ALL APRIL. Book Fairs. Monterrery, Nuevo Leon; Cuernavaca, Morelos; Toluca, Mexico State; Teziutlan, Puebla; Uruapan, Michoacan; Tuxpan, Veracruz; Mexico City; Cortazar, Guanajuato; Chetumal, Cozumel and Felipe Carillo Puerto, Quintana Roo; and Chihuahua City. www.conaculta.gob.mx/dgp

APR 1 & 2 - HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America. Chicago, IL. The Mexico Tourism Board is participating at the HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America event which will be held at Chicago’s world famous Navy Pier. The HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® are an annual series of events that take place in three U.S. cities: Washington DC, Long Beach CA and Chicago, IL. These are educational and trade events tailored for professionals in meeting planning segment.

APR 12-19. Santiago de Queretaro Festival. Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro. This cultural festival takes place to commemorate the capital city of the State of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro. From April 12th through the 19th,an array of interesting activities such as music, theatre, concerts, exhibits and food festivals are offered to visitors. www.queretaro.travel

APR 13-19. 6th Marionette Festival. San Miguel de Allende. During Easter, the beautiful city of San Miguel becomes a unique backdrop for the most amazing stories and marionettes traveling from around the world to amuse kids, families and visitors. www.turismosanmiguel.com.mx www.festivaldetiteres.com

APR 13-MAY 10. Ollin Kan. Mexico City. Mexico City will be the enclosure of this great multicultural celebration to expose musics, dances and original ceremonies of the great fan of millenarian expressions that prevail in all continents. www.cultura.df.gob.mx

APR 16 – ASAE Springtime Expo. Washington, DC. The largest one-day show in the meetings industry and for the second year, the Mexico Tourism Board will be present as strategic partner to showcase the best destinations for meetings and conventions. Meeting planners will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the Monterrey CVB, Palace Resorts, Grupo Posadas, Hilton Hotels and Sol Melia.

APR 16-26. Filmfest DC. Washington, DC. More than 25,000 people will be celebrating the 23rd Edition of Filmfest DC and Mexico will present Arrancame la Vida, the film based on the classic novel of Mexican writer Angeles Masttreta.

APR 16-18. Association of Film Commisioners International. Santa Monica, CA. Mexican destinations such as Queretaro, Durango, Puebla, Oaxaca and Nayarit will be present in this tradeshow.

APR 17-29 – Chicago Latino Film Festival. Chicago, IL. The Mexico Tourism Board is the proud presenter of the Mexican film series at the Chicago Latino Film Festival. The audience will immerse into Mexico’s past and present with sceneries of legendary cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla and Guanajuato. To celebrate Mexican artists, on April 22nd the Mexico Tourism Board will host the traditional Noche Mexicana (Mexican Night).

APR 18–MAY 10 – San Marcos Fair. Aguascalientes. Born in the heart of Mexico, Aguascalientes prepares, year after year, to celebrate its San Marcos’ National Fair, which over 175 years has become the most important of the country. Its happiness, colors, food, fighting cocks, bullfights, traditional suits, but overcoat its people’s hospitality made this fair, the “fair of Mexico”. www.feriadesanmarcos.com

APR 19-22. Private Meetings Summit. Eden Roc Renaissance Resort, Miami, FL. This event, moving into its 8th successful year, offers its marketing partners the opportunity to pre-set and network face-to-face with qualified meeting planners. Each year they select an ideal balance of corporate, incentive, associated and third-party planners to attend. The MTB will have a booth to promote the meeting offers of Mexico’s destinations.

APR 20-26. Latin American Film Festival. Oaxaca City. Started in 2007 with the idea of building a unique Latin-American market and to convert Oaxaca in the center of projections of Latin-American films. During the duration of this festival, there is a great selection of programs: long and short films, round tables and exhibits. www.argenmex-filmfestival.com

APR 22 – Placido Domingo in Concert. Zacatecas. Placido Domingo will be present at the Palacio de Convenciones in Zacatecas where he will sing opera, traditional Mexican music with mariachis, and much more. www.turismozacatecas.gob.mx/

APR 22-26 – Africala: International African Film Festival of Mexico City. The 3rd edition of this film festival will take place between the 22th and the 26th of April, 2009 in the following theaters: Centro Cultural Universitario (UNAM), Lumiere Reforma Cinemas and Centro Cultural de España in Mexico City. www.africala.org/portal_en

APR 26-29. Tianguis Turistico. Acapulco. The 34th annual Tianguis Turistico, the most important business marketplace event for travel professionals, will host thousands of domestic and international buyers who will gather at the International Acapulco Center to meet with over 500 suppliers. www.tianguisturistico.com.mx

APR 29 – International Day of Dance. All over Mexico. Annual celebration promoted by the UNESCO since 1982. This date commemorates the birthday of Jean-George Hoverre, a great dance reformer, in April 29, 1727. In Mexico, we celebrate this date since 1986 with performances, lectures and round tables.

APR 30 - Mexican Streets: Walking Fiesta Fare. Washington, DC. Join Mexican Chef and cooking instructor Patricia Jinich at the Mexican Cultural Institute for a night out in the streets of Mexico. Come with your jeans and get ready to eat some of the most famous Mexican street food staples... Taste the traditional esquites end elotes, sopes, tacos, and more. The Mexican Table session of the month will have the special guest appearance of Chef James Muir, from Rosa Mexicano Resturants, who will share one of his favorite street foods.