Home»Festival Zacatecas del Folclor Internacional, Zacatecas International Folkdance Festival

Zacatecas, Mexico has had for the past eighteen years a week long annual folkdance festival in late July or early August. This is a robust celebration with 15-20 dance groups from foreign countries usually including Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. There are also 10-15 groups from various Mexican States. This is a juried presentation for which groups apply to attend, which helps guarantee variety and quality. There are multiple daily performances centered in the City of Zacatecas, and multiple performaces in the State of Zacatecas' other two major cities Fresnillo and Guadalupe. Performances are also spread through many smaller pueblos across this very large state. Mexicanos love dancing, to include folk dancing, and this festival is greeted with much graciousness, enthusiasm and energy. The following series covers the past fourteen years, excluding 2010 and 2012 which for no good reason are in specific galleries. The pagentry, colors and costumes, sheer exuberance and joy are radiated from audiences to dancers and reciprocated in kind. It is a kind of miracle to see such sharing of customs and culture from so many different groups in one place at one time. All these photos were taken at the opening parade, attended by literally tens of thosands of Zacatecanos. There is also a closing parade. Sorry, but I cannot differentiate which group is from where. Enjoy!