January is a busy month for events in the Mexican Caribbean and the Yucatan. The City Festival is in full flow in Merida and the Puerto Morelos Music Festival will take place from January 26-28 and February 2-4. Meanwhile, Playa del Carmen is also hosting a Tequila Festival, January 26-29.
Puerto Morelos Music Fest
For the seventh year running, the main square in Puerto Morelos is hosting a Music Festival from January 26-28 and February 2-4 in the evenings. All concerts are free and include gypsy and Celtic, jazz, rock, reggae, pop, blues, salsa, Mayan and Mexican music performed by local and International artists. The event also features dance displays ranging from Yucatecan and Mexican folk ballet to flamenco.
For more information on participating musicians and the festival performance schedule visit http://www.puertomorelosfest.com
Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival
Tequila fans mark your calendars! Playa del Carmen is hosting a Tequila Festival, January 26-29, from 4 to 10 p.m. Learn more about Mexico’s national drink, one of the world’s favorite tipples, and of course, savor some of the connoisseur tequilas being presented by participating producers.
An exhibition showcases the tequila production process, from the harvest of the blue agave, the cooking of the pineapple-like root, which is then crushed to extract its sugary juice, and finally distillation and storage in oak barrels. There will be music and dance performances during the festival and the musicians closely associated with tequila and the traditional bars known as cantinas, the mariachis, will also take to the stage. In 2011, mariachi music and culture joined the Tequila region of Jalisco on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
There will be 26 stands representing some of Mexico’s best-known tequilas and experts will be on hand to tell visitors more about tequila, its history and to explain the difference between blanco, reposado and añejado. They will also recommend tequilas for specific food pairings and indeed finger food will be available from local restaurants participating in the festival.
A variety of tequilas will be on sale in the Tequila Shopping Area. The Festival admission fee is $10 US per person and tickets may also be purchased for Tequila Pairing lunches and dinners for an additional cost.
