Guide to Day of the Dead 2024
Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead 2024 will be celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. The events will start on October 31st, with some communities continuing the celebrations until November 6th.
The Day of the Dead is a joyful holiday in Mexico to honor deceased loved ones. Families believe that souls of the dead return during this time.
Traditions include offering the dead their favorite foods, decorating with marigolds and skulls, and sharing pan de muerto.
Oaxaca Day of the Dead 2024
Oaxaca Day of the Dead 2024 will begin on the evening of October 31st. The main days of the festival are November 1st and 2nd.
All Saints’ Eve – Octcober 31st
The festivities start on the evening of October 31st. This night is for visiting cemeteries and family graves. It’s believed that the spirits of children, called angelitos, return to spend time with their families. Families get ready to welcome these young spirits with love and remembrance.
All Saints’ Day (Día de los Inocentes) – November 1st
This day is to remember children who have passed away. Families celebrate at cemeteries with parades and other activities. Families create altars and offer favorite foods, marigolds, and sugar or chocolate skulls to honor the angelitos, who are believed to return at midnight.
All Souls’ Day (Día de los Muertos) – November 2nd
The main celebrations conclude on November 2nd. This day is quieter and more reflective. Many people go to church and visit cemeteries again to honor the spirits of adults who have passed away. Despite the calmness, families share stories and keep the memories of their loved ones alive through traditions and offerings.
Day of the Dead Face Paint Ideas
Day of the Dead Ofrendas
Day of the Dead Face Paint Female
Transportation for Day of the Dead
Arriving in Oaxaca for the Day of the Dead and need transport from the airport to your accommodation? We’ve got you covered! Here are a few different options that we recommend when it comes to getting to and from Oaxaca Airport for the Dia de Muertos celebrations.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca for Day of the Dead?
Planning to visit Oaxaca for the Day of the Dead 2024? We recommend booking your accommodation in advance. Many people start arriving several days before the festivities, and the city will be packed by October, with limited options available.
For the best Day of the Dead experience, we suggest choosing centrally located accommodations that offer you the ability to walk to the celebrations. View our list of recommended hotels here: Top 25 Best Hotels in Oaxaca City.
Recommended Neighborhoods:
- Zocalo (main square / centro)
- Santo Domingo Church area
- Jalatlaco
- Reforma
Recommended Hotels
Image Credit: Booking.com
Hotel Rating: 5.0 ⭐️ (Read Reviews)
Casa de la Asuncion
Casa de la Asunción is a beautiful hotel located just steps from the historic Oaxaca Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Temple. This hotel offers free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, an on-site restaurant, and more.
Image Credit: Booking.com
Hotel Rating: 4.8 ⭐️ (Read Reviews)
Casa Antonieta
Casa Antonieta is a stunning boutique hotel in downtown Oaxaca City, near the Zocalo and Templo de Santo Domingo. It offers free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and is pet friendly with additional charges.
Image Credit: Booking.com
Hotel Rating: 4.6 ⭐️ (Read Reviews)
Majagua Boutique Hotel
Majagua Boutique Hotel is an adults only boutique hotel in Oaxaca located just behind the Templo de Santo Domingo. This hotel offers a free welcome cocktail, on-site restaurant, early check in and late checkout.
What to See and Do During Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
The Day of the Dead festival in Oaxaca is full of amazing things to see and do. With so much happening, it can be confusing for first-time visitors to know where to go and what to do. To help you enjoy the festival, we’ve put together an easy-to-follow itinerary.
Before October 31st
Spend time exploring Oaxaca City and its lively neighborhoods. We recommend wandering around Centro and Jalatlaco to visit markets, enjoy street art, and see the city decorated for the Day of the Dead. These areas are full of parades, firecrackers, and beautiful altars in homes and businesses.
It’s also a good idea to visit nearby villages such as Zaachila, Ocotlán, and Tlacolula for local markets and crafts. Booking a tour with local experts can help you learn more about Day of the Dead traditions and make it easier for you to find your way around.
October 31st
Families start visiting cemeteries on the evening of October 31st. We recommend visiting Xoxo Cemetery in Xoxocotlán at dusk. Xoxocotlán is a town just a short drive from Oaxaca City. The graves there are beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, creating a peaceful setting you’ll love.
If you prefer to stay in Oaxaca City, you can also visit San Miguel Cemetery (General Cemetery of Oaxaca) and San Felipe Cemetery. For a short trip outside the city, consider visiting the cemeteries in San Agustín Etla, which is about 12 miles north of Oaxaca City.
November 1st
If you’re looking to join a parade, we highly recommend the traditional Etla Muerteada parade in Etla on November 1st. This parade starts around midnight and continues until sunrise. You can later experience the Jalatlaco Comparsa, a neighborhood parade starting at 8 pm. It features brass bands, puppets, and mezcal shots. There’s often a second wave around midnight.
