Mexico's Silver Fair

Festival Location: Taxco, Mexico

Festival Type(s): National Festivals, Art Festivals, Cultural Festivals

Taxco - Mexico's Silver Fair

by © Diana Rowe Martinez 2008

Located 185 km southwest of Mexico City, in the northern Guerrero State, the streets of Taxco (Tahs-co) are lined with silver--silver jewelry, that is. In 1953 to honor the silver artisans, Mexico's President declared the last Saturday in November through the first Sunday in December National Silver Day. The 2001 fair dates are November 24 through December 1.

As early as 1937, an American born, Taxco inhabitant, silver designer William Spratling began the fair's celebration as an appreciation party to honor the artisans that produced his designs. Since then the fair has escalated to the national level, hosting a competition of Mexico's best silversmiths and some of the world's finest artisans.

In hilly terrain, some 6,000 feet above sea level, Taxco is the industry's biggest silver producer in the world. Silver has always played an important role in Taxco's history, as far back as the early 1500's. The silver mines have been worked since the time of Cortes, four centuries ago. The Mexican government has declared Taxco a national monument and has made great efforts to preserve the colonial atmosphere of the city. A steady stream of foreign visitors pound Taxco's narrow, twisting cobblestone streets gazing at the red tiled colonial homes.

Over 16,000 silver shops line the tiny main plaza, Plaza Borda, and the streets leading to it, all bustling with a hub of activity day and night. The clerk's laid back approach to the casual browser testifies to a brisk wholesale export business. Bargains galore can be found here, and bartering is a part of the exciting shopping adventure.

Almost all ground floor silver shops host top-floor restaurants with balconies overlooking the scene. At mealtime, you'll be hard pressed to find a vacant balcony, which provides an ideal panorama of the scene below you; as well the intricately carved pink-hued facade of Taxco's Santa Prisca Parish Church.

Senor Benito Flores Batalla, an official Taxco guide for the Secretary of Tourism and a native of Taxco, said, "The National Silver Fair should be called 'The National Contest of the Silver Industry.' Still, this fair is an exciting event to Taxco. Mexico's President attends and honors the artisan winner by personally presenting a 24K Gold trophy with an Aztec eagle design and a purse of 40,000 pesos. Second and third place winners are equally honored with prize presentations by the Guerrero state governor and the Mayor of Taxco."

The fair also crowns a local senorita with the title of "Queen of the Silver Fair" and features exhibits, concerts, dances and fireworks. Add that to the already exciting competition of Mexico's best silversmiths and some of the world's finest artisans, a trip to Taxco's National Silver Fair is well worth the visit.

by Diana Rowe Martinez