Next week, thousands of Tapatios will honor Day of the Dead traditions such as visiting the graves of deceased relatives or erecting an altar in their memory.
In addition, dozens of other activities will be held in the Guadalajara metropolitan area in the days surrounding this important date, many of which have only taken root in the past decade.
Saturday parade
The celebration of the Grim Reaper begins early with the Day of the Dead Parade Guadalajara 2023 on Saturday, October 28, organized by young people, with students as the majority of participants. This is usually the most creative of all the parades taking place in the region. The desfile begins at 4 p.m. on Avenida Javier Mina, moving along Avenida Juarez in the city center (around 5 p.m.) and ending up at the Parque Revolucion (Rojo) on Federalismo at roughly 6 p.m. Halloween costumes are not welcome, organizers say.
Zapopan gastronomy
Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29, downtown Zapopan hosts a Day of the Dead Gastronomic Festival on the Andador November 20 pedestrian precinct. Find all sorts of typical foods for the occasions, plus delicacies served up by local restaurants, as well as music and other fun events.
Tlaquepaque
For the biggest Day of the Dead celebration in these parts, head to Tlaquepaque on either Wednesday, November 1 or Thursday, November 2. The main streets of the popular crafts center will be closed off entirely as locals set up dozens of altars and other stalls selling typical merchandise and foods. There’ll be face painting, music, dance, museum exhibits, and a festive atmosphere that is hard to beat. Tlaquepaque Mayor Citlalli Amaya is expecting a quarter of a million visitors this year. The Novias Catrinas (brides) parade on Thursday afternoon is a great photo opportunity. More than 90 cultural activities are planned this year during Tlaquepaque’s festival between November 1 and 5.
Guadalajara centro
The Fiesta del Más Allá 2023 (Festival from the Beyond) in the Guadalajara centro is well worth visiting on November 2, with activities planned for the whole family, including mariachi, circus, puppets, jazz and much more. Free cultural presentations from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. are scheduled on stages erected in three locations: the Plaza de Armas, and the Paseo Alcalde at Pedro Moreno and Morelos.
Guadalajara centro’s belated Day of Dead Catrinas and Catrines parade takes place on Saturday, November 4, 5 p.m. on the Paseo Alcalde.
Belen cemetery
The Belen cemetery in downtown Guadalajara will install some giant Catrinas this year to make tours of this architecturally acclaimed space even more interesting. Daytime tours run Tuesday through Saturday at 10 and 11 a.m., and 1 and 2 p.m. at a cost of 37 pesos (plus 92 pesos to take photographs), cash only.
Nighttime tours are scheduled October 29 through November 4, at 9, 10, 11 p.m. and midnight, at a cost of 95 pesos.