Celebrate Playa del Carmen’s Founding Anniversary on November 14th

The State Congress has declared November 14, 1912, as the official founding date of Playa del Carmen. Ahead of this year's celebration on November 14th, the civil association “Unidos Por Playa” is encouraging residents and the local government to honor the city's history. The association's president, José Luis Acosta Quian, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the descendants of the city's founders, as Playa del Carmen's relatively recent establishment compared to other locations in the country means it still has living history.

On the eve of Playa del Carmen's 122nd anniversary, Walter Puc and José Luis Acosta Quian, leaders of the “Unidos por Playa” association, are inviting residents to join a traditional civil ceremony at Founders Park. The ceremony, conducted by Solidaridad authorities and descendants of the city's founders, will begin at 7:00 AM and will be followed by other events. The descendants are also advocating for a street to be named “November 14th,” to distinguish the city's founding date from July 28th, the establishment date of Solidaridad county and the creation of what is now known as Playa del Carmen.

Walter Puc shared that the goal of the commemoration is to raise awareness of Playa del Carmen's history and help residents understand their roots. Luis Acosta Quian added that the ceremony will include recognition of pioneer doctors and mestizo women of Founders Park, and a posthumous honor for Augusto Centeno, a former local teacher. The event will conclude at 7:00 PM with an exhibition at the city's downtown gallery, organized by the Municipal Institute of Culture and Arts (IMCAS) and a group of young individuals. The exhibition will highlight the history of the patron saint festivities of Playa del Carmen and will feature artistic events at the 28th of July plaza.

Despite the rich history of Playa del Carmen, only one school is currently named after a city pioneer, José Quiam Chan. Luis Acosta Quian also noted that the park where the first mayor's office was located, “Leona Vicario,” is currently being renovated. He suggested that the “Leona Vicario” library could be replaced with a permanent exhibition featuring photos of the city's pioneers. He concluded by expressing the importance of preserving and promoting the city's history for future generations.