The traditional "El Cedral 2024" festival has commenced with a series of opening activities. These included a Mayan ritual, a Catholic Mass at the local church, and the grand coronation of the festival queens, godmother, and the most beautiful flower of the ejido. The event also featured the presentation of around 200 flowers, buds, buttons, and batons.

Just before noon, a Mayan ritual was performed at the “Chenpita” cenote. The purpose of this ritual was to seek Mother Earth's permission to hold this celebration, a tradition that has been upheld for 176 years.

As part of the opening ceremony, municipal authorities and members of the Ejido Commissariat, along with the senior baton bearer, Don Eligio Cárdenas, and special guests, performed the traditional ribbon-cutting. This took place at the monument dedicated to Don Casimiro Cárdenas, located next to the main palapa.

Following this, there was the presentation of 98 buttons, buds, flowers, and 50 small batons. This led to the coronation and sash ceremony for the queen of the 2024 Riders, Mariana Villanueva Achach; The Most Beautiful Flower of the Ejido, Citlaly del Carmen Orozco Castañeda; the godmother of El Cedral, Rocío del Carmen Aguilar Cárdenas; and the festival's queen, Yovanna Guadalupe Basto Cahuich.

The festival continued with the riders parading through the village streets. Meanwhile, at the main palapa, the musical ensemble "Corazón Caribe" entertained the crowd with Yucatecan trova and jaranas, adding to the festive atmosphere of the afternoon.