I did not expect this fair to be as large and organized as it was. There were over 150 mezcal…read morebooths, that I could tell. There were food vendors, as well as crafts and goods being sold adjacent to the main area. There was also a great party vibe as the night progressed. There were a lot of mezcal-based cocktails being sold, and they all started to resemble each other towards the end of the day for me. But overall, it's a cool venue and phenomenal fair if you enjoy mezcal.

This July festival is an absolute delight to attend. It really showcases the folkloric dances,…read morecostumes, and traditions of the region of Oaxaca. I highly recommend visiting the smaller towns in the area to get a variety of how it is celebrated.

Mid July is a very popular time for tourists to visit Oaxaca - mainly for Guelaguetza parades…read more(desfiles, calendas, and convites), music/dance performances, and specialized festivals - with the two Mondays on the Hill being the biggest draw. Many nearby towns also have their own events and celebrations. The main auditorium features morning and afternoon shows each of the two main Mondays. For those who want to watch for free, come EARLY and line up and WAIT to get in. You can often get a great seat! The multi-group dance shows go for about 4 hours each - with pre-event bands playing for about 2 hours prior to the main event. To get in requires passing through an airport style security check - where water is taken away and empty bottles are not allowed. This mainly just protects the concession owner(s) selling things inside. There are also vendors selling food and other items outside. The Sunday night before the first main Monday shows features a (free) performance of the famous local legend about (Zapotec Princess) Donaji. The auditorium can probably hold around 1,500 people? For those not able to get a paid or free ticket, wanting to watch dance shows, the baseball stadium can hold more people and doesn't charge for the shows by the "teachers". There are also many similar performances at the various festivals, in the city's plazas and almost nightly parades. Almost all events mentioned randomly throw various small gifts into the crowd - and many people also often offer free shots of of Mezcal.

Who doesn't like freebies? I do, and that's why this is one of my favourite holidays in Oaxaca…read more I know it's not the most important part of the holiday but it makes it quite exciting. So the basic story is that on the fourth Friday of lent people recreate a bible passage in which a Samaritan woman gave Jesus water from a well. So now every year there's people lineups waiting to get a glass of free "agua", which is not the same as a jugo (agua is somewhat of a watered down juice mixed with sugar or syrup). The beauty of this is the people don't deny the glass of water to anyone and the tables where the water jugs are, tend to be decorated with flowers to make it look like a well like in the bible.

La Samaritana is one of the best traditions you can experience in Oaxaca. It basically about giving…read moreFREE cups of water to everyone and anyone walking down your street. La Samaritana is a tradition based in the catholicism, its celebrated three weeks before the Good Friday of Lent and is based on a bible verse of a woman giving Jesus water from a well in the city of Siquem. The most traditional water recipes you will fin are: horchata con tuna (rice water with the fruit of tuna), chilacayota (pumpkin water) and jamaica (hibiscus). However, every year families and commercial establishments innovate and offer a delicious variety of flavors. From rice water with coconut to pineapple with rose petals, La Samaritana offers a large range on water recipes that makes this tradition a delicious experience that its worth living.

I've visited Oaxaca twice for Dia de Muertos and I can't imagine a better place to participate in…read morethe festivities. The city is positively hopping with vendors and parades and the decorations and ofrendas are amazing! We usually go to the Pantheon General on the night of Nov. 1, where the locals are celebrating the lives of their dearly departed. Outside the Pantheon, it's very similar to a carnival/street fair atmosphere you'd experience in the states. All manner of bright lights and street food available. It's definitely a strange juxtaposition to the relatively somber, yet festive atmosphere inside the cemetery. The arcade walls are lit with votive candles and it's just beautiful. The city of Oaxaca is beautiful, no matter what, but during DDM, it's so wonderfully colorful and it's such a special atmosphere to in which to participate and experience.