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. The Fiesta might not happen in the same way this year, but the same organization is running a different Mexican Day event on September 15th. See below for details.
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. As of the end of August, 2023, it seems like it might not be happening there again this year.
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.
Mexican Day Celebracion
While Fiesta Mexicana might not happen in 2023, its organizer Comunidad Mexicana en Vancouver is putting on a different event on September 15th. It’s also an independence day celebration and runs from noon to 10:00 pm at South Hall on 8273 Ross Street.
The event is free and offers plenty of food, music and dance to anyone who wants to come.
As well, there is another big party happening on the same night downtown. Called the Mexican Independence Celebration, this event runs from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am at Enso Events Centre at 750 Pacific Boulevard. The event includes a showing of the film El Grito and a performance by a live mariachi band.
Other Information
For more information about the event at the Roundhouse, see the Fiesta Mexicana Facebook page.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
