Santa Lucía Park Debuts New Video Mapping Show

One of Mérida’s most beloved gathering spots will glow with new life this Saturday evening as Santa Lucía Park launches its first-ever video mapping show. The spectacle, titled “Luz, arte y tradición” (Light, art and tradition), debuts September 14 at 8 p.m.

The immersive projection will transform the park’s distinctive archways into a canvas of light, showcasing images celebrating Mexico’s September patriotic month, national folklore, and traditional trios. Miguel Cruz Granados, administrator of Santa Lucía Park plaza, says the project represents months of careful planning.

Santa Lucia Park in Mérida, Mexico, is full of life.Photo: Lee Steele / Yucatán Magazine
Santa Lucia Park in Mérida, Mexico, is full of life.Photo: Lee Steele / Yucatán Magazine
Video Mapping show in Chichém Itzá.
One of the most interesting aspects of the new video mapping shows is that images are also projected onto trees, which, when moving in the wind, have a chilling ghostly effect.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
At the video mapping show at Dzibilchaltún not simulating the passing of the sun through the temple’s door seems like an obvious missed opportunity.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
There is no denying that getting to experience archaeological sites like Uxmal at night is a very different and exciting experience.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
References to Maya myth and iconography are projected in vivid colors on to Pyramid of the Magician.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Lights depicting an ancient ritual light up Dzibilchaltún’s gran piramide.Photo: Cultur
Video mapping is projected onto the facade of Mérida’s Palacio Cantón.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht Yucatán Magazine
The Celebration also included video mapping displays at the Monumento a la Patría, Palacio Canton, and Santa Ana’s 18th century Church.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht
Video mapping lights up Uxmal.Photo: Courtesy
Video mapping lights up the ancient facade up the complex known as the Nunery, in Uxmal.Photo: Courtesy
World Tourism Organization Secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, during his visit to Uxmal’s new video mapping show.Photo: Courtesy
During a show titled “Diálogos del Conquistador” spectators in Mérida enjoyed a video mapping show, and socially distanced outdoor performances to collect funds for the cities out of work trovadores.Photo: Courtesy
Chichen Itza’s iconic pyramid.Photo: File
A 360-degree light show on the Monumento a la Patria celebrates two years of the nighttime Biciruta.Photo: Ayuntamiento
Video mapping, a high-tech sound and light show, has been an off-and-on proposition in Valladolid.Photo: Courtesy
Videomapping presentations will resume at the Cathedral and Casa Montejo in Mérida.Photo: AyuntaMérida

“This is a cultural option that we hope will attract more tourism to the Centro and to this space in particular,” Cruz Granados explained. The show targets both locals and the growing number of visitors drawn to Mérida’s historic center.

Yucatán’s tourism sector saw an 11% increase in overnight visitors in 2025, with the state’s cultural and natural offerings continuing to attract domestic and international tourists. The video mapping initiative arrives as Mérida strengthens its position as a cultural hub on Mexico’s southeastern coast.

Technical Spectacle Spans Historic Archways

The projection will cover the entire L-shaped arcade that frames the park, stretching from Calle 60 to Calle 55. This covers approximately 200 meters (650 feet) of colonial-era architecture, creating one of the most expansive outdoor projection surfaces in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Cruz Granados notes they chose the same technical provider that created the acclaimed video mapping shows at Mérida’s Cathedral and the Monument to the Homeland. Video mapping has become increasingly popular at major landmarks throughout Mexico, with elaborate facades and historic architecture serving as canvases for immersive light shows.

Saturday’s debut will run continuously from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., giving visitors multiple opportunities to experience the spectacle. Currently featuring only light and synchronized sound effects, organizers plan to add narrated segments about Mérida’s history and the park’s significance in future iterations.

Building on Cultural Programming Success

The video mapping debut builds on Santa Lucía’s growing reputation as an entertainment destination. The park already hosts weekly cultural events, including “De la trova a la jarana” on Fridays at 8 p.m., which traces the evolution of Spanish dance to traditional Yucatecan jarana. Saturday evenings feature “Noches de música en el parque” with live performances and mariachi.

Santa Lucía has long served as a cultural anchor in Mérida’s Centro, originally established in 1542 as a gathering place for the colonial community. The park sits three blocks north of the city’s main cathedral, at the intersection of two major thoroughfares that connect the historic center to residential neighborhoods.

The Thursday evening Serenata Yucateca, running since 1965, remains the park’s signature cultural event. This weekly tradition features traditional trova music and dance performances that draw both tourists and local families.

Future Plans and Visitor Experience

Cruz Granados says organizers will monitor audience response to determine the show’s permanent format. The goal involves creating a 20-minute presentation that repeats three times each evening, similar to successful video mapping programs in other Mexican tourist destinations.

The park’s central location makes it easily accessible by foot from most Centro hotels and restaurants. Its famous oversized “confidentes” chairs have become popular photo spots, while surrounding establishments offer dining options ranging from traditional Yucatecan cuisine to international fare.

The video mapping joins other evening attractions like the Cathedral light shows and Paseo de Montejo’s weekend street festivals.

If You Go

What: “Luz, arte y tradición” video mapping debut
When: Saturday, September 14, 8-11 p.m. (continuous showings)
Where: Santa Lucía Park archways, Calle 60 x Calle 55, Centro
Cost: Free admission
Parking: Limited street parking; consider walking from nearby hotels
Best viewing: Position yourself in the center of the park for optimal sightlines to all projected surfaces