113,000 Pack Xmatkuil Fair as Matute Delivers Rescheduled Show

More than 113,000 people flooded through the gates of Xmatkuil Fair — the state fair — on Saturday, transforming the fairgrounds into a celebration of tradition, music, and nostalgia.

The day started early with families wandering through livestock pavilions and artisan stalls. The smell of panuchos and marquesitas drifted through the air as children ran between exhibits and parents browsed handicrafts. By nightfall, the fair had become something else entirely — a concert venue pulsing with energy and packed shoulder to shoulder.

State officials officiate over the opening of Xmatkuil Fair 2025.

Xmatkuil Fair 2025.Photo: Courtesy

Matute, a major musical act, entertained the crowd at Xmatkuil 2025.Courtesy

The 2024 Xmatkuil Yucatán Fair.File Photo

The 2024 Xmatkuil Yucatán Fair.

The 2024 Xmatkuil Yucatán Fair.

Man riding huge bull in yucatan mexico xmatkuil fair

The first Xmatkuil fair was held in 1974 almost exclusively as a caddle show but has run (except for 2020 and 2021) and grown continuously.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The first Xmatkuil fair was held in 1974 almost exclusively as a caddle show but has run (except for 2020 and 2021) and grown continuously.

chela, chelada, cerveza, beer, yucatan, fair, duck, xmatkuil

For the whimsical, there’s “pato chela” with tamarind and plenty of beer.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

hammocks for sale at xmatkuil state fair in Yucatan

A popular purchase at Xmatkuil is a hammock or hammock chair.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Matute helped open the Feria Xmatkuil 2025.Courtesy

Saturday’s main attraction was Matute, the Mexican pop-rock band known for its electrifying tributes to 1980s and ’90s hits. The group had rescheduled from Friday but made up for lost time with a show that turned the Centro de Espectáculos Montejo into a time machine. Thousands of voices sang along to “Maldita Primavera” and “Ni tú ni nadie” while the stage exploded with lights and choreographed movement.

The band, formed in 2007, has built a devoted following by covering both English and Spanish classics from the Rock en español movement. Saturday’s medleys brought that era back to life for an audience that spanned generations.

When Matute wrapped up, AB Quintanilla and his Kumbia Allstars took over. The Tejano music legend, along with Proyecto Uno, kept the party going with tropical rhythms that had the crowd dancing well past midnight.

Earlier in the day, the fair’s agricultural roots were on full display at the Regional Sheep Exhibition. White Dorper sheep from ranches El Chaparral and Chansanlatáh competed in several categories. El Chaparral swept the competition, taking top honors in multiple divisions including young male and adult female categories.

Fair officials reported a safe Saturday with only minor medical incidents. A few attendees needed treatment for dehydration and dizziness. One person was transported to a hospital as a precaution, but no serious injuries occurred.

The fair opened its doors in 1974 as a livestock exhibition on 10 hectares (25 acres) near the former Hacienda Xmatkuil, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Mérida. Over five decades, it has grown into one of southeastern Mexico’s largest cultural events, now spanning 77 hectares (190 acres) and drawing nearly 3 million visitors each year during its month-long run.

This year’s edition runs through November 30 and features concerts from major Mexican artists including Mijares, Emanuel, Pandora, and Flans. The fair also hosts equine and livestock exhibitions, comedy shows, mechanical rides, and hundreds of commercial vendors selling everything from kitchen supplies to plants.

The event continues nightly with concerts at the Centro de Espectáculos Montejo and other stages throughout the grounds. The fairgrounds open at 8 a.m. and close at 2 a.m., though concert venues often stay open later.

Admission costs 30 pesos (about $1.50 USD). Parking is available for 40 pesos ($2 USD), with a designated pink lot for women attending alone or with children.