Mexico City Events

This city has one busy calendar. Between Christmas and Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings' Day or Epiphany) on January 6, Santa Clauses around Alameda Central are replaced by the Three Kings. Kids get loads of gifts, and the streets are aflutter with shopping stalls. In late March, plazas, palaces and theaters around the city are taken over by the three-week Festival del Centro Histórico, a program of classical and popular music, dance and cultural events. Semana Santa (Holy Week) starts on Palm Sunday, and closures are usually from Good Friday to Easter Sunday.

On Día del Trabajo (Labor Day), there is a big unionists' gathering in the Zócalo in the morning, as well as parades around the city. Día de la Independencia (September 16), commemorates the start of Mexico's war for independence from Spain, and on its eve, thousands of people gather in Zócalo to hear the president recite a version of the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores).

Mexico's most characteristic fiesta by far, though, is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): a happy atmosphere prevails as families build altars in their homes and visit graveyards to commune with their dearly departed, bearing garlands, gifts and food. A week or more of celebrations leads up to Día de Nuestra Señora Guadalupe (December 12), the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the country's major religious icon and Mexico's national patron. Groups of brightly costumed indigenous dancers and musicians perform on the basilica's large plaza for two days.