• The 16th edition of the Festival of Life & Death Traditions will take place from October 30 – November 2.
• This year’s guest of honor at the Festival of Life & Death Traditions is the beautiful state of Tlaxcala.
• More than 50,000 visitors are expected to attend to witness this iconic celebration in 14 concurrent locations.

Xcaret, Riviera Maya. August 31, 2022.- Grupo Xcaret’s Festival of Live & Death Traditions has positioned itself as one of the most anticipated celebrations in Mexico. The 16^th annual event will take place from October 30 to November 2 and will feature the beautiful state of Tlaxcala as the guest of honor, highlighting the traditions and cultural richness of Mexico. 

More than 50,000 visitors are expected this year to witness this iconic celebration in 14 concurrent locations. Pre-sale tickets will be available for two days on August 29 and August 30 for HSBC cardholders; general pre-sale tickets will be available from September 1 through September 30 while regular ticket sales will take place from October 1 through November 2,  in the official website www.festivaldevidaymuerte.com/en/.

The 16th annual festival, taking place at Xcaret Park, Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Hotel Xcaret Arte and at the City Theater in Playa del Carmen, will feature a great lineup of activities for families to enjoy, including culinary experiences, workshops, altars, murals, concerts, puppet shows, and theatrical presentations created by local artists, Mexican talent and special guests.  The full program will be available in the official event website as well as in the Xcaret Events application.

Below is a list of the activities taking place this year:

Xcaret Park:

• This year’s guest of honor is Tlaxcala, a state considered the birthplace of the nation which will share the richness of its gastronomy, crafts, textiles and dances.
• Musical performances such as: “Yuhmu Voices of Ixtenco” by the Otomí of Tlaxcala Children’s Choir. 
• Exhibitions by artists Ignacio Nezahualcóyotl and Malena Díaz
• Theatre: “Canek, Legend of a Mayan Hero” by the Luna Morena Company; “The skeleton took me away” by Scenic Magic; and “Death and Corn” by Erik de Luna
• Concerts: Astrid Hadad and her show “Living by Dying” and Ernesto Anaya “Skeletons, sounds, dead people and traditions”
• International Artists: The countertenor Asael Cuesta of Colombia and the theater company “The Baldufa” of Spain.
• Local artists: Grupo Xipe Totek, Ball Players, Danza Xcaret Company, the Mariachi Femenil and the Traditional String Orchestra
• Artistic groups from the Mayan region: Charanga, Folklore Ballet Tumben Lol, Folklore Assembly of Q.Roo JMM and Artistic Illusion Group
• The interactive Hacienda will offer a variety of workshops including learning how to make skulls, embroidery, traditional desserts, write like in pre-Hispanic times or assemble an altar
• One of the most anticipated announcements, is the return of the gala concert at the great Tlachco with the presentation of a project that unites two national musical legends: “TOUR La Vecindad Santanera”, a spectacle without precedent that will have everyone dancing to a fusion of rhythms such as danzón, mambo, cha cha cha and cumbia along with rock, ska and other traditional influences from Mexican music that make up La Sonora Santanera of Carlos Colorado, Maldita Vecindad and Hijos del 5º Patio.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico:

• Ha’ restaurant: Homage to the Tlaxcala gastronomy by Chef Francisco Molina of “Evoka” restaurant, known for adding cultural value to traditional dishes.
• Mercado de la Merced: Traditional cuisine by Doña Elvia Contreras Becerra, originally from the Nanacamilpa municipality, who belongs to the group of cooks Cocineras Manos de Mayahuel of Tlaxcala.
• Las Cuevas: Traditional dishes inspired by the cook of the Mayan region Rosalinda Maay Poot.

Hotel Xcaret Arte:

• Kibi Kibi: Curated menu by Chef Iván Fernando del Razo of “Mexko” restaurant who uses a combination of traditional, contemporary and research techniques to showcase the gastronomic and cultural richness of Tlaxcala.
• Cantina VI.AI.PY: Tlaxcalteca cuisine by Chef Andy Salazar López of“Tequexquite” restaurant.

The Day of the Dead is a pre-Hispanic tradition full of Mexico’s cultural richness which is shared with the world and recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2008.

“It is an honor to present the 16^th annual Festival of Life & Death Traditions to not only share Mexican traditions with the world but to be a symbol of and leave a legacy for the community of Quintana Roo,” said Leticia Aguerrebere, Director of the Festival of Life & Death Traditions. “This year we warmly welcome the presence of Tlaxcala, a state we admire and love who will be sharing its delicacies with all our visitors.”