Free Art, Music and Workshops at Cozumel Reef Festival

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The municipal government and Grupo Plenilunio Cozumel on Wednesday announced the second edition of the Reef Festival, a three-day event running Aug. 7-9 that will combine theater, dance, music, object theater, multidisciplinary performances, workshops, talks and a permanent arts pavilion to promote protection of the island’s coral reef.

The festival will showcase artists with and without disabilities from Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche and Mexico City. All events are free.

Speaking at a press conference, Héctor Martínez Ramírez, the municipal cabinet director who represented Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez, said the festival offers a complete, diverse and inclusive program with a strong sense of Cozumel identity. He called it an ideal platform for local artists and the island’s gastronomy, enriched by specialists and creators from other municipalities and states.

Cristina Santana, deputy director of culture, said the festival is an important space for bringing art and culture to the community while strengthening awareness about reef conservation and the value of Cozumel’s natural heritage. Festival director Abel Pool invited residents and visitors to enjoy the lineup.

Frideny Vázquez, director of artistic coordination and communication for Grupo Plenilunio, said “Arte con Sabor a Mar” is the festival’s identity, recognizing that Cozumel is an island whose natural and cultural wealth deserves celebration. She said that just as the reef brings together hundreds of species living in balance, the festival integrates different artistic disciplines, generations and forms of expression to build a space for encounter, inclusion and coexistence.

The program opens Friday at BiblioAvión park with an inaugural ceremony and a family-friendly artistic show. Saturday will be dedicated to learning, creative exchange and training at the Culture Subdirectorate, Los Lápices park and, in the afternoon, the Island Museum. The festival closes Sunday at Benito Juárez park starting at 6 p.m. with dance, music and an open community gathering. A permanent arts pavilion will offer exhibition and sale of artworks throughout the event.