Throughout the year local bands play Sunday and Thursday on the main bandstand at City Hall near the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Whale Watching season in Banderas Bay is during the winter from December to April. Watch the magnificent migrating humpack whales, you will see many parents with their calves. Local tour operators are licensed by the National Environmental Agency to ensure that whale watching is respectful towards the mammals.

Sea Turtle Preservation happens from May to December. Puerto Vallarta has implemented a community-wide preservation program that combines protected nurseries for turtle eggs with educational projects. Turtle liberation ceremonies are held daily during the season at participating hotel beaches. In addition, Vallarta eco-tour operators host nighttime tours to research camps designed to protect the eggs, where visitors witness sea turtles laying eggs in their natural habitat and the release of the baby turtles as they make their initial voyage to the sea. Puerto Vallarta’s coastline is among the most important breeding grounds in the world for numerous endangered species of sea turtles. The Puerto Vallarta Sea Turtle Protection Project is a joint effort of the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Association, city government and federal authorities.

January

New Years Day – January 1
New Years Day is a national holiday so banks and government buildings will be closed. For details on celebrating New Years Eve, see December 31 .

Three Kings Day / El Día de Los Reyes (Feast of the Epiphany) - early January
On Three Kings Day, children receive gifts from the Three Wise Men. This celebration signifies the end of the Christmas season.

Estero SOS – mid-January
For one week in January a community of Nuevo Vallarta artists present an art show to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the El Salado mangrove estuary in Banderas Bay. The exhibition features arty by Nelly Barquet, Evelyne Boren, Ada Colorina, Angelina Kyba, Meg Munro, Federico Leon de la Vega and more. The El Salado Estuary is very important to the abundant natural ecosystem of the area as it is part of the ecosystem that feeds the whales, dolphins, turtles and fish that call Banderas Bay home. The El Salado Estuary is the largest one in the bay and it is constantly threatened by construction from the expanding tourist area.

Make A Wish Golf Tournament - late January
Golfers are invited to the Make a Wish Golf Tournament at the Flamingo's Golf Tournament. This foundation raises money to grant wishes to terminally ill children in Mexico.

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February

La Candeleria (Candlemas)
During the first week of February, the end of the Christmas season is marked with the Candlemas celebration in homes and at local restaurants, involving a meal of tamales and hot chocolate.

Constitution Day – February 5
Speeches and ceremonies commemorating this National Holiday. This is a national holiday so banks and government buildings will be closed.

Friendship Day / Valentines Day – February 14
In Mexico friendship as well as love is celebrated on this day. Enjoy special menus and live music at many Vallarta area residents.

Día de la Bandera (Flag Day) – Febuary 24
In mid-late February, the streets are filled with Mexican flag vendors, and on February 24 everyone places a flag on their cars while children present a commemorative ceremony.

National Charro Competition – Febuary 20-23
This is an annual competition between Mexico's best teams.

Regattas
In February and March Banderas Bay fills with sails as a series of regattas takes full advantage of the gentle breezes, clear skies and calm waters surrounding Puerto Vallarta.

San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Yacht Race
The San Diego Yacht Club hosts an annual race from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta.

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March

Regattas
In February and March Banderas Bay fills with sails as a series of regattas takes full advantage of the gentle breezes, clear skies and calm waters surrounding Puerto Vallarta.

Carnival Day – first Tuesday of March
During this party with masks, children parade the streets wearing colorful and fun masks.

Saint Patrick's Day – March 17
Saint Patrick's Day celebrations carry into Mexico including green beer and everything Irish.

Benito Juarez's Birthday – March 21
The birthday of Benito Juarez is a national holiday honouring the president and leader of the 19th-Century Reform movement. Schools, banks and government offices are closed.

Lasser Sailing Show
During the last half of March, the waters around Cancun are filled with sailing vessels of all description.

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April

Film Festival
During this 5 day annual festival over 30 productions including movies, short films, documentaries and Spanish cinema will be presented for your appreciation.

Semana Santa (Holy Week and Easter)
To the Mexican people, these events are more sacred than Christmas and are celebrated in a big way throughout the country. Many families go on holiday together and beaches are a popular destination. Look for Passion Plays, colourful confetti filled eggs and religious processions. Reserve your room early, this is also Spring Break!

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May

Cinco de Mayo – May 5
This national holiday commemorates Mexico's defeat of the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Cancun explodes with patriotic parades and fireworks. And it's a good excuse to have fun! Schools, government offices and some banks are closed.

