Merida Events: Happy Holidays!
This Week... starting December 22, 2014
Christmas in “La Plancha” December 12 – January 6
This is a wonderful, “Viva la Navidad!” celebration for the family and kids. It includes mechanical games, live shows and a Christmas Village.
Location: In the Old Train Station in Merida, Calle 43 x 48 y 46, Centro
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with special circus shows on December 25, January 1, and January 6 at 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM.
Admission: Free
Merida Fest: The 473rd Anniversary of the City of Merida (January 6 – 27)
Every year, three weeks in January mark a huge celebration in honor of the birthday of the City of Merida. This event is called Merida Fest and is designed to bring together all of the people and cultures in Merida. We are blessed to enjoy one of the most peaceful big cities in the world, with one of the most complex populations. No matter the topic: food, music, ethnicity, age and even religion, Merida has it all and manages, without discrimination, to continue to celebrate our complex society as one of our greatest strengths. What that translates to, for visitors and residents alike, is three weeks of cultural events and entertainment that is found nowhere else. Stay with us here at Yucatan Living as we bring you the dazzling array of events that will take place during Merida Fest.
Christmas and New Year's Eve
The last two weeks of December and the first five days of January are relatively quiet in Yucatan, but the new year of almost non-stop festivals begins again on January 6 (Three Kings’ Day, aka Epiphany). So do keep watch on Yucatan Living’s Events pages to see what there is to do in Merida whenever you are here in 2015.
Donate Toys for San Simon Children
Anytime before January 6 (Three Kings’ Day, aka Epiphany), bring new or like-new toys (no toy guns please!) or money to donate to the children of San Simon to the Hotel Hacienda Uxmal, right next to Uxmal Archaeological Zone. The toys and donations will help make Three Kings' Day a happy event for the children of this tiny pueblo near Uxmal. For more information, check the website or email
In The City
Monday (Lunes) December 22, 2014
No Events Planned for Today, everyone is busy with Christmas shopping!
Tuesday (Martes) December 23, 2014
Movie: Liztomania
(UK 1975) A send-up of the bawdy life of Romantic composer/piano virtuoso Franz Liszt, with ubiquitous phallic imagery and a good portion of the film devoted to Liszt's "friendship" with fellow composer Richard Wagner. The film begins during the time when Franz would give piano performance to a crowd of shrieking teenage fans while maintaining affairs with his (multiple!) mistresses. In English.
Location: Cairo Cinema, Calle 20 #98A x 15 y 17, Colonia Itzimná
Time: 9:00 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free
Wednesday (Miercoles) December 24, 2014
Christmas' Eve
For Christmas dinners and other events, check our listings here.
Thursday (Jueves) December 25, 2014
Christmas' Day
Friday (Viernes) December 26, 2014
Movie: A Band Called Death
(USA 2012) A documentary on the 1970s punk trio Death, and their new-found popularity decades after they disbanded. In English with Spanish subtitles.
Location: LA 68, Calle 68 at Calle 55, Centro
Time: 5:00 PM Friday
Admission: $35 pesos, $15 pesos students
Movie: Vuelve a la Vida
(Mexico 2010) The love story between a top model from New York, a Mexican scuba diver and a shark. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Location: LA 68, Calle 68 at Calle 55, Centro, Open Air Cinema.
Time: 9:00 PM Friday
Admission: $35 pesos, $15 pesos students
Movie: Old Boy
(South Korea 2003) After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days. In Korean with Spanish subtitles.
Location: Cairo Cinema, Calle 20 #98A x 15 y 17, Colonia Itzimná
Time: 9:00 PM Friday
Admission: Free
Saturday (Sabado) December 27, 2014
Merida English Library - Saturday Lecture Series
• December 27: Christmas weekend. No program.
• January 3: New Year’s weekend. No program.
Location: Merida English Library, Calle 53 x 66 y 68
Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday
Admission: free
Movie: Deep Water
(USA 2006) A documentary about the disastrous 1968 round-the-world yacht race. In English with Spanish subtitles.
Location: LA 68, Calle 68 at Calle 55, Centro
Time: 5:00 PM Saturday
Admission: $35 pesos, $15 pesos students
Movie: Like Father Like Son
(Japan 2013) Ryota Nonomiya is a successful businessman driven by money. When he learns that his biological son was switched with another child after birth, he must make a life-changing decision and choose his true son or the boy he raised as his own. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Location: LA 68, Calle 68 at Calle 55, Centro
Time: 9:00 PM Saturday
Admission: $35 pesos, $15 pesos students
Movie: Exit Through the Gift Shop
(UK 2010) The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. In English.
Location: Cairo Cinema, Calle 20 #98A x 15 y 17, Colonia Itzimná
Time: 9:00 PM Saturday
Admission: Free
Sunday (Domingo), December 28, 2014
Documentary about Nature
Great documentaries, specially for children. In Spanish.
Location: Museo de Historia Natural, Next to the Zoo on Calle 59.
Time: 12:00 PM Sunday
Admission: Free
Note: BiciRuta Montejo Route Temporarily Suspended. December 7 – January 11
All other BiciRuta routes will function as usual. Check here for more information.
Movie: Click
(USA 2010) A workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices. In English.
Location: Cairo Cinema, Calle 20 #98A x 15 y 17, Colonia Itzimná
Time: 9:00 PM Sunday
Admission: Free
Monday (Lunes) December 29, 2014
International Women’s Club: Gorro Girls Knitting & Crocheting “bee”
Dates: Second and Fourth Mondays
This group makes caps for the Cancer Kids of Hospital O’Horan. Knitting and crocheting instruction is available from members. Possible that it will NOT be happening this week.
