Day of the Dead Guide in Mexico City

Por

Patricia Tepozteco Romero

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Publicado: 24/10/2024 · 6:44 p.m. MX | Actualizado: 24/10/2024 · 6:44 p.m. MX

Internationally, Mexico is recognized for its rich cultural heritage, which is evident through its archaeology, gastronomy, and the celebrations surrounding the Day of the Dead; declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003 for its symbolism and tradition.

This year, Mexico City will be adorned with the vibrant color of marigold flowers (cempasúchil) and will host various activities both in the central area and in different boroughs that are organizing festivals to commemorate these important dates in a community-oriented way.

Marigold Flower Festival /Festival de las Flores de Cempasúchil

From October 17 to November 3, between 10 AM and 7 PM, you can visit this festival, which features 140 marigold flower producers from the rural areas of Mexico City, mainly Xochimilco and Tláhuac.

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In addition to purchasing flowers directly from the growers, you can enjoy cultural activities offered during the festival and stroll along Paseo de la Reforma, which is decorated in yellow during this season. The producers are set up on both sidewalks between the roundabouts of the Angel of Independence and Ahuehuete on Paseo de la Reforma.

Day of the Dead night bike ride

Get your bike and costume ready for this 20-kilometer ride along Paseo de la Reforma and the Historic Center of Mexico City. The event will occur on Saturday, October 26, from 7 PM to 11 PM.

In addition to the ride, you can enjoy concerts, costume contests, and various activities along the route. Remember that the integrated mobility network —metro, trolleybus, light rail, Metrobus, and Cablebus— will facilitate the transportation of bikes starting at 5 PM (except for the Cablebus, which will allow bikes all day). This year, more than 70,000 people are expected to participate.

Mega Catrinas procession

In its 11th edition, the Mega Catrinas Procession will bring together more than 13,500 participants in 37 contingents with various themes, such as candles from the Isthmus of Oaxaca, mariachis, quinceañeras, weddings, Latin rhythms, and searching mothers.

The procession will take place on Sunday, October 27, starting at 6:30 PM, along Paseo de la Reforma (Angel of Independence), heading to the Zócalo, passing through Juárez Avenue and 5 de Mayo Avenue.

This citizen-led event has grown significantly since its inception in 2014, when 1,600 catrinas gathered to parade through the city.  Come and enjoy this family-friendly event, which is expected to draw more than 2 million people this year.

Monumental Altar in the Zócalo

Starting October 30, you can visit the monumental altar in the Zócalo and enjoy the special Day of the Dead lighting. This year, the monumental altar is inspired by the lake culture of the southeastern part of Mexico City and its traditional “muerteadas,” as well as the graphic work of Eduardo Robledo, an engraver from Xochimilco.

The installation, titled Procession, will be created by the Xibalbá Art Workshop, which includes over 100 artists. According to Mexico City’s Secretary of Culture, Ana Francis Mor, the piece “highlights the almost natural connection between surrealist art and Mexican popular culture, which defines the Day of the Dead celebration and the cultural resistance of the Anáhuac peoples.”

The installation consists of 21 monumental papier-mâché pieces, ranging from 3 to 10 meters tall, a 17-meter-tall monumental altar with a water mirror over 200 square meters, two trajineras, a monumental chinampa, and a marigold garden with 10,000 plants from Xochimilco producers.

Day of the Dead Parade

Since 2016, the government of Mexico City has organized the Day of the Dead Parade. This year, it will take place on November 2, starting at the Lion’s Gate in Chapultepec, traveling along Paseo de la Reforma, Juárez Avenue, and 5 de Mayo Avenue until reaching the Zócalo.

With nearly 6,000 participants organized into 37 contingents, the streets will come alive with color and tradition. Additionally, there will be 7 floats, 6 pushable displays, 16 musical ensembles, and 8 contingents with giant puppets. This year, the parade will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Lucha Reyes’s death and the 50th death anniversary of Rosario Castellanos and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

The tradition in Mexico City’s rural communities

For a deeper understanding of the Day of the Dead, consider visiting rural communities in Mexico City to witness their unique customs and traditions. Visit the Tláhuac and Xochimilco boroughs, each offering various activities organized by local governments and community groups.

Tláhuac

From October 28 to November 3, Tláhuac will host the 2024 Tláhuac International Day of the Dead Festival, featuring guest countries from Latin America, including Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, which will fill public squares and cemeteries with dance and music.

Additionally, starting October 26 at the Lake of the Aztec Kings (Lago de los Reyes Aztecas), you can witness a performance of La Llorona in the lake and chinampa ecosystem that characterizes San Pedro Tláhuac.

San Andrés Mixquic will also welcome thousands of tourists who visit annually to witness the traditional cemetery vigil and enjoy the activities in its neighborhoods.

Xochimilco

In Xochimilco, the chinampas and greenhouses are covered in the bright yellow of marigold flowers. Be sure to visit the various plant markets, such as the Acuexcomatl plant market in San Luis Tlaxialtemalco or the Madre Selva flower market in San Gregorio Atlapulco.

This year, the Mexico City government also announced agrotourism routes in the Heritage Zone, where you can explore fields of marigold flowers, take photos, and even visit culturally significant historical monuments in the surrounding towns.

The tourist piers in this borough also offer theatrical performances and representations of mythical local figures, such as nahuales and La Llorona.

You can check out the routes here.

Enjoy the festivities and immerse yourself in one of the most colorful celebrations in the world!

Patricia Tepozteco Romero