January 2018 Events in Sonora, Mexico
The Sonora events calendar starts the year by finishing the 2017 Christmas season, which officially ends on January 6, the Dia de Reyes. The month ends with what has become a massive cultural and arts festival, the Festival Cultural Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado, also known as FAOT. Tens of thousands flock to the epicenter of Alamos, Sonora, and concerts are also performed in Hermosillo and other Sonoran cities.
New Year’s Day
January 1
A quiet day, most stores and businesses are closed.
Dia de Reyes – Kings Day
January 6
Mexican children receive gifts from the three kings (the Magi) on this day, which is the traditional end to the Christmas season. This is also the day when people buy special circular bread called a “rosca.” Inside every rosca there is a plastic figurine of Jesus, and whoever gets the piece that contains the plastic Jesus is obligated to provide tamales for Candlemas (Dia de la Candelaria) on the 2nd of February.
Alamos Cultural Festival – Festival Cultural Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado
Alamos, Sonora
January 19 – 27
This annual festival, commonly known as the “FAOT,” is named in honor of Alamos doctor and philanthropist Alfonso Ortiz Tirado, who was also an accomplished opera singer.
The event highlights operatic singing and chamber music, but a variety of popular music and art are also featured – not only in Alamos, but in other cities in Sonora as well, where concerts are performed during the week.
This event has steadily grown in popularity and is now one of Sonora’s most important cultural events, drawing over 100,000 people from many different countries. 2018 marked the 34th year of the festival. More information
