What to do in Teotitlán del Valle events and calendar

Stay connected to the heart of Teotitlán del Valle! Below is a list of the vibrant activities, festivals, and events happening throughout the year. Plan your visit to coincide with these unique cultural experiences.

Teotitlán del Valle Daily Market

Each morning, the local market in Teotitlán del Valle fills with the sights and scents of daily life. Villagers gather to sell fresh produce, homemade tortillas, flowers, cheese, and traditional snacks. It’s a simple, authentic space where locals shop and connect, offering visitors a true taste of everyday life in the village.

January

  • Fiesta del Señor de Esquipulas: Celebrated on January 15th, this festival honors the Black Christ of Esquipulas. The market stretches all throughout the day, offering an incredible array of local foods, handmade goods, and traditional Oaxacan delicacies. The marketplace becomes a true reflection of Teotitlán’s culture, with vendors setting up their stalls to sell fresh fruits, Bread plays a central role, with artisan bakers offering traditional pan de yema, and other baked goods that locals prepare for the festivities.
  • Día de Reyes (January 6): As part of the broader Mexican tradition, families in Teotitlán gather to share the Rosca de Reyes, a sweet, braided bread with candied fruit. A tiny doll representing the baby Jesus is baked into the loaf, and the person who finds it traditionally hosts a tamale party on February 2nd. 

February

  • Día de la Candelaria (February 2): This day, which marks 40 days after Christmas, is celebrated in Teotitlán with a special Mass. Children and colorfully dressed dolls are brought to the church, following the tradition of the Virgin purifying herself and presenting baby Jesus. In Mexico, this day is linked to the rosca tradition from January 6th, where the person who found the hidden doll hosts a party featuring tamales and atole (a warm, sweet drink). 

April

  • Holy Week (Semana Santa): The most significant Easter-related event is the five-day carnival known locally as the “Dance of the Old Men” (Lanii Xtee Gúul). Held the week after Easter, it is believed by some locals to be a pre-Hispanic springtime fertility rite.
  • Annual Wool Rug Fair (Feria de Tapetes de Lana): In 2025, this fair is scheduled for April 12th to 27th. It provides a key economic opportunity for the local artisan community. Visitors can see demonstrations of the entire weaving process, from carding and spinning the wool to dyeing with natural colors derived from sources like the cochineal insect and indigo. 

June

  • June 24th: Fiesta de San Juan Bautista – Horse Races and Animal Blessings. On June 24th, Teotitlán del Valle joins in the Fiesta de San Juan Bautista, a festival in honor of Saint John the Baptist, who is the patron saint of several communities in Oaxaca.
    • The celebration is filled with religious and cultural festivities, one of the most exciting being the traditional horse races.In addition to the horse races, another beloved tradition during this day is the blessing of animals, which is deeply rooted in the agrarian and animal husbandry practices of the region.

July

  • Feast of the Precious Blood of Christ (Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo): Teotitlán’s most important festival, it begins on the first Wednesday of July and lasts for about a week.
    • Main Events: Activities include carnival rides, food stalls, a basketball tournament, and the calenda, a vibrant street procession featuring a 30-piece band.
    • Danza de la Pluma: The highlight is the Danza de la Pluma, or Feather Dance, which reenacts the Spanish conquest. The dancers, wearing elaborate feather headdresses, perform the ritual throughout the week. For many young men, participating in the dance is a three-year religious and cultural commitment (una manda).
  • Guelaguetza Festival: Teotitlán del Valle participates in the larger state festival held in Oaxaca City in July. The town sends representatives to perform its traditional dances, including the Danza de la Pluma. 

September

  • Feast of the Virgin of the Nativity (Virgen de la Natividad): A patron saint festival from September 6th to 8th.
    • Processions: A convite (parade) kicks off the festivities with religious imagery, music, and the Danza de la Pluma.
    • Performances: The Danza de la Pluma is performed on both the 7th and 8th, followed by fireworks.
  • Mexican Independence Day: Celebrated on September 16th, with the church atrium decorated with the Mexican flag. 

October

  • Feast of the Virgin of the Rosary (Virgen del Rosario): Taking place from October 3rd to 5th, this festival features a convite, a calenda, and performances of the Danza de la Pluma, with fireworks concluding the celebration.
  • Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos): Celebrations begin in late October and run until November 2nd.
    • Altars: Zapotec families build elaborate altars in their homes to honor their ancestors.
    • Cemetery Visits: A significant part of the tradition involves visiting the local cemetery at sunset to build altars on the graves. 
    • The final moments of the Day of the Dead (around November 2) in Teotitlán are a solemn, intimate affair, not a large festival. The event centers on families gathering at the municipal cemetery, the panteón, to bid farewell to the spirits of their deceased loved ones. A brass band plays emotive and slow marches.

December

  • Virgin of Guadalupe: Celebrated on December 12th with a special Mass and a performance of the Danza de la Pluma. In some cases, this marks the end of a three-year manda (promise) for a group of dancers.
  • Annual Exposition and Sale of Textiles (Exposición y Venta de Tapetes): From December 16th to January 6th, the municipal esplanade features a vibrant sale of unique, hand-woven wool textiles and other crafts. This is an opportunity to purchase items like rugs, bags, cushions, and other pieces that celebrate the town’s cultural heritage.
  • Christmas Season (Posadas): Pre-Christmas gatherings and processions are held from December 15th to 24th. 
  • New Year’s at La Cuevita The New Year in Teotitlán del Valle is celebrated with an ancient and deeply personal Zapotec ceremony known as Las Cuevitas or “the little caves,” located in a sacred grotto on a hill overlooking the village. 
    • Pilgrimage and wish-making: On New Year’s Day, villagers and visitors trek to the sacred site. Here, they meticulously construct small structures, called pedimentos, out of stones, sticks, and moss to represent their hopes and wishes for the coming year. These can range from a new house to a new animal for the farm.
    • The ritual: As the sun sets, the scene comes alive with music, bonfires, and fireworks. The village band plays traditional Zapotec songs, and families share food and mezcal.