Mexican and Latin Festival

A Festival Born from a Franco-Mexican Twinning

The Martel Mexican and Latin Festival is the result of a unique intercultural friendship between the medieval city of Lot and the town of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. In 2002, the Tequila-Martel Association (Twinning Committee) was founded with the mission to strengthen ties between France and Mexico through cultural, artistic, and human exchanges. Since 2005, the festival has become the flagship annual event of this cooperation, transforming the streets and squares of Martel into a true Mexican village for a weekend.

A Rich and Colorful Program

Each edition of the festival revolves around the theme of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), an emblematic tradition of Mexican culture inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The program blends ancestral traditions and contemporary festivities:

• Latin American Artisanal Market: Mexican crafts, fair trade products, culinary specialties
• Creative Workshops: piñata making, calavera (skull) decoration, tree of life crafting, mask painting, ojos de dios weaving
• Dance Shows: traditional Aztec dances, salsa, cumbia, samba, and Latin dance performances
• Concerts and Live Music: Mexican and Latin music bands, Latin dance evenings with DJs
• Exhibitions: works by Mexican artists, installations of traditional collective altars
• Cooking Workshops: introduction to Mexican gastronomy with specialized instructors
• Children's Activities: face painting, bilingual Latin American storytelling, costume parade, catrina and catrin contest, piñata games

An Event Rooted in Martel's Heritage

The festival takes over the emblematic sites of Martel, nicknamed the 'city of seven towers': the medieval Halle, the Place des Consuls, and the Salle de la Raymondie. This exceptional 13th-century architectural setting provides a remarkable backdrop for the colors and energy of the Mexican celebration, creating a striking contrast between the medieval heritage of the Lot region and pre-Hispanic traditions.

A Family and Popular Gathering

True to the spirit of sharing and openness that drives the twinning committee, the Mexican and Latin Festival aims to be accessible to all. Workshop prices remain modest, and many activities are free. The Latin dance evenings, the highlight of each edition, invite young and old to dance to lively rhythms of cumbia, salsa, and electro-folk music. The festival also hosts artists and speakers directly from Mexico, particularly from the state of Tlaxcala, a cultural partner of the association.

With nearly twenty editions to its name, the Mexican and Latin Festival has established itself as a must-see event in the cultural landscape of the Lot region, attracting visitors from far beyond the department's borders each year.