San Pancho Living

Events include cherished traditions, fundraisers for local nonprofits and entertaining celebrations. All are delightful ways to jump into San Pancho living. For full moon dates, scroll to the end.

ANNUAL EVENTS

September-October 2018

Sept. 15: San Pancho’s Mexico Independence Day parade

Sept. 16: Mexico Independence Day

Sept. 26-Oct. 4: San Pancho Days. San Francisco, fondly called San Pancho, honors its namesake Saint Francis of Assisi during this nine-day festival. Celebrated for more than 40 years, San Pancho Days includes food, drinks, music, rodeos, fireworks, parades and colorful traditions.

Late October: Halloween Pet Parade. Proceeds benefit the San Pancho Spray and Neuter Clinic

La Catrina has become a symbol of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead

November 2018

1-2 or TBD: San Pancho’s Dia de los Muertos and La Catrina parade. In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead,) is a time to honor and reconnect with deceased friends, family members and ancestors in a festive spirit of remembrance and celebration.

La Catrina, created in 1910 by lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posada as the Mexican Revolution was beginning, became a symbol of people ashamed of their Indian origins and wore European clothing and makeup to make their skin look whiter. La Catrina has come to symbolize Dia de los Muertos and Mexican’s willingness to laugh at death, as it makes everyone equal in the end.

22-25: San Pancho Polo Cup, La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club

La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club’s new facility in San Pancho hosts international matches

December 2018

7-9: Riviera Nayarit Polo Cup, La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club

18: Christmas Posada, Entreamigos

25: Christmas Day

Dates TBD: Annual San Pancho Collective Cultural Festival

31: New Year’s Eve

January 2019

1: New Year’s Day

February 2019

San Pancho’s Music Festival features musicians from Mexico, the U.S., Chile, Guatemala, France and Germany

22-24: San Pancho’s 18th Annual Music Festival. Three evenings of vibrant, eclectic performances showcasing professional and excellent amateur musicians from the Puerto Vallarta region plus the U.S., Chile, Guatemala, France and Germany. 5:00 pm up to to 11:00 pm at Plaza del Sol. No admission charge; performers are not paid. Donations are accepted online. Proceeds from sales of music and video CDs go directly to the performing artists.

Circo de los Niños encourages the artistic, technical and personal development of more than 100 local children and teens by teaching them circus disciplines and performing arts. Toronto Star photo

March 2019

TBD: Circo de los Niños annual fundraising performance. Local children and teens showcase hundreds of hours of training and rehearsal in four jaw-dropping, sell-out evening shows. Tickets available online.

25-31, 2018: Semana Santa (Easter week)

April-May 2019

14-20: Semana Santa (Holy week)

21: Easter Sunday

20-26: Semana de Pascua (Easter week)

Dates TBD: Polo, Jaguar Cup. La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club 

Dates TBD: El Festival de Arte Mujeres Creadoras (women’s art festival) in San Pancho. Mujeres Creadoras promotes women’s autonomy through art. This festival showcases work produced by local, national and international artists.

During Restaurant Week, more than 40 restaurants in the Riviera Nayarit and San Pancho prepare prix-fixe three-course meals

Dates TBD: Restaurant Week in the Riviera Nayarit, sponsored by Vallarta Lifestyles

WEEKLY EVENTS

San Pancho Weekly Market

Don’t miss San Pancho’s Tuesday market in Plaza del Sol

Tuesdays, 10 am – 1:30 pm, San Pancho Mercado Artesanal. Held in Plaza del Sol, across from the church

What better way to spend a Friday evening in Mexico than tasting tequila?

Tequila Tasting

Fridays, 6-8 pm, at Bistro Organico in Hotel Cielo Rojo. Complimentary!

This was taken from the terrace of Casa Mar Azul. Casa Mar Azul San Pancho photo

When you mix a full moon’s reflection on the ocean with the sound of waves and tropical air… well, it’s magical.

Full moons 2018

January 1

January 31

March 1

March 31

April 29

May 29

June 27

July 27

August 26

September 24

October 24

November 22

December 22

Full moons 2019

January 20

February 19

March 20

April 19

May 18

June 17

July 16

August 15

September 13

October 13

November 12

December 11

Want more about San Pancho living? Go to Things to Do in San Pancho: 2 Hours or Less, Things to Do in San Pancho: Half Day, Festive Shopping at Weekly Markets, or San Francisco, San Pancho—no matter what you call it, you’ll feel at home