Colorful Crochet Sky Over Calle 47 Ripped by Passing Tanker Truck

A tanker truck tore through a recently installed crochet canopy on Mérida’s Gastronomic Corridor, leaving holes, dangling threads, and a section of the colorful textile draped over the side of Calle 47.

Witnesses said the truck was traveling along Calle 47 when it snagged the installation, which had been suspended over the street between Calles 54 and 56 just days earlier. Municipal police responded to the scene and blocked taller vehicles from passing beneath the artwork to prevent further damage.

The canopy was part of a World Cup promotion called “Gol a Gol,” organized by Canirac Yucatán — the state chapter of Mexico’s national restaurant industry association — in partnership with Mérida’s city government. The initiative was designed to attract visitors to the corridor during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and boost business for area restaurants. In addition to the overhead textiles, the campaign added outdoor seating, beer bars, and large-screen setups for viewing matches.

The two pieces — one measuring 30 meters (about 98 feet) and another 18 meters (59 feet) — were created by Cielo Tejido, a collective of more than 200 artisan women based in Etzatlán, Jalisco. Every panel is hand-crocheted, which makes both the artistry and the vulnerability of the installation easy to appreciate.

Cielo Tejido was founded in 2014 by Lorena Ron and her mother, Concepción Siordia, who began crocheting together as a way to process grief. What started as a small community project in a Jalisco town eventually became a Guinness World Record holder: in 2019, the collective’s canopy in Etzatlán was recognized as the largest handmade crochet pavilion in the world, covering more than 2,800 square meters (about 30,000 square feet). They broke their own record in 2022 with a canopy exceeding 8,000 square meters. The group has since installed work in Dubai, Belgium, Miami, and at the Burning Man festival in the United States.

Their arrival in Mérida marked another chapter in that international story — and a natural fit for a city that has embraced large-scale public art and cultural programming along its historic streetscape.

The Gastronomic Corridor has been one of Mérida’s fastest-growing attractions since it opened in late 2023. Running along Calle 47 from the Remate de Montejo to Parque La Plancha, the pedestrian-friendly strip draws both tourists and locals to its mix of restaurants, sidewalk seating, and cultural activations. The corridor was part of a broader infrastructure investment exceeding MX$2.5 billion (roughly US$125 million) that buried power lines, widened sidewalks, and upgraded street surfaces throughout the historic center.

As of press time, no official statement had been issued on whether or when the damaged sections would be repaired. Police were still managing traffic flow near the installation.

Fast Facts

• The crochet canopy was installed on Calle 47, between Calles 54 and 56, in the Gastronomic Corridor
• Two pieces in the installation: one 30 meters (98 ft.) long, one 18 meters (59 ft.) long
• Created by Cielo Tejido, a collective of 200+ artisan women from Etzatlán, Jalisco
• The “Gol a Gol” activation is a joint initiative of Canirac Yucatán and the Mérida city government
• Municipal police responded and blocked tall vehicles from continuing through the area

Sources: lajornadamaya.mx; yucatan.com.mx