10 Things to Do in Mexico City in August

August is considered a quiet month and festivals are scarce due to the low season. However, there are many benefits to visiting Mexico City during this month, for example, you can take advantage of affordable prices for accommodation and car rentals, many monuments are cheaper and there are also a variety of outdoor activities and food fairs.

The chances of rain are higher than in July, but the days are still sunny and warm. For your visit during this month I recommend taking advantage of the grape harvest season and tasting seasonal wines, attending the Mexico City Marathon or participating in the Hello Kitty and Friends Fun Run.

If you like outdoor events and Japanese cartoons, I invite you to enjoy the massive Hello Kitty and Friend Fun Run that takes place in Mexico City during August. It is an ideal activity to do with children over the age of three and enjoy family plans.

The race is divided into three courses, there is a 3 km walk, but if you are looking for more adrenaline you can participate in the 5 km race or the 10 km marathon. It is estimated that at least ten thousand people will participate, so I suggest you keep an eye out for registration in May on the official website.

The route takes the Avenida la Reforma, along the way you will find hydration and recovery points, then passes through the Gandhi circuit in Chapultepec and the Museum of Anthropology. At the finish line you will have the opportunity to take pictures with Hello Kitty. Here are the approximate prices of the races:

• The 3 km walk has an estimated price of 22 €, but if you buy the ticket during the kit delivery there is an extra charge of approximately 2 €.
• The 5 and 10 km races cost approximately €30 and an extra charge of about €2 if you purchase your entry at kit drop.

The Grape Harvest Festival is one of the most awaited events by Mexicans and is one of the best activities in July and August. It takes place in different parts of the country and consists of a series of rituals to give thanks for the harvest of grapes, which are used to make the wines of the region.

While it is a very fun plan, it is understandable that travelling outside Mexico City may complicate your itinerary, especially if you plan to visit the city in two days.

If you can't attend the grape harvest festivities, don't worry! There are other plans available in Mexico City, such as visiting local wineries or taking a gastronomic tour with wine tasting. Also, after the grapes are harvested, the best wines start to arrive in the city.

Taste traditional wines at Vino y Club

One of the best options is to go to El Vino y Club, where every month they select special proposals. As August is one of the grape harvest months, you will find very interesting wine options to taste.

Here you can buy handicrafts made from corks, as well as Jean Lenoir's Wine Nose, an implement sought after by winemakers and wine tasters to identify the best wines. Here you can find selections of local wines, prepared from the best of the vintage, as well as options from France, Spain and Italy.

Stop by Simon's Bar

Simon Vinos is a very interesting proposal, ideal to enjoy the best wines of the city in La Roma street. You can visit them any day of the week, except on Sundays when they are usually closed. It is the perfect opportunity to taste wines, beers and mezcal in bulk, accompanied by the best local charcuterie.

Every month they hold events, during August you can take advantage of the tasting tours around the area, tasting nights, wine battles and tapas weekends.

There are many activities during July in the city, for example Mexicans prepare themselves with sporting activities to welcome the Mexico City Marathon in August, an annual event full of history that has been held since 1983 and runs through the most important streets of the city.

On the official website you can find the countdown to the event, as well as the route for each year and a training plan beforehand. To participate it is important to be physically prepared, as the route is 42 kilometres long. It is an event you will remember for the rest of your life, as it is the most important marathon in Latin America and one of the most important in the world.

You can't leave Mexico City without experiencing live wrestling. One of the city's best activities takes place in the ring, and is ideal for August as a plan during rainy or very hot days.

Most wrestling matches take place in the Arena de Mexico, also known as the Cathedral of Lucha Libre, which is located in the heart of Mexico City. You will probably recognise the wrestling masks which are a characteristic symbol of Mexico.

To experience the wrestling shows, I recommend you keep an eye on the Arena de Mexico's official website where they announce dates, wrestlers and more. Generally, the approximate price ranges from 9 to 20 €. For more wrestling-related experiences, you can eat like a real wrestler at Baby Face, a food stall named after one of Mexico's greatest wrestlers, with dishes starting at €7.

The love of wrestling is reflected in various parts of the city, with a mural at Guerrero station paying homage to the sport. You can also visit the Sala de la Lucha at the Museo del Juguete Antiguo which has exhibits of legendary wrestlers, admission is €3-4.

