This weekend, Madrid will host a grand Day of the Dead parade featuring more than 500 participants (including 100 artists) and two monumental floats. Of course, traditions associated with the Day of the Dead have long since found a place in the capital (the Casa de México has been displaying its own unique Day of the Dead altar for years), but this is the first time that Ánima Fest—a festival dedicated exclusively to this Mexican holiday—is being held in Madrid.
The festival will take place from October 29 to November 3 and is organized by REM (Recuperación de Espacios y Monumentos), with the Mexican state of Querétaro serving as the main partner and guest of this first edition. The highlight will be the parade, scheduled for Sunday, November 1.
In addition, Ánima Fest will also feature artistic performances, decorative installations, and other activities, such as parties and workshops open to all ages. According to the organizers, the goal is for the festival to bring together “Mexican tradition, art, music, and cuisine.” The activities (all of which are free) will take place at various locations in the city center, from the Plaza Mayor to the Plaza de Chamberí and the Círculo de Bellas Artes.
How to attend the Day of the Dead parade: schedule, route, and registration
The parade will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1. It will depart from the Royal Palace, starting at Plaza de Oriente, proceed along Carrera de San Jerónimo, and end at Plaza Mayor, where a free Querétaro-themed party will be held starting at 8:00 p.m., featuring music and dances typical of the guest state.
To watch the parade, no registration is required, but if you’d like to participate in the parade yourself, Ánima Fest offers the option to register on the festival’s platform.
To get to the parade, the closest station to Plaza de Oriente is Ópera (with connections to Metro lines 2 and 5). Meanwhile, the closest stations to Plaza Mayor are Sol and Ópera. The organizers recommend using public transportation to reach the area.
The program for the Day of the Dead festival in Madrid
On its social media profiles, the organization has published the full schedule of activities (all free) that, in addition to the parade and Sunday’s Querétaro-style party, are planned for the days Ánima Fest takes place:
- An exhibition of papier-mâché pieces at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, which will be open to the public on October 29, 30, and 31.
- A sale of products from Querétaro at the Mercado de Prosperidad, which will take place from October 29 to November 3.
- A cultural livestream that will take place online on November 4.
- An Altar of the Dead that can be visited in Plaza de Chamberí from October 29 through November 3.
- The “Make Your Own Lelé Doll” workshop, which will take place in Plaza de Chamberí on October 30 and 31 and November 2 at 1:00 p.m.
- The “Paint Your Traditional Clay Magnet” workshop, also in Plaza de Chamberí, will feature sessions on October 30 at 2:00 p.m., on October 31 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., and on November 2 at 12:00 p.m.
- A culinary experience at El Landó Restaurant (Plaza de Gabriel Miró, 8), which can be enjoyed from October 29 through November 5.