With hotel occupancy hovering around 100% and an estimated economic impact of more than 89,000 visitors, the state of Oaxaca presented its official program of activities for the Day of the Dead 2025, considered the second most important festival after Guelaguetza. The announcement was made at the Government Palace, where a program encompassing more than 140 events in neighborhoods, municipalities, and emblematic spaces was detailed, with an emphasis on preserving traditions, community participation, and promoting tourism.
The agenda includes traditional comparsas, muerteadas, gastronomic festivals, folk art exhibitions, concerts in indigenous languages, stage tours, and costume contests. Highlights include the Catrinas 2025 comparsa in the Cinco Señores neighborhood, the San José el Mogote muerteada in Guadalupe Etla, and the Women’s and Diversity Parade of the Dead, which will be celebrated on November 16.
In the Central Valleys region, municipalities such as Soledad Etla, San Agustín Etla, Santiaguito Etla, and San Jerónimo Yagüiche will offer nighttime activities with strong community roots. In parallel, the Bosque de las Calacas, located in Santo Domingo Barrio Alto, will remain open until November 22nd as a themed space for local and foreign visitors.
The program also includes cultural initiatives such as the “Land of Return” festival in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, the Alebrijes 2025 Expofair in San Antonio Arrazola, and the Pan de Muerto Fair in Zaachila. On the coast, Puerto Escondido and Santa Cruz Huatulco will join in with monumental carpets, costume contests, and drone shows at the municipal cemetery.
From the educational and artistic perspectives, the play “Why Death Also Sings” was announced, along with theater performances in Zapotec, sacred music and indigenous rock concerts, and an anthology on the worldview of indigenous peoples facing death. These activities seek to counteract acculturation and strengthen ancestral thinking, with an emphasis on indigenous languages and cultural diversity.
The 20 de Noviembre Market, the culinary heart of Oaxaca, will celebrate its 69th anniversary with a monumental offering and a textile and artisanal catwalk. Organizers assured that all stalls will maintain visible and affordable prices, in coordination with local authorities and PROFECO (Professional Tourism Organization), to avoid abuses during the high season.
In addition, the implementation of alternative public transportation routes to facilitate nighttime access to cemeteries and parades is planned, in coordination with the Ministry of Mobility. Tourist information centers are already operating in the city of Oaxaca, with trained personnel to guide visitors through the scheduled activities.
The entire program can be found on the official Oaxaca Travel portals and on the state government’s social media channels, as well as on the websites of participating markets and municipalities.
This cultural, tourism, and community event reaffirms Oaxaca as the national epicenter of the Day of the Dead, with an offering that combines tradition, innovation, and hospitality.
Source: agenciaoaxacamx