November 1st
If you missed the Jalatlaco Comparsa on the 1st, you can catch it again on November 2nd. The parade starts around 9 pm and ends around 11 pm.
During the day on both November 1st and 2nd, there are several activities you can enjoy that capture the spirit of the Day of the Dead celebrations:
Admire the Citywide Ofrendas and Altars: Find altars in homes, shops, restaurants, and public spaces across the city. These altars are decorated with favorite items, food, drinks, photos, and marigolds to honor the deceased.
Explore Oaxaca’s Museums: Visit the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca or the Museum of Contemporary Art, which often have special exhibitions related to the Day of the Dead.
Walk Around the Zócalo: The Zócalo will be bustling with street performers, food vendors, and decorated altars. It’s the heart of Oaxaca’s festivities and a must-visit spot.
Check Out Local Markets: Visit the Benito Juárez Market or the 20 de Noviembre Market to see traditional crafts, foods, and flowers used in the celebrations.
Face Painting: Get your face painted along Alcalá near Santo Domingo Church. Choose from a range of designs for a festive and memorable Day of the Dead look.
Oaxaca Day of the Dead Tours
If Día de Muertos is new to you and you prefer a guided experience, consider a Oaxaca Day of the Dead Tour.
These tours help you understand this iconic celebration, including why souls are believed to return and why families welcome them with offerings. You’ll visit local cemeteries, attend major parades, eat delicious Oaxacan cuisine, and celebrate with locals. The tours guide you to the best places, making the experience more fun and immersive, especially with others sharing it with you.
If Day of the Dead tours aren’t for you and you would rather explore more of Oaxaca, be sure to check out our recommended tours page here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about Day of the Dead so that you can better understand the holiday, the culture and traditions as well as what you can expect to witness during Día de Muertos in Oaxaca.
The Oaxaca Day of the Dead 2024 celebration will begin on the evening of Thursday October 31st, 2024 and end on Saturday November 2nd, 2024.
Families in Oaxaca celebrate Día de Muertos by decorating their home altars and visiting local cemeteries. Graves are decorated with sugar skulls and flowers, and since the souls of the deceased are believed to return, families prepare their favorite foods.
Local musicians are hired to serenade the deceased souls with their favorite songs, and people head outdoors in colorful dresses to join the marching bands and spectacles held throughout the city.
Day of the Dead Traditions include building decorative home altars also known as ‘ofrendas’, making sugar skulls (calaveras) with the deceased’s’ names written on them and decorating the graves of those who have passed. The graves are decorated with marigolds and visitors bring gifts and other offerings for the deceased.
Many argue that the best place to experience the most authentic Día de Muertos celebrations is in Janitzio, Michoacán, México.
While Janitzio is an incredible destination for Día de Muertos, Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead celebrations are more commonly known as Oaxaca receives more domestic and international tourism as well as media coverage for the event.
Mexico City is also a popular choice for those who want to witness their annual Day of the Dead parade and celebration.
The celebrations typically begin at two of Oaxaca’s largest cemeteries, the Panteon General and the Xochimilco Cemetery followed by marching bands and parades are held across the city. Festivities can be found in the zocalo (main square), area around the Santo Domingo Church, Jalatlaco and more.
Oaxaca buzzes with excitement and festivities as the Day of the Dead brings locals and visitors to the streets and cemeteries of the city.
With live music performances, art and traditional Mexican food as are as the eyes can see, it’s hard to not want to be a part of such an incredibly iconic celebration.
The streets are transformed with beautiful sand tapestries, known as tapetes de arena, created by local artists.
Participants and onlookers from around the world wear colorful costumes and paint their faces to resemble ghoulish calaveras while marching bands take to the streets with their instruments.
Mole, a dark and richly flavored sauce, is a crucial element of Oaxacan celebrations and feasts, and it is inspired by Oaxaca’s legacy as the Land of the Seven Moles.
The best time to arrive to Oaxaca for Day of the Dead is no later than October 29th.
If you get to Oaxaca City. a few days early, you’ll have time to take a walking tour of the city and get your bearings for the upcoming festivities which start on October 31st and run through November 2nd.
While Mexico City hosts one of the best Day of the Dead parades in the country, there is truly nothing like being in Oaxaca for Día de Muertos as the celebrations are more spiritual and authentic with ancient rituals and traditions that are still intact to this day.
Visitors planning on attending Day of the Dead in Oaxaca can choose to drive to Oaxaca or fly into Oaxaca Airport.
Those who choose to fly to Oaxaca should consider pre-booking an airport shuttle to save time and avoid the hassles of haggling with taxis.
When it comes to dressing up for Day of the Dead, you can choose to paint your face or buy a Day of the Dead mask.
Both are great options but face paint is the most traditional way to celebrate Dia de Muertos in Mexico.
Flower crown headpieces are also really popular for women wanting to blend in with the locals.
Day of the Dead Videos
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