Mexican Fiesta Mariachis

Fiesta Mexicana is a free event celebrating Mexico’s independence at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.

Last year the event took place on September 15th.

Also happening in September of 2022 was the Mexico Independence Day Boat Party with Vancouver Boat Parties. The party cruise happened the day after the Fiesta Mexicana event, on Friday, September 16th.

Details about Fiesta Mexicana, and the boat party, are to be confirmed for 2023.

Fiesta Mexicana at the Roundhouse

In 2023 Mexico celebrates the 213th anniversary of its independence from Spain on September 16th. In past years, to celebrate the occasion, Fiesta Mexicana has been a free one-day event at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown that included Mariachi music, Mexican foods, Lucha Libre wrestling and other Mexican cultural activities.

Fiesta Mexicana was just one of several events that used to make up Mexico Fest which began in 2008 and developed to include everything from a Latin film festival to art exhibits, concerts and other events in Vancouver as well as in Victoria on Vancouver Island between August and September.

Until last year, the event hadn’t happened for a few years because of COVID-19. It used to take place at the Roundhouse several years ago, but then it moved to Robson Square in the form of Market Mexico (in 2017 and 2018). Hosted by Communidad Mexicana en Vancouver, the event was back again in its previous format at the Roundhouse in 2022.

Fiesta at the Roundhouse in 2022

Fiesta Mexicana took place at the Roundhouse Community Centre from 2:00 until 9:00 pm in 2022. The venue’s address is at 181 Roundhouse Mews in Yaletown.

Fiesta Mexicana Activities

In past years activities took place in three different areas at the Roundhouse during the Fiesta Mexicana all afternoon.

The schedule of events in 2022 was still to be determined as of the last time we checked. To give you an idea of what to expect, highlights of the event in 2016 included the following live performances:

12:00 pm – Live music by the Mariachi Estrellas de Mexico.
12:45 pm – Lucha Libre wrestling.
2:00 pm – Dancing by Grupo America.
2:30 pm – Lucha Libre wrestling.
3:30 pm – Live music with Gustavo Herrera and the Latin Sound Band.
3:45 pm – Lucha Libre wrestling.
5:00 pm – Live music by the Mariachi Estrellas de Mexico.

At Fiesta Mexicana in past years there has also been Mexican food for sale, children’s activities and a small vendor market.

If you are Mexican or just like Mexican culture and Mexican food and music, this is a nice little festival to attend. You can expect to see lots of Mexicans and people speaking Spanish, including some wearing traditional Mexican clothes (as well as sometimes even Mexican luchador wrestling outfits). Also there is also lots of lively Latin music and tasty smells.