When planning your vacation, be sure to check out the Cozumel Events Calendar to see if there are any interesting festivities happening on the island that correspond with your vacation. Cozumeleños, like all Mexican populations, love their big celebrations. Throughout the year there are many religious and national festivities held around the island. Celebrating with the locals is a great cultural experience filled with amazing food, fun parades and incredible tradition.

Carnaval de Cozumel is one of the biggest festivals on the island. Normally held in February in correlation to the Catholic holiday of Ash Wednesday; Carnaval festivities in Cozumel are like a “family-friendly” Rio de Janeiro. The entire island participates in the Carnaval events with colorful-costumed dances, rhythm-filled parades and parties filling the streets. The highlight of the weekend is the Cozumel Carnival Parade. The parades take place in the evenings over the entire weekend, saving the best for last on Tuesday, which culminates the end of the celebration.

There are plenty of other things to do in Cozumel when it comes to festivities. The festival of El Cedral or Santa Cruz (held in May in the sleepy village of Cedral Cozumel) is a 150-year-old tradition honoring the cross. Other big happenings throughout the year include: the Mexican Independence Day and Patrón de San Miguel in September, the Day of the Dead (a remembrance of the deceased) in November and of course Christmas (Noche Buena) in December.

Over the last decade Cozumel has become a great stage for some big international and local events. One of the largest events, Ironman Cozumel, brings over 3,000 triathletes and their families to compete in the world-class, grueling triathlon. Held at the end of November, even spectators are left awe-inspired by this amazing event. Considering that Cozumel is considered the best diving destination in the Americas, it’s not surprising that there is an event specifically for divers. Scubafest Cozumel, held in December, draws divers from all over the world to celebrate marine life, recognize the achievements of ocean environmentalists and dive the JM Cousteau Route.

Other main events that happen throughout the year include the Aeroshow Cozumel in April and the Cozumel Fishing Tournament in May.

Festivities and Events Calendar