Acapulco never needs an excuse for a party - like all of Mexico it loves its fiestas. As well as the national holidays and fiestas, such as Holy Week (Semana Santa), there's the Festivales de Acapulco, the Acapulco Air Show, and lots of smaller religious celebrations, regattas and fishing tournaments held throughout the year.
November
Acapulco Air Show
Nov
festival/event
Flight fans shouldn't miss this show, which takes place over three days around the start of November. Everything from biplanes to F-16s, plus wing-walking, parachute teams, precision aerobatics and high-speed fighter maneuvers over the bay.
Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day)
Nov 20
official holiday
October
Día de la Raza (commemoration of Columbus' discovery of the New World)
Oct 12
official holiday
Día de la Raza
Oct 12
official holiday
Commemoration of Columbus' discovery of the New World.
May
Festivales de Acapulco
May
festival/event
Held for one week in May, this event features Mexican and international music at venues around town.
Día del Trabajo (Labor Day)
May 1
official holiday
Cinco de Mayo (1862 victory celebration)
May 5
official holiday
Cinco de Mayo
May 5
official holiday
Anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French at Puebla.
April
Tianguis Turístico
Apr
festival/event
Mexico's major annual tourism trade fair (www.tianguisturistico.com) is held the second or third week in April.
December
Virgen de Guadalupe
Dec 11
Dec 12
festival/event
The festival for Mexico's favorite figure is celebrated the entire night of the 12th with fireworks, folk dances and street processions accompanied by small marching bands. The processions converge at the cathedral in the zócalo, where children gather, dressed in costumes.
Día de Navidad (Christmas Day)
Dec 25
official holiday
January
Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)
Jan 1
official holiday
September
Día de la Independencia (Independence Day)
Sep 16
official holiday
February
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day)
Feb 5
official holiday
Día de la Bandera (Day of the Flag)
Feb 24
official holiday
Día de la Bandera (Day of the National Flag)
Feb 24
official holiday
March
Semana Santa
Mar/Apr
festival/event
Easter Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos). This is probably the busiest time of year for tourism in Acapulco.
Festival Francés (French Festival)
Mar
festival/event
This festival, which began in 2004, celebrates French food, cinema, music and literature.
Día de Nacimiento de Benito Juárez (Anniversary of Benito Juárez's birth)
Mar 21
official holiday
Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
Mar/Apr
official holiday
Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday)
Mar/Apr
official holiday
Día de Nacimiento de Benito Juárez
Mar 21
official holiday
Anniversary of Benito Juárez' birth.