The civilizations of pre-Hispanic Mexico, going back some three thousand years, all played a type of ball game known as "pok-a-tok", and every Mayan city had a ball court. Merida has its own recreation of "pok-a-tok", played each Friday evening on the street in front of the cathedral.
Every Saturday night in Merida, experience performances at the Casa de Montejo and Cathedral de Merida. These performances highlight the roots of the different cultures that meld into the culture we find in Merida today. Look for both domestic and international performances here.
La Vaqueria is one of the most widespread traditional festivals in the Yucatan. This celebration has its roots in the 18th century, when cattle ranching was the main source of wealth on the Yucatan Peninsula. Ranchers held huge fiestas to show off their wealth during branding time. The dances were adapted by the wives of the cowboys and soon developed into the signature dances of Yucatan. Every Monday you can enjoy this celebration outside of City Hall, featuring performances by the Ballet Folklorico de Merida, accompanied by the Orchestra Jaranera.