Will This Festival Change How Mérida Sees Snakes?

Mérida will host the fifth annual Festival Mexicano de las Serpientes on Aug. 1 and 2, a two-day event built around more than 20 free activities focused on environmental education and wildlife conservation.

The festival is organized by the nonprofit Tlacuatzin A.C. in coordination with the Mérida city government, along with academic institutions, government agencies and civil organizations. Its goal is to help residents better understand snakes, dispel common myths about them and support their conservation.

“Environmental education is one of the most important tools for conserving biodiversity, building a better-informed society and showing that snakes are essential allies for balanced ecosystems,” festival organizers said.

This year’s event caps off a regional tour that also included stops in Campeche and Quintana Roo, the result of collaboration among conservation groups and specialists across the Yucatán Peninsula’s three states.

The program includes lectures, workshops, courses, guided walks, biological exhibits, cultural activities and a bike ride, with specialists from all three states leading sessions at various points around the city. Topics range from amphibian and reptile conservation to snakebite response, nature photography, paleontology, Indigenous languages tied to local wildlife terminology, snake rescue and rehabilitation, cave biodiversity and responsible reptile handling.

Organizers will also set up a live reptile exhibit under proper permits, a scientific collection of preserved specimens, a photography exhibition and a display of drawings made by children, alongside booths staffed by wildlife conservation groups.

“The goal is for every attendee to walk away with a bit of this experience, lose the fear that comes from not knowing, and strengthen their respect and love for nature,” Tlacuatzin A.C. said.

Yucatán is home to roughly 40 species of snakes, only five of which are venomous, according to Yucatán Magazine’s wildlife coverage — a detail organizers hope to spotlight through the festival’s hands-on sessions. Snakebite envenoming is classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease affecting millions worldwide each year, underscoring why organizers see public education as prevention.

Snakes also carry cultural weight on the Peninsula, tied to the feathered serpent deity Kukulkán, honored at archaeological sites like Chichén Itzá.

Among the festival’s marquee events: a nighttime walking tour Friday, July 31, in southern Mérida; a science outreach session called “Shots de Ciencia” on Saturday, Aug. 1; and a bike ride called “Camino de la Serpiente” on Sunday, Aug. 2, along Paseo de Montejo.

Participating institutions include the Yucatán Health Ministry, REDTOX, UADY’s Committee for Biodiversity Conservation, the Animaya Zoo, RCARY, Amigos de Max, PIMVS Tumbén Kuxtal, ILIK Balam, SATROP and Bioclinic, along with independent researchers and conservation organizations.

Admission is free and all activities are open to the public. The full schedule is posted on Tlacuatzin A.C.’s social media pages.

Fast Facts: Festival Mexicano de las Serpientes

• Dates: Aug. 1-2, plus a pre-festival night walk July 31
• Location: Various points around Mérida
• Organizer: Tlacuatzin A.C., with the Mérida city government
• Activities: More than 20 free events, including talks, workshops, exhibits and a bike ride
• Cost: Free and open to the public
• Info: Available on Tlacuatzin A.C.’s Facebook page

With reporting from La Jornada Maya