Discover the Alebrijes 2025 Artisan Expo in San Antonio Arrazola, Oaxaca, from July 19 to August 3. Experience live woodcarving, meet artisan families, and explore Oaxaca’s living cultural heritage.
Alebrijes, Oaxaca tourism, Arrazola artisans, Guelaguetza 2025, handmade art Mexico, copal wood carving, cultural events Oaxaca, Mexican folk art
Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oax., July 14, 2025 — Oaxaca’s vibrant Guelaguetza season finds one of its most magical expressions in San Antonio Arrazola, where the Alebrijes 2025 Artisan Expo will take place from July 19 to August 3, welcoming visitors daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Nestled southwest of the center of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Arrazola isn’t just a scenic town—it’s the birthplace of a now-iconic Mexican artform. For over three decades, it has been the spiritual and creative home of wooden alebrijes: fantastical hand-carved creatures that fuse animals, myths, and imagination into something uniquely Oaxacan.
This year’s expo brings together more than 30 artisan families, each one preserving and innovating on the craft of woodcarving using copal wood, a tree native to the region. Along the tourist walkway, visitors will experience more than just a market—they’ll step into a working studio where tradition breathes and transforms before their eyes.
“To discover Arrazola is to witness the origin of wooden alebrijes,” said one of the participating artisans. “It’s not just about the art—it’s about our worldview, our stories, our way of life.”
Each alebrije begins with the careful selection of copal wood. Artisans then cut, cure, carve, and sand the wood before applying a base coat of paint. What follows is the most intricate step: hundreds of hand-painted details, often using tiny brushes or even maguey thorns to achieve their signature lines and dots. The result is a kaleidoscope of color, symbolism, and storytelling.
Unlike many forms of commercial folk art, these pieces are not mass-produced. Every figure is unique. Some reflect Zapotec mythology, others personal dreams. Some are whimsical, others fierce or surreal. But all are born of intense labor and inherited skill.
More than a fair—an invitation into Oaxaca’s heart
The Alebrijes 2025 Artisan Expo isn’t only about admiring or purchasing beautiful artwork—though collectors will find no shortage of treasures. It’s also an interactive cultural experience, ideal for families, tourists, students, and anyone interested in learning about Mexico’s living traditions.
Visitors can:
- Watch live carving and painting demonstrations
- Talk directly with artisans and their families
- Learn the difference between alebrijes made in Arrazola vs. other regions
- Purchase one-of-a-kind pieces directly from the source
The fair coincides with Guelaguetza 2025, Oaxaca’s most important cultural celebration, making it an ideal time to visit. While many tourists focus on the main events in the city center, Arrazola offers an immersive, authentic detour that reveals how cultural identity is crafted not just onstage, but in workshops, backyards, and generations of shared knowledge.
Why Arrazola matters
Though papier-mâché alebrijes originated in Mexico City in the 1930s, Arrazola gave them a new material, a new language, and a new spiritual depth. The town’s artisans began carving alebrijes out of wood in the 1980s, adapting the fantastical forms into a style rooted in Oaxacan symbolism and natural materials.
Today, these wooden figures are internationally recognized and collected around the world, but their essence remains deeply local.
Arrazola’s success hasn’t come without challenges—economic hardship, mass-produced imitations, and a lack of governmental support have all tested the community. But the artisans persist, knowing that each alebrije sold is not just a piece of art—it’s a piece of cultural survival.
Plan your visit
Event: Alebrijes 2025 Artisan Expo
Dates: July 19 – August 3, 2025
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily
Location: Tourist Walkway, San Antonio Arrazola, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca
Whether you’re a collector, a curious traveler, or someone seeking meaningful connection during Guelaguetza, Arrazola offers a powerful reminder of the creativity, resilience, and beauty at the heart of Oaxaca’s identity.
Tip for visitors: Bring cash, arrive early to avoid midday heat, and don’t be shy about asking artisans to explain their work—they’re proud to share, and every alebrije has a story worth hearing.
