October 2018 Events in Sonora, Mexico

October is a great month to be in Sonora, Mexico. Temperatures are becoming even more moderate, shrimp and other fresh seafood from the Gulf of California are in season and the events calendar is getting busy.

As the month begins, the Fiestas de Octubre in Magdalena are already in full swing, and on October 4 the fiestas will honor Saint Francis on his feast day. Other religious fiestas will honor San Rafael and San Judas Tadeo.

Other events during the month of October include cultural festivals, cotton festivals, and car and boat racing in Puerto Peñasco.

And as the month comes to a close, there are unique festivals and activities in advance of the Day of the Dead, like the annual Festival de la Calaca in Guaymas.

1

XIII Festival de Teatro Universitario
Festival of University Theater
Hermosillo
University of Sonora Campus
A theater festival with more than 100 performing artists in a variety of theater presentations. More information. 

4

Fiestas de San Francisco Javier / Fiestas de Octubre
Late September/early October
Magdalena de Kino
Hundreds of Catholic pilgrims walk from the border to Magdalena every year, to fulfill a manda (promise in exchange for a blessing). The festival honors the town’s patron saint, San Francisco Javier and the patron saint of Franciscans, Saint Francis of Assisi.  The week of festivities include religious observances, art, history and culture exhibitions, and muchas fiestas. More information.

5 – 6

Southern Arizona Desert Racing (SADR)
Point to Point the Long Way
Puerto Peñasco

12

Dia de la Raza – “Day of the Race” (Columbus Day)
This day observes the arrival of Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón) in the Americas.  The event coincides with the celebration of Columbus Day in the United States.

12 – 13

Third Annual Puerto Lobos Fishing Tournament
With 4×4 offroading, a coastal bicycle ride and sand drags
Puerto Lobos, Caborca, Sonora
More information

Piñata Regatta
Two days of races, a Saturday night dinner and prize raffle
Sandy Beach
Puerto Penasco

18 – 21

Festival Internacional Cervantino
On the Malecon
Puerto Penasco
More information

23 – 24

Fiestas de San Rafael and Joaquin Murrieta Days
Trincheras
Descendants of Sonora native Joaquin Murrieta host a festival in his honor, in conjunction with the municipality of Trincheras’s celebration of San Rafael, its patron saint.

27

Festival del Membrillo
San Ignacio, Magdalena, Sonora

27 – 29

16th Annual Festival de la Calaca
A marvelous event that features large and very creative calacas (Day of the Dead figures) in addition to displays of Day of the Dead altars, cultural displays, musical entertainment, a Day of the Dead procession and more.
Guaymas

28

Feast Day of San Judas Tadeo (St. Jude Thaddaeus)
The patron saint of “hopeless cases and things almost dispaired of,” is widely revered in Sonora, and many towns hold processions, masses and other events in his honor.

28 – 30

HISAR Festival – Festival Hilario Sánchez Rubio
Empalme
Plaza Independencia (El Tinaco)

30 – 31

3ro Festival Panteonero
Day of the Dead Festivities
Caborca

Other Events – Dates not yet announced

Feria de Algodón – Cotton Fair
San Luis Rio Colorado
Caborca

Festival de la Calaca 2018
Casa de la Cultura, Ciudad Obregon