A Concise Guide to San José del Cabo Festival: March 2025

How to attend the San José del Cabo Festival (Fiestas Tradicionales San José del Cabo).

A group of performers in traditional dress dancing in front of the San José del Cabo Cathedral.

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San José del Cabo, a colourful colonial town at the southern tip of the Baja California Sur peninsula, is known for its art scene, vibrant festivals, and frequent events. One of the most notable festivals is the Festival de San José del Cabo, a traditional celebration of local arts, culture, and history. We were lucky enough to time our visit with the San José del Cabo Festival and have put together this article of everything you need to know about attending this fun annual event.

San José del Cabo Festival at a glance

Where: San José del Cabo.
When: The week leading up to March 19th each year.
What: Parades, fireworks, and live performances scattered throughout the city.
Cost: Free.
Language: Spanish but English is widely spoken.
Currency: Mexican Peso ($MX) but the US Dollar ($) is widely accepted.

Fireworks explode in the night sky, making colourful patterns. — The San José del Cabo Festival is one of the best events in Cabo

More from San José del Cabo

A parade float decorated with animal paintings and a large snake sculpture. — This traditional festival is when the city is most alive

What is the festival in San José del Cabo?

San José del Cabo’s Traditional Festival is an annual celebration to mark the Day of San José (also known as Saint Joseph). A multi-day festival, live music, parades, performances, food, drink, dancing, and parties take over the streets for a week of fun and festivities.

The festival showcases Baja California Sur’s unique history and culture, from its wildlife and landscapes to indigenous and missionary histories.

Read our Los Cabos Travel Guide

A stage set out in the main square of San José del Cabo with lines of chairs ready for an audience. — The San José del Cabo Festival has an exciting schedule of events

Some of the highlights of the festival include:

Stages with live music and dance performances
Competitions and pageants
A colourful parade of floats, dances, and vibrant costumes
A showground with competitions
A funfair with games
Street food carts
Pop-up stalls and markets
A fireworks display to close the festival

There are several outdoor venues scattered throughout the city, as well as a large open-air theatre in the central plaza which is the main stage.

A rotating schedule of performances is planned so there’s always something to see no matter where you are in the city.

Browse San José del Cabo Tours here!

A large pink firework explodes in the night sky. — The festival features performances, parades, and fireworks

San José del Cabo Festival Scedule

The official event schedule is usually released in mid-to-late February.

The best place to find up-to-date event information is on the San José del Cabo Festival Official Facebook Page.

There are also huge posters around the town with the event schedule that are useful to refer back to when you’re out and about. There’s usually one outside the historic church in the central square.

Dancers performing on a large stage in the main square of San José del Cabo. — The main stage can be found in Plaza Mijares

San José del Cabo Festival Livestock Expo

San José del Cabo’s traditional Livestock Expo runs during the festival just north of the city centre. A showground hosts agricultural demonstrations and competitions, as well as food stalls and fun fair games.

A temporary archway reads "Expo Ganadera Y Gastronomica" meaning "Livestock and Gastronomic Expo". This is a yearly festival in San José del Cabo. — The Livestock Expo is also held during the San José del Cabo Festival

San José del Cabo Festival Parade

Saturday is the main day of the festival. It is marked with a large parade through the streets of San José del Cabo. Floats adorned with decorations depict Baja’s rich history and stories of cultural significance.

A man waving as he sits on a parade float with his friends. The float is constructed in the style of a traditional Mexican palapa. — A parade of vibrant floats occurs on the main Saturday

Each float represents an aspect of life in San José del Cabo and Baja California Sur. Themes have previously included farming, marine wildlife, the ocean, and the area’s religious and political history from European colonisation to Monqui, Guaycura, and Pericú Indigenous groups.

The floats are accompanied by live music and performers in vibrant costumes with many groups performing choreographed dances.

A large piece of metal carved and painted into the shape of a humpback whale. — Each float represents an aspect of life in Baja

San José del Cabo Festival Fireworks

Saturday evening features a dramatic fireworks display in front of the charming church in the central plaza (Mission San José del Cabo).

A huge tower displays illuminated images, with each firework triggering the next like a marble run. While the sky lights up with an impressive display of bright colours.

The whole town square fills with people as locals and tourists alike join together in celebration of San José.

When we visited, someone had to climb up inside the structure (without ropes) to set off all the fireworks. It honestly wouldn’t have passed health and safety testing in the UK but it gave a great show!

