Mexico City’s most photogenic weeks are here. CDMX Day of the Dead opens with 200+ giant alebrijes thundering down Reforma, a Thriller-powered Zombie March with a food drive, a Chapultepec catrina parade, and a glitter-laced Mega Procesión after dark. The Grand Parade follows on the holiday weekend with a theme that blends lucha libre and drag—bold, joyful, and unmistakably chilango. All events are free and walkable. Dates and routes below, plus context on how this celebration became a global draw and what to know before you go.
CDMX Day of the Dead
The season opens Saturday, October 18, at noon with the Monumental Alebrijes Parade organized by the Museo de Arte Popular (MAP). Expect 200+ monumental alebrijes rolling along Paseo de la Reforma, 5 de Mayo and Juárez, generally from the Zócalo to the Ángel. Can’t catch it live? The pieces remain on public display Oct 18–Nov 9 between the Ángel and Lieja.
A few hours later, the city transforms into a spooky-playful atmosphere with the Zombie March, a charity event where participants are asked to bring non-perishable items. The signature “Thriller” choreography is slated for 3:40 p.m. at the Monumento a la Revolución, with the march stepping off at 4:00 p.m. toward the Zócalo. It’s free, loud, and relentlessly photogenic.
On Sunday, October 19, Chapultepec hosts the Catrina Fest Parade, running from Los Pinos toward Parque Aztlán. Organizers promote a morning start (several outlets list 10:00 a.m., others 12:00 p.m.), so plan to arrive early; either way, it’s a catrina-forward, family-friendly walk into the park’s festival programming.
The following weekend brings the shimmering after-dark centerpiece for portrait-hunters: the Mega Procesión de las Catrinas on Sunday, October 26, 6:00 p.m., from the Ángel de la Independencia to the Zócalo via Reforma, Juárez, and 5 de Mayo. Past editions have prompted rolling closures along Reforma and Centro; expect large crowds and plan your approach accordingly.
What we know about the Grand Parade
All roads lead to the Grand Day of the Dead Parade, the blockbuster march of floats, marching bands, and towering calacas that made global headlines after 2016. This year’s theme—announced by the city’s cultural network—is “the art of drag and lucha libre,” signaling a colorful ode to performance, identity, and Mexico City’s own showmanship.
There’s one wrinkle on date: the Faro Aragón call for participants pegs the parade to Saturday, November 1, while the federal tourism site VisitMexico lists Sunday, November 2. Both align on the traditional route from Puerta de los Leones (Chapultepec) to the Zócalo; the public start time remains unannounced as of today. For now, circle the weekend and watch official channels for the final timetable; we’ll update the moment the city locks it in.
Beyond the schedule chessboard, remember why this has become a global moment: the parade’s modern format—supercharged in the post-“Spectre” era—has grown into a tourism magnet, drawing thousands downtown and helping lift hotel occupancy during the holiday window. Last year’s edition featured 5,800 participants and a sprawling cultural program in the Zócalo. That momentum is clearly intact.
Getting the most from the streets
Every parade on this slate is free, but time is your currency. For alebrijes, stake out Reforma near the Ángel for scale and light; for zombies, arrive well before the 3:40 p.m. dance to secure a spot on Avenida de la República; for Mega Catrinas, expect pre-event makeup artists along Reforma (prices vary). Public transit is your best friend—previous editions of Mega Catrinas saw temporary Metrobús station closures along Reforma—so build buffer time for detours and on-foot navigation.
CDMX Day of the Dead isn’t one parade, it’s a rolling story across four weekends—giant creatures, community fund-raising zombies, Chapultepec catrinas, a glittering night procession, and a theme-driven Grand Parade that leans proudly into Mexico City’s theatrical heart. Keep your camera ready, your sneakers broken in, and your plans flexible; the city will do the rest.
