Every year in late March there is an amazing festival in central Veracruz state near the ancient pre-hispanic ruins of El Tajin, once the ancient capital of the Totonac indians. The festival site is also close to the town of Papantla, center of vanilla production, not far from the gulf coast, and famous for the Totonac Volador ritual.

During the five-day festival, Cumbre Tajin, world-class music groups perform in the 2000 seat auditorium. Most of the 25,000 or so tourists come for the music, but also enjoy the hundreds of other non-stop events on the 100 hectare (247 acre) festival grounds - notably indigenous ritual, dance, and music groups from Mexico and Central America.