An impressive tower of fireworks in the central square of San José del Cabo. — The fireworks display is a dazzling show on Saturday evening

Where is the San José del Cabo Festival held?

The Fiesta de San José del Cabo is held across the city from the historic centre to its sprawling beachfront.

Most events, including the main stage, are held in the central square, Plaza Mijares.

Read How to Get Around Cabo

A full audience watching performances as a part of the San José del Cabo Festival. — Stages and events are held throughout the city

When is the San José del Cabo Festival held?

The Festival of San José is held over March 19th each year (San José Day) with the culmination being on the closest Saturday to the 19th.

Celebrations last seven to eleven days depending on the dates that year.

March is a great time to visit San José del Cabo, with dry weather and comfortable temperatures. It’s also a fantastic time to go whale watching in Cabo as it’s the peak of the migration season.

As a part of the Festival of San José parade, a large wooden float in the shape of an impressive sailing ship navigates down the street. This ship is sitting on a trailer that is painted to look like the ocean. — The San José del Cabo Festival is held over March 19th annually

San José del Cabo Festival Tickets

Pretty much all of the festival is completely free to attend and doesn’t require a ticket.

There may be certain events that charge for entrance but you’d have to find out information about those from the schedules and book as appropriate that year.

A line of floats slowly precessing by for the San José del Cabo Festival. — The San José del Cabo Festival is completely free to attend

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Our experience at the San José del Cabo Festival

We attended the San José del Cabo Festival the first year post-pandemic. We were blown away by how much there was to see and do but were told it was actually a toned-down version of the festival and there are usually more events on than we saw.

We came across street parties and events on every corner we turned. We watched traditional dances and pageants on the main stage, saw countless floats parade past in the procession, and enjoyed the dazzling fireworks display.

A large wheel of fireworks set alight in front of the San José Cathedral. — We had the best time at the San José del Cabo Festival

Large events can sometimes be a target for crime but we felt totally safe in San José del Cabo. There’s a constant police presence and we also spotted undercover officers in the crowd at the Saturday evening fireworks display, just to make sure everyone’s safe. It’s still best to practice general safety precautions like watching your pockets in crowds.

If you’ve visited San José del Cabo and attended the Festival recently, we’d love to hear about your experience and it can help keep this article up-to-date for other travellers too. You can contact us here to tell us about it.

A giant sculpture of a giant blue bird parading past. Around the bird are colourful crafted flowers and cacti. — There will be slight discrepancies each year

Where to stay for the San José del Cabo Festival

There’s a large variety of hotels in San José del Cabo from budget apartments to luxury resorts, so there’s something for every budget. We’ve shortlisted the best accommodations below.

Read The 18 Best Oceanview Hotels in Cabo

San José del Cabo Hotels

Budget: Hotel Posada Señor Mañana – has a welcoming family feel and a relaxed artistic vibe. There are shared outdoor facilities such as a stocked kitchen and lounges, perfect for backpackers, digital nomads and travellers on a budget.
Boutique: Lumina at Cardinal – is a unique rooftop apartment in the centre of town offering an upscale living environment. On site there is a gym area, large outdoor infinity pool and impressive 360-degree views.
Beachfront: Casa Costa Azul – has a laid-back atmosphere and is right on the doorstep of the pristine Costa Azul Beach. The colonial-style décor and the traditional Mexican cuisine on offer match the charm of San José del Cabo.
Boujee: Flora Farms – offers an escape from the main town and boasts stunning mountain views. There are many facilities such as a heated pool, hot tub, yoga studio, bocce ball court, and there is the opportunity to indulge in the fresh produce grown on-site.
Sustainable: ACRE – is a tropical oasis which provides unique views of the surrounding desert and the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. They offer different types of accommodation for every kind of traveller including treehouses, villas and haciendas.

Browse San José del Cabo Hotels here!

Green fireworks ignite impressively making a large circular pattern in the sky. — We hope you have the best time at the San José del Cabo Festival

What else is there to do in San José del Cabo?

There are loads of activities and attractions on offer in San José del Cabo.

Wander the historic centre and discover boutique stores, artisanal markets, and independent art galleries in the Art District. If you’re an art lover, don’t miss the Thursday evening Art Walk.

Eating at some of the best restaurants in San José del Cabo is also an enjoyable way to connect with local culinary culture.

For outdoor activities, relax on the beach, take a Cabo boat trip, or go whale watching in the winter months.

Read The 22 Best Things to Do in San José del Cabo