¡Viva México!

¡Viva México! Take a trip south of the border to a vibrant country where celebrated traditions combine with modern family life.

Shop in a colorful street market and make artisan crafts. Go to school and learn about the country’s diverse geography and history, while discovering some new Spanish words. Dance to lively mariachi music in a beautiful gazebo, take a ride on a traditional boat, or trajinera, through age-old canals, and make tortillas in a home while exploring the delicious food of Mexico. ¡Viva México! is filled with fun customs and joyful celebrations important to children in Mexico today, including Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

¡Viva México! is the sixth in a series of cultural exhibits designed and fabricated by The Magic House for our World Traveler Gallery. These nationally traveling exhibits encourage global awareness and cultural appreciation through immersive experiences created in partnership with community advisory committees that provide guidance, advice and support throughout the exhibit development process.

Exhibit Areas

¡Viva México! features a variety of immersive environments including:

Market: Stroll through a traditional Mexican street market where you can explore artisan crafts like colorful alebrijes (brightly painted folk art creatures) or create your own papel picado (traditional cut paper decorations). Stop by street food carts with Mexican treats like street corn, tacos, and churros and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

Traditional Home: Head to a house where you can make tortillas, then sit down to a delicious family dinner surrounded by the artwork of famous Mexican artists.

School: Visit a school to learn about the history of Mexico and create a Mexican flag. Learn some new Spanish words, then head to the schoolyard to play fútbol and other playground games.

Trajinera: Hop aboard a traditional trajinera boat and learn about the axolotl, a beloved and endangered animal in Mexico.

Dance to Mariachi: Dress up in traditional clothing and dance to lively mariachi music while playing musical instruments like maracas and guiros.