Cultural Festival
Held during the last two weeks of May, the Puerto Vallarta Cultural Festival features art exhibitions, music, folk ballet, theater, and Mariachi bands.

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June

Local Music from Clark College
Throughout the month of June free concerts are held by Clark College. Enjoy the excellent women's choir, concert band, vocal jazz, jazz ensemble and children's theater.

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September

State of the Union Address – early September
The liquor doesn't flow on this day until the President finishes his lengthy four or five hour speech about how the country is doing. By then everyone is thirsty for a cerveza!

Charro Day – September 14
Mexican people parade through town wearing beautifully decorated jackets, pants and sombreros on beautiful horses. Festivities continue throughout the day and evening at various charro rings, including bullfights, calf roping, food and dancing.

Dia de la Independencia (Independence Eve / Day) – September 15-16
On the night of the 15 September, Mexico's Independence celebrations begin with El Grito, meaning "the Shout", which is a reenactment of the cry for independence made by Padre Miguel Hidalgo. Parades, music and fireworks help locals and tourists celebrate this day. Festivities carry on to the 16th with parades and festivities again.

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October

Eve of All Souls Day
Residents bring flowers and candles to the graves of loved ones on the eve of October 31. The real festivities can be enjoyed on November 1 and 2.

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November

Día de Todos Santos (All Souls Day) – November 1
On November 1, Mexicans pay homage to the souls of the children who have passed on. Tradition states that the departed descend from the heavens on this day, so family members prepare by leaving sugar skeletons, skulls and treats on altars custom-designed for the occasion. Each year City Hall offers a special altar exhibition, as does the Cultural Center on Rio Cuale Island. Restaurants, nightclubs and stores also create altars.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – November 2
Families hold a graveside vigil on this night, or at least leave their favorite food and drink (usually tequila) on a special altar constructed in their home or on the tomb of their departed ancestor. Bakeries are filled with sweets shaped in the symbols of death, and flowers and memorials fill the cemetery. Particularly popular are marigolds, the sacred Aztec flower that represents death.

Puerto Vallarta Film Festival – mid-November
The Puerto Vallarta Film Festival brings a diverse selection of films to the along with many national and international luminaries. The festival committee has selected a variety of films from big studio premiers to environmental films, documentaries, and homages to honorees. John Huston's film "The Night of the Iguana" which put Puerto Vallarta on the map will be featuered.

Puerto Vallarta Art Festival – mid-November
Each November, the exceptional Festival de las Artes takes place, featuring a month-long series of art gallery shows and open-air, beachside theater performances. An impressive range of artwork is displayed from artists throughout Mexico. All events are free to the public.

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – November 20
Celebrate the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1917 with a parade througt downtown. Banks, stores, offices and schools are closed.

Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival
This event showcases a spicy blend of culinary talents between the local chefs at participating restaurants and over 20 guest chefs from internationally acclaimed restaurants and hotels throughout the world. Gourmet cooking classes, sunset wine tasting and special gourmet menus at all participating venues available only during the festival.

Inertnational Sailfish Tournament – November 20-22
One of the most prestigious tournaments on the West Coast hosts hundreds of coastal and inland fishermen from across the globe. Prizes are awarded to the boat with the largest sailfish, marlin, wahoo and dorado caught that comply with local regulations.

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December

Guadalupe Processions – December 1-12
During these twelve days, locals make daily processions to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe downtown. Almost every business, hotel, restaurant, neighborhood and civic association makes a procession to the church for a special mass they have devoted to the Virgin. For the larger groups, these processions resemble a small parade, with folkloric dancers, floats, singing and even fireworks following their brief mass.

Whale Watching season begins
December marks the opening of whale season in the Bay of Banderas. Until April these mammals will enter the bay to mate, give birth, and nurse their calves. The humpback reaches up to fifty feet in length and weighs as much as 90,000 pounds. The calves will weight about 1,500-2,000 pounds at birth.

Navidad (Christmas Week) – December 16 - 25
This is a period called the “posada,” or procession when the residents celebrate the season with a variety of street fairs, piñata breaking, passion plays called “pastorelas,” and a feast in honour of the Virgin de la Soledad. Christmas is celebrated with mass and family gatherings. Banks, shops and offices are closed.

New Years Eve – December 31
To celebrate New Years Eve, two blocks of Olas Altas in Puerto Vallarta’s southern Romantic Zone are blocked off for a very festive New Years celebration. Enjoy singing and dancing with a DJ and performers. At midnight you’ll light sparklers and head to the beach (about a block and a half from Olas Altas) to watch the fireworks above the bay. The festivities usually finish up around 3-4 am.