DayOf Dead, in the City of Oaxaca, Mexico, Oaxaca City Events October
During the Day of the Dead
Oaxaca celebrations take place
in the city on the
last week of
October
.
November starts the Day of the
Dead cemetery visits
, and the
decorating of tombs with
Marigold flowers and candles.
The Day Of The Dead festival in
Oaxaca, Mexico blends exotic
pagan ritual with Christian
celebration in a heady mix of
candles, marigold flowers, copal
incense, and chanting of ancient
dirges in a November
cemetery
vigil
on October 31 that can
leave a visitor bewitched.
The buildup to the event can be
just as exciting as the City of
Oaxaca celebrates with a week
of concerts, parades, museum
exhibits, and gallery openings
Jet service from Houston on Continental Airlines has made it easier than ever to reach the
preserved colonial city and join the celebration.  During the week leading to the November 1st event, the
city comes alive with art gallery openings, sand painting on the pedestrian streets, parades, candle-lit
altars in the shops, and musical events in the plaza.  
During the week leading to The Day Of The Dead  Festival in
Oaxaca, Mexico, the pedestrian-only streets hum with concerts
and parades while artists decorate altars of marigold flower,
chocolate, bread, and candles and others create sand paintings
on the streets.
Families visit the graveyards during the last night of October and the first of November
to light candles, decorate with Marigold flowers, and burn Copal incense during night
vigils where they encourage the spirits to return for a visit. Oaxaca's exotic blend of old
world ritual and pagan festival is unique and becomes a fascinating spectacle as the
cemeteries fill with the light of a thousand candles.
Oaxaca city will bring you back to earth during the day with art museums, monumental
ruins, and up-scale shops: by night with great regional cuisine, and Salsa dancing in the
clubs.
The prelude to the Day Of The Dead
in Oaxaca can be just as exciting as
the event itself when the people go to
the cemeteries and light thousands of
candles.. This is one of Oaxaca City's
important festivals and they close off
several streets to celebrate with
musical concerts,  special art museum
openings, demonstrations of sand
painting and competition in building
the traditional decorated altar. All this
takes place in and around Oaxaca's
pedestrian only streets in this great
city for walking.  In another friendly
competition, Oaxaca's hotels,
restaurants and shops decorate their
lobby with altars of marigolds and
quirky themes of the Day of the Dead.
Parades each day through the city
lead up to the evening vigil on the last
night of November.
Where is Oaxaca and how do you get there:
Oaxaca Hotels      
Oaxaca Day of the Dead Schedule of Cemetery Visits
October, 31
Xoxocotlan. This town a few miles southwest of Oaxaca City  has two Cemeteries, Cemetario Viejo, and
the new cemetery Nuevo.
October 31, the village of Atzompa holds a later cemetery vigil starting around 11 pm.

Day of the Dead November 1
Oaxaca City Cemetery, Panteon General on the east side of the city
Tlaixtac de Cabrera, six miles south east of Oaxaca City

San Felipe del Agua, north of Oaxaca City November 2,
Vllage of San Antonino Castillo Velasco  A flower growing village that celebrates a week after the others
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DayOf Dead in the City of Oaxaca, Mexico,
includes Events during the last week of
October as the celebrations take place.
November starts the Day of the Dead cemetery
visits, and the decorating of tombs.
Day Of The Dead in the City of Oaxaca, Mexico,
includes the cemetery vigil on the nights of October
31 and November 1 and 2
Events take place in the city during the last week of
October as the celebrations approach the evening
vigils, cemetery visits, and the decorating of tombs.
Day Of The Dead in the City of Oaxaca, Mexico, includes musical
festivals and concerts in the city.  Events take place in the city during the
last week of October as the celebrations approach the evening vigils,
cemetery visits, and the decorating of tombs on October 31 and
November 1 and 2..
Reach the Oaxaca Cemeteries:  The Day of the Dead Cemetery visit transportation is available
from Oaxaca city by bus, taxi, or car.  Xoxo Cemetery visits occur on October 31.   
First time visitors are best off with one of the many Oaxaca
Tour Agencies such as Borroco
Tours located on Garcia Vigil  (street)  They arrange small or large group van tours for visitors
to the village of Xoxo for the two cemeteries.  They guide you in the cemetery, help you make
photos, and provide local information about the event.
Otherwise the best option is
taxi or collective taxi.  Arrange for your return or determine the
loading place at the village when you arrive.  It could be difficult to find later in the evening.
The collective taxis for Xoxo leave from a depot on Calle (street) Miguel Cabrera, five blocks
south of the Zocalo.