San Felipe knows how to celebrate. Throughout the year, this small beach town on the Sea of Cortez fills up with festivals, parades, races, and cultural events that bring locals and visitors together. Here are the major events that draw crowds to San Felipe.
Festival del Camarón (Shrimp Festival) — November
The San Felipe Shrimp Festival is the town’s signature food event, held annually over three days in early November. Admission is free.
The festival takes over the Malecón and surrounding streets with dozens of food stalls and participating restaurants, all serving shrimp in every preparation you can imagine — ceviche, tacos, grilled with garlic, breaded and fried, in soups, in tostadas, and in creative dishes invented just for the competition. Specialized chefs judge the entries and award prizes for the best and most original preparations.
Beyond the food, the Shrimp Festival features live music across multiple genres — rock, blues, and country acts play throughout the three days. It marks the beginning of San Felipe’s high tourist season, when the weather cools to comfortable temperatures and snowbirds from the US and Canada begin arriving for the winter.
The festival is a celebration of the ingredient that defines San Felipe’s food culture. If you’re planning a fall trip, timing it around the Shrimp Festival is worth the effort.
San Felipe Carnival — February/March
Like many Mexican towns, San Felipe holds an annual Carnival celebration in the weeks before Lent. The San Felipe Carnival fills the streets with colorful parades, music, dancing, and costumes. Floats move through town accompanied by dancers and musicians, and the energy is infectious. The Malecón becomes the center of the festivities, with food vendors, games, and stages set up for live performances.
Carnival in San Felipe is smaller and more intimate than the massive celebrations in places like Mazatlán or Veracruz, which is part of what makes it special. You’re not lost in a crowd of hundreds of thousands — you’re celebrating alongside the people who live here.
SCORE San Felipe 250 — March
The SCORE San Felipe 250 is one of the most prestigious off-road desert races in the world. Organized by SCORE International, it’s the season opener of the SCORE World Desert Championship series and is known as “SCORE’s fastest race.”
The race has been running for nearly four decades. The 2026 edition — the 39th SCORE San Felipe 250 — is scheduled for March 25–29, 2026. The course covers approximately 283 miles through the Baja California desert, with competitors navigating everything from wide-open desert flats to technical rocky sections and massive whoops.
Race categories include trophy trucks, unlimited buggies, motorcycles, and UTVs. The 2025 race drew 251 starting teams across all classes, with UTVs alone accounting for a record 91 entries. The finishing celebrations take place along the Malecón, where spectators line the boardwalk to cheer in the finishers.
Even if you’re not into racing, the San Felipe 250 week is an event. The town fills with teams, support crews, and fans from around the world. Contingency (the pre-race vehicle inspection and parade) takes over the main streets, giving spectators a close-up look at the race vehicles. The energy in town during race week is unlike any other time of year.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) — March/April
Semana Santa — the week leading up to Easter — is one of the biggest travel weeks in all of Mexico, and San Felipe is a popular destination. Mexican families from Mexicali, Tijuana, Ensenada, and further south make the trip to San Felipe’s beaches for the holiday.
The town comes alive with families, music, food vendors, and a festive atmosphere. The beaches are packed, restaurants are full, and the Malecón is at its most lively. If you want to experience San Felipe at peak energy, this is the week. Book accommodations well in advance — Semana Santa fills up fast.
Mexican Independence Day — September 16
September 15th and 16th mark Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations, commemorating the start of the independence movement in 1810. In San Felipe, as across Mexico, the festivities begin on the night of September 15th with El Grito — the reenactment of the call to independence. Local officials lead the crowd in the traditional shout from a balcony or stage, followed by fireworks.
On September 16th, parades wind through the streets of San Felipe. Schools, civic organizations, and local groups march with flags, banners, and music. The celebration continues through the day with food, music, and dancing.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) — November 1–2
Just before the Shrimp Festival, San Felipe observes Día de los Muertos, one of Mexico’s most meaningful cultural traditions. Families build colorful altars (ofrendas) decorated with marigolds, candles, photos, and the favorite foods and drinks of departed loved ones. It’s a celebration of life and memory, not mourning.
In San Felipe, you’ll see ofrendas in homes, shops, and public spaces. Some restaurants and businesses create elaborate displays. The atmosphere is reflective but warm — a reminder of the deep cultural traditions that run through daily life in this part of Mexico.
Planning Around Events
San Felipe’s event calendar means there’s almost always something happening, especially from November through April (the high season). The major events — Shrimp Festival, Carnival, SCORE 250, and Semana Santa — each bring a different crowd and a different energy. If you prefer a quieter visit, the weeks between these events are still beautiful, with warm weather, uncrowded beaches, and all the fishing, food, and exploring you could want.
More about San Felipe: