The capital is an emblematic celebration that represents a cultural experience, where history, art, traditions, and spirituality intertwine to honor departed loved ones and at the same time celebrate life with color, music, and mysticism. This festival, which will celebrate its seventh edition in 2025, with guests from Fengdu, China, as well as San Luis Potosí, Real de Catorce, and Catemaco, will take place from October 29 to November 2.
In just over five years, this festival, which will have a budget of more than 7 million pesos in 2025, has established itself as a local commemoration and a cultural symbol that identifies Guanajuato to the world, said Guanajuato City Mayor Samantha Smith, in the presence of Yolanda Cepeda, Secretary of Tourism for San Luis Potosí, and Javier Sandoval, Mayor of Real de Catorce, among other guests.
During the announcement of the Seventh Day of the Dead Festival in Guanajuato City, he indicated that the greatness of this place lies in being a city that lives its history in every detail, in each of its streets, in each of its tunnels, and in the legends that make a city like Guanajuato famous.
“The heart of the festival is the renowned underground street, transformed into the ‘Tunnel of Tradition,’ which becomes a sensorial journey of lights, aromas, sounds, folk art, and culture, guiding us along the path of memory and also of reunion, a space that embodies the connection between the earthly and the spiritual, the past and the present.”
The festival’s impact is remarkable, he emphasized. Figures from last year reported more than 172,000 visitors to Guanajuato City, along with an economic impact of 253 million pesos and hotel occupancy that exceeded 100 percent, extending the influx even to nearby municipalities such as Silao, León, and Irapuato.
For 2025, an economic impact of 291 million pesos is expected, along with an attendance of 197,000 visitors, including locals, tourists, and day trippers, with hotel occupancy of 22,346 rooms.
This celebration, the official continued, invites us “to return to the most essential aspects of our roots that reach us and touch our souls, to honor those who have gone before us.”
Among the most significant activities, she listed, is the monumental offering in honor of José Alfredo Jiménez, held in collaboration with Dolores, Hidalgo, which pays tribute to one of Mexico’s cultural icons. Also noteworthy is the procession of the little angels, a deeply mystical ceremony that reflects “the pain of losing a loved one” in an act full of symbolism and respect.
Another highly anticipated moment is the parade of skulls, accompanied by the traditional Catrinas, creating a spectacle full of life and color.
She emphasized that a significant artistic element that reflects the ephemeral and vibrant spirit of the celebration is the Carpet of Death, a work of art with traditional motifs that adorns the main streets of Guanajuato, filling them with color and meaning. In this context, the figure of Mictlán, represented at the festival, makes its journey at night, an act full of mysticism that symbolizes the journey of death and life under the light and art.
In her speech, Guadalupe Robles, Secretary of Tourism, who attended on behalf of Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, recalled that Guanajuato began to position itself internationally as a city full of mystery, an interest that was reawakened with the film Coco, “as you know, the film is set in Guanajuato.”
The Guanajuato Tourism Secretariat explained that for families, the festival offers the “Muero por Correr” night race, which challenges runners to run through tunnels and streets under the light of candles and legends, a unique experience that combines sport, tradition, and culture. This activity begins at the Santa Paula Cemetery and allows participants to celebrate life through movement and the city’s living history.
In this edition, the state of San Luis Potosí will present an exhibition featuring more than 35 artisans and cultural representatives, thus strengthening regional synergy and cultural exchange. Also present will be the witch doctors of Catemaco, a city in the process of twinning, who contribute their own traditions of energy management and spirituality, cleansing “all the bad vibes” and enriching the festive experience.
Likewise, the mayor of Guanajuato placed special emphasis on the international participation of Fengdu, China, as a guest, bringing its ancient tradition of honoring death through the Valley of Ghosts and presenting the King of Death patrolling the city, another cultural bridge that enriches dialogue and global connection around this universal celebration.
The organizers urge all to make reservations because this festival has generated great demand. According to its organizers and participants, it is an opportunity for shared growth and a moment of cultural unity where death is celebrated with life, joy, color, art, and spirituality.
For the full program, please visit the official website of the Municipal Government of Guanajuato, where daily activities in plazas, cemeteries, streets, tunnels, and cultural venues are detailed, ready to offer a memorable and unforgettable experience.
Source: milenio
