The Moors and Christians dance begins on the patron's day and wraps up about two weeks later with the burial of the huesito, placed on top of the kiosk.
Next dates
September 21, 2027
The year after: September 21, 2028
These are the traditional dates. Programs are announced a few weeks before, so check with the town before you book.
Remind me before Fiesta of San Mateo in NaolincoAdd to my calendar: Google Calendar Apple or Outlook (.ics)
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
- Fiesta days
Every fiesta in Veracruz, in your calendar: Google Calendar Apple or Outlook .ics file
Fiesta of San Mateo: what happens
- Moors and Christians dance
- Moors masked as devils and skulls
- Santiagos with wooden swords
- Burial of the huesito on the kiosk
Plan your visit to Naolinco
Tours in Naolinco
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Naolinco.
Tours from Veracruz
Private Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi By Car -All inclusive
★ 5.0 (546) · From US$14
How to get to Naolinco
- From Xalapa: about 35 min by car (30 km)
- Nearest airport: Veracruz (VER), 1 h 55 min by car to Naolinco
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
About Naolinco
Naolinco de Victoria is a small mountain city in the foothills of the Sierra de Chiconquiaco, 32 km by road from Xalapa. It is known for its leather goods and for the Naolinco River, which drops through ten named waterfalls, the tallest an 80-meter fall you can see from the town lookout. Traditions run deep here: the Moors and Christians dance for San Mateo in late September, and La Cantada on November 1, when people go house to house singing before the altars for the dead.
More fiestas in Naolinco
-
November 1
La Cantada
People go from house to house singing hymns of praise before the family altars, stopping at the display of skulls along the way.
La Cantada: dates and what to see →
Other fiestas in September
-
Fiesta of San Jerónimo
Coatepec, Veracruz · September 24 – 30
-
Fiesta de la Virgen de los Remedios Cholula, Puebla · August 31 – September 8
-
Huey Atlixcáyotl Atlixco, Puebla · September 26
-
Fiesta of El Tepozteco and the Virgin of the Nativity Tepoztlán, Morelos · September 7 – 8
-
Feria de San Mateo Apóstol
Capulálpam de Méndez, Oaxaca · September 11 – 22
-
September 16 charreada
Villa del Carbón, Estado de México · September 16