, Feb 14

Awards Ceremony and Traditional Burning of Juan Carnaval

8pm, City Hall Park - Parque Quintana Roo

More Cozumel Carnival News and Photos

Cozumel Celebrates Caribbean Carnival

Carnival Party Explodes In Cozumel

Counting Down to Cozumel Carnival

Cozumel Carnival 2020 Dates Set

5 Corking Cozumel Carnival Close-Ups

5 Cracking Carnival Photos To Kickoff The Party

Carnival Captivates Cozumel

New Year, New Carnival!

Cozumel Carnival Program Confirmed

Cozumel Carnival Is Coming!

Let Cozumel Carnival Begin!

Amazing Finale To Cozumel Carnival

Battle For Carnival King And Queen Begins

Cozumel Carnival, Fat Tuesday 2014, Google+ Photo Album Cozumel Carnival 2014 Dates Set

Cozumel Carnival, Fat Tuesday 2013, Facebook Photo Album

Spectacular Climax To Cozumel Carnival 2013

Cozumel Carnival Countdown Begins

Amazing End To Cozumel Carnival

Cozumel Carnival Kicks Off!

Cozumel Carnival, Fat Tuesday 2012, Facebook Photo Album

Paulina Rubio performing at Cozumel Carnival, Facebook Photo Album

Cozumel Carnival Countdown Begins

Glittering Grand Finale To Carnival

Who Will Be Carnival King And Queen?

Cozumel Carnival 2011 Program Confirmed

Carnival 2011 Dates Confirmed

Massive Cozumel Carnival Party

Take Part In Cozumel Carnival 2010!

Cozumel Carnival Fever Is Back!

Spectacular Carnival Finale.

Carnival King and Queen Elected.

Pop Diva Opens Cozumel Carnival.

Carnival Fever Begins.

Fantastic Fat Tuesday.

Carnival Coronation 2008.

Cozumel Carnival King and Queen.

Carnival 2008 Program Announced.

Carnival 2008 Dates Confirmed.

130 Years Of Carnival History.

Mayor's 2007 Carnival Message.

Emotional Carnival 2007 Closing Night.

Dancing For A Carnival Dream.

First Carnival 2007 Parade.

Carnival Crazy Cozumel 2007!

Get Ready for Cozumel Carnival 2007.

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21 March - Benito Juárez' Birthday - National Holiday

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Late March - Spring Equinox


This important date - when the length of day is exactly equal to night - is of historical religious importance to the Mayans and other historic American cultures.

It is famously celebrated at Chichen Itza Mayan ruins on the mainland, where the alignment of the sun causes a shadow in the form of a serpent to appear on the steps of the main pyramid. Add a comment

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March / April - Holy Week and Easter

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1 May - Labor Day - National Holiday

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April/May 2022 - El Cedral Festival, Cozumel

This annual event — with the full name the Festival of El Cedral and the Fiestas of Santa Cruz — was cancelled in 2021 but is expected to be back bigger and better in 2022.

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5 May - Cinco de Mayo - Unofficial Holiday

 

Mexicans remember the Battle of Puebla every year on May 5th.

The 5 de Mayo marks the defeat of the French army in the Mexican city of Puebla in 1862.

Celebrated widely by Mexicans in the United States, the day is not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico, but voluntary.

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10 May - Mothers' Day - National Holiday

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May/June 2022 - Sacred Mayan Canoe Crossing

The 'Sacred Mayan Crossings' take place in May or June each year. In 2021 it has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but the dates for 2022 will be announced later this year.

Hundreds of oarsmen and women in Mayan canoes, paddle from the mainland to Cozumel and back.

The 2 day event recreates ancient ritual pilgrimages undertaken by the original inhabitants of Yucatán to Polé (Xcaret) and then on by canoe to Cuzamil (Cozumel).

The celebration begins with a pilgrimage to Xcaret. All night long, guests participate in rituals and supplications to the goddess Ix Chel, as they wait for the first rays of dawn, when they send the canoes off to Cozumel.

 

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1 September - Presidential Address to the Nation

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16 September - Independence Day - National Holiday


Mexican Independence Day remembers the Grito de Dolores or Independencia, a call for Mexicans to rebel against the Spanish, made by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810.

Hidalgo was parish priest in the town of Dolores, from where the Grito - or Cry - takes its name. It is sometimes misinterpreted as 'The Cry of Pain', a literal translation from Spanish. Add a comment

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29 September - Feast of San Miguel, Cozumel

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Late September - Autumn Equinox, Chichén Itzá

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12 October - Día de la Raza - National Holiday


Called the Día de la Raza, or 'Day of Race', in Mexico, the holiday is commemorated by millions across Latin America and Spain.

Cristóbal Colón, better known in English as Christopher Columbus, landed on the island of Guanahani on October 12, 1492 - the date that is now remembered. Add a comment

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1 November - All Saints' Day - National Holiday

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1-2 November - Day of the Dead - Unofficial Holiday

Cozumel islanders celebrate Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, along with the rest of Mexico.

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20 November - Revolution Day - National Holiday


On November 20, 1910, Francisco I. Madero called Mexicans to arms against the dictatorship of General Porfirio Díaz Mori, who had been in power for 40 years.

The ensuing battles and struggles for power lasted some 20 years. A revolutionary period when alliances and leaders kept changing, and attempts at stable government failed. Add a comment

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19 November 2023 - Ironman Competition

The world-famous athletic competition, Ironman, is planned for the fourteenth year running in Cozumel on Sunday, November 19, 2023.

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12 December - Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe - Unofficial Holiday

Thousands of people join processions in Cozumel for this event, as they celebrate one of Mexico's largest religious events.

The pilgrims honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, an icon of the Catholic Virgin Mary who is said to have appeared near Mexico City over 470 years ago.

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16-24 December - Las Posadas / La Rama

 

Visitors arriving to Cozumel in the run up for Christmas have the chance to learn about two local seasonal traditions.

In true Christmas spirit, islanders celebrate with 9 nights of songs, called Las Posadas, while children recite their own carols and carry decorated branches, in a similar custom known as cantando la rama.

Las Posadas, or "the lodgings", is the name given to the 9 nights from December 16 to 24, when the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem is marked.

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