Mezcal fair in oaxaca: tradition, flavors and culture
Mezcal Fair in Oaxaca: Taste the Tradition in July
Every year, in the heart of the state of Oaxaca, one of the most representative and awaited festivities by locals and visitors alike is celebrated: the Mezcal Fair. This event, which usually takes place during the month of July, offers an opportunity to taste the emblematic Oaxacan distillate, but also represents a tribute to the identity, history and effort of generations of mezcal masters.
Connected with other festivities such as the Guelaguetza or the Mezcal Fest in different parts of the country, the Oaxaca Mezcal Fair is positioned as one of the most authentic and profound encounters with traditional Mexican culture. Learn more about the Fair and other related events that you can take advantage of during your visit to Oaxaca with Hertz Mexico.
About the Mezcal Fair
The Mezcal Fair is one of the most important events for the mezcal sector in Oaxaca. It is held every year in the capital city, as part of the activities of the Guelaguetza and brings together producers from different regions of the state such as Santiago Matatlán, San Dionisio Ocotepec, Miahuatlán and Tlacolula. The fair aims to promote Oaxacan mezcal and support small and medium-sized local businesses.
During the event, visitors can taste, buy directly from producers, attend workshops on mixology and distillation processes, and learn about different varieties of agave. Conferences on mezcal production, regulations and marketing are also organized. In addition to the focus on the beverage, there is a complementary offer of typical products of the region such as tlayudas, mole, handmade chocolate and quesillo, as well as exhibitions of handicrafts such as textiles, black clay and alebrijes. It is a good opportunity to get to know directly the mezcal ecosystem of Oaxaca.
Mezcal as a symbol of identity
For the Oaxacan community, mezcal is not only an alcoholic beverage; it is heritage, community work, and living memory. Mezcal production in Oaxaca has pre-Hispanic roots, when ancestral methods were used to ferment and distill wild agaves. Over time, these techniques were perfected until they became a tradition passed down from generation to generation.
Each bottle represents a complete cycle of respect for the land: from the cultivation of the maguey, which can take up to 15 years to mature, to its cooking in stone ovens, grinding in tahona, natural fermentation and distillation in copper or clay stills.
The Oaxaca mezcal fair not only celebrates this drink, but everything it represents: the link with nature, ancestral wisdom, community life and cultural resistance to industrialization.
Other celebrations you can take advantage of in Oaxaca
If you visit Oaxaca at this time of the year, you can enjoy the mezcal festival and also take advantage of other celebrations that enrich your trip. Rent a car in Oaxaca to move easily through different regions of the state and live unforgettable experiences. Some of the festivities and places you can include in your trip are:
Fiesta de San Juan Bautista in San Juan Bautista Valle Nacional (June 24).
It is a religious celebration with music, traditional dances and typical gastronomy in the region of the Papaloapan Basin. Ideal to combine with a route to the north of the state.
Tejate and Tamale Festival in San Andres Huayapam
A few kilometers from the city of Oaxaca, this celebration brings together traditional cooks who prepare a wide variety of tamales, from classic mole tamales to options with local herbs, accompanied by tejate, an ancestral drink made with corn, cocoa and cocoa flower.
Mezcal Route
Renting a car with Hertz Mexico you can travel freely through emblematic towns such as Santiago Matatlán, Mitla and Santa Catarina Minas. In each one you will be able to visit traditional palenques, meet mezcal masters, learn about the ancestral production processes and taste authentic mezcals directly in the heart of their land of origin. Tlacolula Market Although it is not a festival as such, visiting this traditional market is a cultural festival in itself. It is held every Sunday and is one of the oldest in Mesoamerica. Here flavors, colors, indigenous languages and customs are mixed and kept alive.
Nearby Magical Towns You can visit Capulálpam de Méndez, nestled in the Sierra Norte and famous for its traditional medicine and wooded landscapes, or San Pablo Villa de Mitla, known for its Zapotec archaeological sites and handcrafted textiles. Both are ideal for a cultural getaway in a car from Oaxaca City.