In August, joy fills the streets of Mexico City, with a variety of food, culture, film and art fairs. Each one represents the best of Mexican culture and I recommend you make a note of them on your itinerary. Some available options include:

• Feria del Chile is an event that tours the country offering a variety of typical Mexican dishes, including chili. Most of the year it is in Puebla, but it comes to Mexico City in August, specifically to Plaza Vista Norte.
• Film Fairs, you can live a multicultural experience, thanks to the fact that every month, the Cineteca Nacional organises weeks dedicated to foreign cinema. During August it is the turn to celebrate German Film Week and Japanese Film Week with film and documentary screenings.
• Feria de la Torta is a tribute to the famous Mexican torta, which is a regional snack that can be filled with ham, chicken, ostrich, wild boar, among others. In August and February a huge version is prepared, weighing around 800 kilos and 74 metres, you can eat as much as you want and the cost ranges from €2 to €16.

Outdoor plans are still the best option during August, so I suggest you take a horseback ride. The nearest destination is the Ecotourism Park of San Bernabé Ocotepec, which covers the outskirts of the city with its forests. It is forbidden to take medicinal plants, mushrooms and hunt animals, in order to preserve the fauna and flora of the area.

In addition to horseback riding, you can go hiking, biking up the mountain, bird watching or even camping. Other plans available include rock climbing, enjoying a day in the countryside and going to the Peña viewpoint to observe the city from the top. Entry costs around €1, or €2 if you want to use the car park.

If you're looking for a quiet, uncrowded place, you can visit Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, a space full of green areas located an hour from Mexico City.

It offers a variety of plans, such as an excursion to Cerro El Ávila, gastronomic and wine tastings, ATV rides and, of course, the ideal horseback rides. The entrance fee is around 5 €. The cost of horseback riding in Mexico City is around €9 at most venues.

During August, Mexico City prepares a variety of activities to celebrate International Youth Day, which takes place on 12 August. Many events take place on the same day and the most fun ones last for two days or even a week. There are also festivals where you can get fake or real tattoos, as well as enjoy graffiti exhibitions, food stalls, live music, dance performances and much more.

This day is celebrated to commemorate the rights of young people. Some of the activities include:

• Thematic debates organised by UNESCO.
• Information campaigns regarding the needs of young people.
• Freeparties, concerts and workshops at the headquarters of the city council and other government agencies.
• Camping nights under the stars, there are several outdoor venues that organise group activities for young people, such as Los Dinamos park where they have bonfires and organise themed parties.

An hour from Mexico City is one of the most challenging and incredible experiences, where as well as flying in a hot air balloon, you can climb to the highest point of the archaeological site. General admission is around 4 € and if you bring your student card you can get special discounts.

It is advisable to opt for a guided tour to the pyramids of Teotihuacan, in order to learn about its history and make a more organised visit. To begin with, I recommend you visit the Pyramid of the Sun and the Moon, as well as the Palace of Quetzalpapallotl, also known as the Palace of the Butterflies, which has an interesting structure and a variety of photographic sites.

The Citadel is another site you must visit, it is made up of 15 pyramids and one of them is in the shape of a snake. To enter the pyramids there are several gates, specifically five:

• The first gate is located in the Calzada de los Muertos, the tourist affluence is high, but it is the best way to properly know the pyramids.
• The second gate is in front of the Calzada de los Muertos.
• The third gate is between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Museum of the Murals.
• The fourth gate is just behind the Pyramid of the Sun.
• The fifth and last gate is next to gate four, leading to the Museum of Teotihuacan Culture.

I recommend visiting the pyramids of Teotihuacan during weekdays in August, as they are less crowded. On weekends the visit can be chaotic and very busy.

World Book Lovers Day is celebrated on August 9th, a date with a variety of events that you can enjoy in Mexico City, such as bazaars, auctions and discounts on books, workshops in bookstores and libraries and even fairs and festivals.

I invite you to take a tour of the most special reading corners in the region, starting with El Péndulo, a café whose menu is named after books and writers, and which also has a large bookshop. La Casa del Poeta is another option to enjoy the poetry shows.

To round off this fun month I suggest you attend a traditional Mexican cooking class where you can learn how to cook traditional Mexican dishes with a professional chef. While you cook, you can learn about the history of the region's gastronomy and taste the preparations.

It's an ideal plan during August to cover yourself from the rainy days and accompany your meals with the wines of the grape harvest season.