What's on in Guadalajara, Mexico through the year

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in February.

Busy — Semana Santa, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Semana Santa

  20 Mar – 22 Apr · usuallyEaster & Holy WeekClosuresCrowded

  Offices and much of the centre shut for the week and the city empties towards Chapala and the Pacific coast, which makes Guadalajara itself unusually pleasant to walk. Bus and coach seats out of town go first. Source ↗

Busy — Semana Santa

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Semana Santa (20 Mar – 22 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  El temporal

  15 Jun – 15 OctMonsoonRisk

  The summer rains arrive as a hard storm most late afternoons, often with hail, and the streets in the low colonias flood for an hour before it drains. Mornings stay clear and the whole valley turns green.

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: El temporal (15 Jun – 15 Oct)

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: El temporal (15 Jun – 15 Oct)

Busy — Independence Day, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Independence Day

  14–17 SepNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  El Grito from the balcony of the Palacio de Gobierno on the night of the 15th fills the Plaza de Armas, and the military parade takes the centre the following morning. Everything shuts on the 16th. Source ↗

Still on: El temporal (15 Jun – 15 Oct)

Peak crowds — Fiestas de Octubre, Romería de Zapopan

• Festival

  Fiestas de Octubre

  1 Oct – 5 Nov · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  A month-long fair running from the first Friday of October, opened by a float parade and carried by nightly concerts, charro events and a food and crafts ground. It is a city fair for locals, priced accordingly. Source ↗

• Festival

  Romería de Zapopan

  11–13 OctMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  On 12 October the Virgin is walked back from the cathedral to her basilica in Zapopan after five months touring the parishes, and something over a million people walk with her. Avenida Alcalde and the Zapopan road are shut from dawn. Source ↗

Still on: El temporal (15 Jun – 15 Oct)

Peak crowds — Fiestas de Octubre, Feria Internacional del Libro

• Festival

  Feria Internacional del Libro

  28 Nov – 6 DecMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The largest Spanish-language book fair in the world takes over Expo Guadalajara for nine days, and the guest country brings its music, film and theatre into the city with it. Hotels near the Expo are booked out months ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Fiestas de Octubre (1 Oct – 5 Nov (usually))

Busy — Feria Internacional del Libro, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Feria Internacional del Libro (28 Nov – 6 Dec)