Acapulco Entertainment

Acapulco’s reputation portrays a city that never sleeps and the city does its best to live up to that reputation. Nightclubs and discos don’t close until every last reveller has gone home, and at times, this is long after the sun has come up. Legendary nightlife aside, Acapulco also has a reputation of being a magnet for the rich and famous. Many celebrities from all over the world have homes here or keep vacation retreats in Acapulco. There is also a bingo hall and bullfighting for those who fancy a wager.

Nightlife

As the sun goes down, Acapulco’s night scene come alive. Acapulco’s nightlife is legendary. With an endless array of clubs, bars and discotheques for all music preferences and all ages, you will never have the time to visit them all. Most venues are open until sunrise. Dancing at one of the hillside clubs with a full view of the bay through floor-to-ceiling windows is an experience unique to Acapulco. Acapulco has some of the best discos in the world. Hit one of these on Friday or Saturday night, but don't expect to go to bed until 06:00.

With only a few exceptions, the bars in Acapulco are quite comparable to those found elsewhere in the world. There is not much live music, but spontaneous displays of dancing often take off in the middle of the bar and at times, on top of the bar.

Theatre and music

The ‘Gran Noche Mexicana’ mixes a performance by the Acapulco Ballet Folklórico with one by Los Voladores from Papantla. It takes place in the plaza of the Convention Centre three times weekly. Many visitors also opt for the dinner show. The official stage of Acapulco’s orchestra is the Juan Ruiz de Alarcon Theatre, with a capacity of 1,100 spectators, dressing rooms, orchestra pit, lighting system and all the other necessary theatrical elements. Occasionally, discos will waive their cover charge or offer a promotion to draw customers to their establishment. Look out for promotional materials in hotel reception areas, at travel desks or concierge booths, in local publications and on the beach. The high-rise hotels have their own bars and sometimes discos. Informal lobby or poolside cocktail bars often offer free live entertainment.

Festivals

There are a number of annual festivals that are unique to the city, with highlights including:

• The biggest party of the year falls on December 12 and it celebrates the Virgin of Guadalupe. On this eventful day, you’ll see long processions and many flowers.  This party is full of colour and tradition.
• Mexico rings in the New Year with celebrations featuring music, dance, food and fireworks. Streets are filled with revellers, and friends and families congregate for parties that often last until dawn. One tradition calls for eating 12 grapes, one with each stroke of the chiming bell at midnight, for luck during the next 12 months.
• The Mexican Open is the most important tennis tournament in Latin America and ranks 15th in the world. It is part of the International Gold Series ATP and Tier 3 of the WTA. Champions from this tournament go to the US Open in New York (February).
• Dia de la Razao festivities take place in the streets, which are cordoned off, and businesses and banks close in honour of this holiday. This is the Mexican version of Columbus Day and the holiday celebrates Columbus' discovery of Mexico on October 12th. Parades fill the main streets downtown with floats created in the shapes of Columbus’ three ships and other themes. Carnival rides and open-air concerts dot the city; then at dusk, fireworks are launched across the bay.
• Acapulco Carnival is a week-long celebration, the forerunner to the Catholic Church's Lent holiday. In Acapulco, Catholic or not, people celebrate with carnival rides, cotton-candy machines on street-corners and revelry everywhere you look. The intensity of the celebrations increases with the evening hours and the streets are cordoned off for street parties and parades. Do not plan to get anywhere quickly, particularly in the evening. Admission is free to all public events.