Location: Merida English Library (MEL) patio
Time: 10:00 AM Mondays
Admission: Free
Tuesday (Martes) December 30, 2014
Movie: TBD
Always a great movie.
Location: Cairo Cinema, Calle 20 #98A x 15 y 17, Colonia Itzimná
Time: 9:00 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free
Wednesday (Miercoles) December 31, 2014
New Year's Eve
Enjoy the party! Check our list of events for Christmas and New Years.
Thursday (Jueves) January 01, 2015
Happy New Year
Coming Soon
Yucadanz: Monthly Contra Dance in Merida - First Dance: Saturday, January 10
When is a square dance not square? You're just going to love this new dance in town. Contra dance is a community “barn dance”, where everyone socializes and dances with everyone else. We love their energy and hope that everyone will give contra dance a whirl. Everyone is welcome!
Location: Tumaka't Dance Studio, Calle 51 #475-A x 52 y 54 (blue building, middle of block), Centro
Time: Beginner Class in Spanish: 7:00 PM, Beginner Class in English: 7:30 PM, Contra dance: 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Admission: Bring your own refreshments and water, no alcohol at the dance. $50-$100 pesos donation requested. Proceeds benefit Tumaka't, a nonprofit arts group, and to establish a fund for live music. Read this great page on the Yucadanz website!
Additional Dates:
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Merida's Marathon 2015, January 11, 2015
This includes a marathon, a race and a walk, so everyone can participate. For the race and marathon due date is January 10, the family walk 30 min before start.
Location:Remate de Montejo
Time:6:00 AM
Admission: Walk is free, race $ 100 pesos.
“My Sister’s Closet” 5th Annual Fashion Show: At the Hop - January 29
The Fashion Show Committee needs your gently used summer clothing for the Boutique. Even one outfit will help! Little by little we "fill the closet" from which we choose the 36 model outfits, selling the rest to the 180 women who attend. If you have clothing to donate, please contact these wonderful volunteers: Chelem: Frances Cummings cummings_fh@yahoo.ca, Chuburna: Chris Parkin ucatanchris@gmail.com, Progreso: Diane Clinton dminerdc@gmail.com, Chicxulub: Karen Cloutier klcloutier@hotmail.com. Without this clothing, the event, in support of El Programa de Apoyo Escolar de Chuburná Puerto, would not happen. Thanks on behalf of the students and their families!
Location: TBA
Time: TBA
Admission: TBA
Merida English Library Saturday Lecture Series: October – March
• January 10: Popol Vuh – the Maya creation story and more. Miguel Angel Vergara.
• January 17: Writers’ Workshop. John Gray.
• January 24: The history of the Yucatan-Cuba connection. Peter Johnson.
• January 31: Mexican history: A hero and a villain: Juarez and Diaz. George Ashley.
• February 7: Eldercare Choices in the US. Catherine Hawes & Charles Phillips.
• February 14: Valentine’s Day & Carnival weekend. No program.
• February 21: MEL Artist Studio Tour. No lecture.
• February 28: Mexican wines – discussion and limited tasting. Elliot Diaz. Attendance limited. Admission 100 pesos.
• March 7: TBA
• March 14: TBA
Location: Merida English Library, Calle 53 x 66 y 68.
Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Admission: Most lectures are free, some have a nominal fee
Merida English Library Music in the Garden Concert Series
Check the performance details at the Merida English Library website:
• January 15: Jazz Concert
• February 13: Latin, Mexican & Yucatecan Music
• March 13: Rock and Blues
Location: Merida English Library, Calle 53 x 66 y 68.
Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Admission: Most lectures are free, some have a nominal fee
CHILI COOK OFF UPDATE Date: January 25
Invitation from MEL: Dust off your greatest Chili Recipe and sign up for the Premier Event of the Year when the competition is on for the Chili Cooking Crown at MEL’s Annual Chili Cook Off – 2015 Edition.
The event will take place on January 25, Sunday, 1 – 4 PM. Lots more details to come but don’t delay, Chili Chefs should register now to ensure your spot in the cook off. Competition is brisk! If you have a big pot and a good recipe, please sign up at the library or contact us at: MELchilicookoff@gmail.com. Now’s your chance to show off your chefability. Also, HELP NEEDED! They also need about 15 people to be general volunteers the day of the event -- setting up tables, selling beverages and helping keep things tidy. Go to www.meridaenglishlibrary.com to volunteer.
Benefit Concert for educate Yucatan, A.C.: Steve Katz - January 29
Steve Katz is a founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, and a member of the original Blues Project. We hope you will be there for an acoustic evening of story and song.
Location: Teatro Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Calle 60 x 59 y 57, Merida
Time: 7:00 PM
Admission: Donation of $250 pesos
Tickets: Available at www.educateyucatan.org and at cells: 999 995-3769 & 999 260-1922
VI Full Moon Jazz Festival - February 15
This event is the major fundraiser for Telchac Education. This program continues to sponsor children in school in the Telchac area and they are thriving. Three fabulous bands, dancing, the food court and full bar await you on the beach. Many thanks to all of the sponsors and to everyone who participates in this Jazz Festival.
Location: Villas Wayak, km 25.5 Progreso - Telchac Road
Time: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Admission: Free but please come prepared to purchase food and drinks, and to maybe make a donation and/or sponsor a child in the Telchac Education Program.
Have an event you want to promote? Email us at info@yucatanliving.com and we'll be happy to list it in our Events listing and our Month-at-a-Glance Calendar!
