First go to yucatanliving.com and look at their interactive calendar of events. You will find many things that are going on in Merida during your dates.
Here are a few weekly events that I like
Free Walking tour every morning at 10 - at Casa Montejo on the main Square, Calle 63 between 60 and 62 Look for the Green Umbrella.
Mondays - Vaqueria
Performances by the Ballet Folklorico de Merida, accompanied by the Orchestra Jaranera. This celebration has its roots in the 18th century, when cattle ranching was the main source of wealth on the Yucatan Peninsula. Ranchers held huge fiestas to show off their wealth during branding time. The dances were adapted by the wives of the cowboys and soon developed into the signature dances of Yucatan.
Preview: Monday's Vaqueria
Location: In front of the Municipal Palace (the building with the clock), Calle 62 x 63
Time: The first note of “Aires Yucatecos” begins at 9:00 PM, every Monday
Admission: Free
Tuesday- Musical Memories
This weekly dance has been held every Tuesday night since Valentine's Day, 1984. Come out and enjoy the Big Band sounds of the 1940's, performed by members of the wonderful Jaranera Orchestra. Best of all, this is a great place to practice your chachacha and your mambo, or just sit and watch others enjoy dancing under the stars. You can even have dinner at a cocina economica while you watch!
Preview: A Salsa Night in Parque de Santiago
Location: Parque de Santiago, Calle 72 x 59
Time: 8:30 PM, every Tuesday
Admission: Free
Thursday - Serenata Yucateca (Yucatecan Serenade)
This is the defining serenade of Merida and has been performed every Thursday night for over 40 years. Parque Santa Lucia, home to the Altar to Trova is the center of Merida's romantic heart. If you are a visitor, make sure to see this particular serenade. It is well worth becoming a part of your first memory of Merida.
Preview: Trova and Merida with Los Juglares
Location: Parque de Santa Lucia, Calle 60 x 55
Time: 9:00 PM, every Thursday
Admission: Free
Saturday - Tours of the Cathedral in English
The tour includes the choir loft, the north belltower, parts of the roof and more! This news is very exciting because these spaces were previously off limits. We often forget that we live with the second oldest Cathedral in the New World, the Cathedral of San Ildefonso. Merida’s cathedral is built on top of the Mayan city of T’ho. Many of the stones used in the construction of the cathedral and other old structures in Merida were taken from the temples of this ancient city. Some of us pass the Cathedral every day and hardly take notice of it anymore. These tours will be a way for English speakers to learn more about the Cathedral and better appreciate its role in the history of Yucatan.
Time: The tour in English is on Saturdays at 10:00 AM. The tour in Spanish is on Saturdays at 4:00 PM.
Admission: $50 pesos per person with tickets available inside the main doors of the Cathedral.
Operas at the Movies
Operas are presented on the first Saturday of every month. This has become one of the most well attended events in the City and we hope to see everyone there!
Location: Movie theatre at the Mundo Maya Museum by Siglo XXI
Time: Brief opera talk 11:30 AM, Opera begins 12:00 PM, every Saturday
Admission: Free
Slow Foods Farmer’s Market
Organic produce, organic eggs, organic coffee, miscellaneous organic goods, cut flowers and potted plants, artisanal cheeses, ethnic foods homemade baked goods, homemade pasta, sauces, dips, preserves, organic honey, organic meats and much more! A great place to meet fellow expatriates as well.
Location: Avenida Reforma (Calle 72) x Avenida Colon, García Ginéres
Time: 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM, every Saturday
Admission: Free
Noche Mexicana
Each Saturday night, there is a performance on an outdoor stage at the beginning of Paseo de Montejo, often from a musical or dance group from another part of Mexico. Chairs are set up for the audience, but there is often standing room only. Booths selling food and handicrafts are set up in the park. The purpose of this performance is to bring all of Mexico to Merida and to our tourists from all over the world.
Location: At the beginning of Paseo de Montejo, at the Remate (corner of Calle 47)
Time: 8:00 PM, every Saturday
Admission: Free]
En El Corazón de Mérida (In the Heart of Merida)
Live music, including jazz, salsa and trova, held on various stages around the Plaza Grande. Many of the streets leading to the Plaza are closed to all but foot traffic, and the restaurants and bars put their chairs and tables outside in the streets. This is a night designed for that Saturday night date, but they’ve got all of the shops open for business too.
Location: Plaza Grande, Calle 61 at Calle 60
Time: 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM, every Saturday
Admission: Free
Sunday (Domingo)
Bici-Ruta
The Bici-Ruta begins early, at 8:00 AM, though we see them setting up as early as 7:00 AM. It ends at 12:30 PM. The route usually begins at Ermita de Santa Isabel, with stops at Monumento a la Patria, Paseo de Montejo x 33 y Ave. Cupules, Paseo de Montejo x 29, Paseo de Montejo x Ave. del deportista, and Paseo de Montejo x 42. Along the way, participants can participate in health education programs, music and dancing, art and sculpture classes, soccer games and more. If anyone wants to pick up a chess game, one can be found on the sidewalk outside the Museum of Anthropology on Paseo de Montejo at 9:00 AM. There is a complete listing of activities (they change weekly) on the Bici-Ruta website.
Location: Begins at Parque de la Ermita, runs through the Plaza Grande and ends at the glorietta on Prolongacion Paseo de Montejo (by Burger King), also in Ciudad Caucel around Animaya/
Time: 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, every Sunday
Admission: Free
Merida En Domingo
Sunday downtown is a spectacular tradition in Merida. Start at the center of the city, where booths are set up all the Plaza Grande. Inside the plaza, you can find huipiles, guayaberas, honey, dolls, bags, tee-shirts and more. Everything is made for sale by the local people of Yucatan. The outer ring of booths sell food, such as marquesitas, tacos, cochinita, ice cream (try the coconut), fruit, drinks, etc. If the crowd starts to get to you, wander up Calle 60 to Santa Lucia Park, at Calle 55, where you can also find antiques, old books and other curiosities. At that lovely park, there is also live music, lots of dancing, and more great food.
Location: in the Centro Historico: Plaza Grande, Parque Santa Lucia (Cale 60 x 55) and MACAY Museum (Calle 60 x 61 y 63).
Time: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, every Sunday
Admission: Free
Sunday Art on Paseo de Montejo
Every Sunday there are artists displaying and selling their fine art along Paseo Montejo. There are usually 20 or more artists showing their paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints and more. This is your chance to meet the artists, see what’s new and maybe pick up something great for those big empty walls in your new renovated home in Merida or that house by the beach.
Location: Paseo de Montejo in front of VIPS (on the southeast corner of Avenida Colon, across from WalMart)
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, every Sunday
Admission: Free
The Yucatan Symphony - Every Friday evening at 9pm & Sunday afternoon at 12. The symphony here is really good and ridiculously cheap 80 to 150 pesos for tickets. If you have never been to a symphony here is your chance to hear beautiful music in a pretty historic theater. They get visiting musicians from all over the world and the resident members of the symphony are also international. http://www.sinfonicadeyucatan.com.mx/inicio.php#
