Many international visitors come to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo during the winter months, but spring and summer are when it is the most beautiful! There are many activities and special events this month, and of course, you can always have a “beach day” in our town!
Continuing through Sunday, May 17, EXPO FERIA (EXPO FAIR) at Unidad Deportiva (Sports Center) in Zihuatanejo: Come out and enjoy a variety of activities, workshops, music, and fun. For more information, call (755) 554-6223. Tickets are on sale at the Unidad Deportiva (sports center) in centro Zihuatanejo.
Friday, May 1, INTERNATIONAL LABOR DAY (Día Internaciónal de Los Trabajadores): On “May Day,” Mexico and the world commemorate the struggle of workers for labor rights and freedom to organize its unions. Labor Day is celebrated in Canada and the USA in September. In Mexico, May 1st is a national holiday when the flag should be hoisted at full mast. All banks and governments offices are closed. Most companies have some type of celebration to honor their workers.
Friday – Sunday, May 1, 2, and 3, INTERNATIONAL SAILFISH TOURNAMENT at Zihuatanejo Pier: Zihuatanejo was originally a fishing village before it began to modernize for tourism. Zihuatanejo Bay is considered to be one of the best places in the world for sport fishing. Sailfish weighing up to 80 kilos can be found for most of the year. Fishermen and spectators are invited to join this annual tournament. For details and registration, go to: http://sociedadcooperativatenientejoseazueta.com/ or call: (755) 554-2056.
Saturday, May 2, 7 – 11 pm, PROYECTANDO ZIHUATANEJO at the LOOT in Zihuatanejo: A lot of people working together can make a big impact. That’s why LOOT is hosting “Proyectando Zihuatanejo” for an evening to assist with two valuable causes. First, there will be screening the trailer for a locally-made documentary all about the people of Zihuatanejo called Allá en la Costa Grande. There will be a silent auction for works of art donated by various artists to support this cause. Next, there will be a celebration for Kristal Hernandez, who is currently the women’s surf champion of Mexico! There will be a raffle ($50 pesos) for a SUPER brand 6’0” surfboard to help send her to the ISA World Surfing Games in Nicaragua at the end of May. The evening will end with a screening of the Globe surf film, Strange Rumblings in Shangri-La, complete with lounge seating and popcorn. For more information, visit: http://www.loot.mx/weekends/proyectando-zihuatanejo.
Sunday, May 3, HOLY CROSS DAY (Día de la Santa Cruz): In México, it is the traditional feast day of construction workers. The builders usually place a wooden cross adorned with flowers and blessed by a priest on the top of the facade of the building site.
Tuesday, May 5, COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF PUEBLA (Conmemoración de la Batalla de Puebla): The “Cinco de Mayo” holiday celebrates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army in “The Battle of Puebla” in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday, celebrated in the state capital of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is more commonly recognized in American cities with large Mexican populations. Many people mistakenly think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, but the national holiday is September 16th.
Sunday, May 10, MOTHER’S DAY: Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 10 in most of Latin America and the second Sunday in May in the USA, Canada and Cuba. This year, the celebration falls on the same day! No matter where you are in the world, don’t forget to stop and call your Mother! In Mexico, “la madre” is revered. Mother’s Day in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is an extraordinarily special day. The beach, restaurants and streets are overflowing with families celebrating. The local stores area packed with colorful flowers. The bakeries display very grand and beautiful “Happy Mother’s Day” cakes. Thank you to all of the Mothers of the World!
Listen to this video. It will make you laugh! I’M THE MOM!
Friday, May 15, TEACHERS DAY (DÍA DEL MAESTRO) in Mexico: Every May 15th México salutes its teachers and professors. This date became a national tradition in 1918 and has continued. Take a mango to your favorite teacher!
Thursday, May 21, WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY: The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better. Since 2011, the Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Zihuatanejo’s tourism university has been collaborating with Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, on a cultural diversity project about Afro-Mexicans. Visit: http://www.FreedomPathways.org.
Saturday, May 23, STUDENTS DAY (DÍA DE ESTUDIANTE) in Mexico: Spend some time with a special student in your life!
Saturday, May 23, TELEVISA SPORTS INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo: Triathletes will again compete in Ixtapa’s International Triathlon to be televised on Televisa Sports. Sportsmen of Mexico, Chile, the United States, Costa Rica, and other nations will participate in the event that is part of the Continental Cup with award points for the classification of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the Pan-American (NJT). Categories are: children’s (9-11, 12-13 and 14-15 years), Sprint (16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45, and older), Olympic, Relay and Elite. The Sprint distances will be: 750 m swimming, 20 km bike and 5 km of running; Olympic categories will swim 1.5 kilometers, bike 40 km and run 10 kilometers.
Swimmers will emerge in front of the beach at the Pacific Hotel and the transition will be located in front of Emporio and Fontan Hotels. The bicycle route will be through the residential areas of Ixtapa to Playa Linda, and the race will take place at Paseo de el Palmar and the area of the nursery.
Ixtapa residents beware! The streets in the residential areas of Ixtapa will be closed for the event and you cannot transport by car. Get groceries and refreshments ahead of time and plan to walk to the Triathlon!
For more information about Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and surrounding areas, see: