The tiny municipality of Tahmek, about an hour east of Merida, will be soon under the glow of many colorful hot-air balloons once again.
The Festival del Globo Maya, or Mayan Balloon Festival, will launch 20 handmade balloons, made with Chinese paper and glue and measuring up to 20 meters high.
Around 15 artisans from Yucatan, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Veracruz and Michoacan will participate 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11. Admission to the family-friendly activity is free.
At a press conference, Fernando Cetz Aké, an artisanal craftsman by trade, said that the event is expected to attract over 5,000 visitors to the town’s sports field.
The festival will be organized in honor of San Lorenzo, Tahmek’s patron saint, as well as the Virgen de la Asunción.
Although this was announced as the first such festival, a similar event was organized here in 2016 under a different name.
In 2017, El Festival Internacional del Globo en Yucatán ballooned out of control at the racetrack between Merida and Progreso. Organizers expected 20,000 attendees and got 100,000. Chaos ensued, but that could be partly attributed to the appearance of pop singer Aleks Syntek, who headlined a concert there.
No such celebrity appearances are expected in Tahmek, and officials promise plenty of parking for its guests.
