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

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

Sept. 16: Mexico Independence Day

Late Sept.-early Oct.: 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

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.

First Sunday in Nov.: San Pancho’s Tierra Tropical (aka La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club) Sunday Polo Brunch resumes for the season.

Tierra Tropical hosts international polo matches while you brunch

December

The holidays are happier when you’re on the beach

25: Christmas Day with beach cleaning organized by Entreamigos

Dates TBD: Annual San Pancho Collective Cultural Festival

31: New Year’s Eve

January

1: New Year’s Day

February-March

San Pancho’s Annual Music Festival presents musicians from around the world

Feb. 28-March 1, 2020: San Pancho’s 20th 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

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.

April-May 2020

April 5-11: Semana Santa (Holy week)

April 12: Easter Sunday

April 12-18: Semana de Pascua (Easter week) 

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 2019-2020

2019

Sept. 13

Oct. 13

Nov. 12

Dec. 11

2020

January 10

February 9

March 9 (Super Full Moon)

April 7 (Super Full Moon)

May 7

June 5

July 4

August 3

September 2

October 1

October 31 (Blue Moon)

November 30

December 29

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