Celebrate Mexican artisans at Museo de Arte Popular’s 17th annual Alebrijes Parade in Mexico City
October 15, 2025
The Alebrijes Parade, organized by Museo de Arte Popular (MAP), kicks off El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) season of festivities in Mexico City. The annual event pays homage to Mexican artisans and their craft, especially the traditional cartonería, a form of papier-mâché. “It is essential for us to bring culture closer to the city’s inhabitants,” says MAP general director, Walther Boelsterly, “which is why we also go beyond our four walls to involve a larger population in our activities.” The vibrant procession of monumental, fantastical creatures fills the streets with local craftsmanship, colorful folk costumes, joyful music, and a celebratory atmosphere.
When and where is the Alebrijes Parade?
The 17th MAP Monumental Alebrijes Parade takes place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, starting at 12:00 noon. Mounted on wheeled platforms and propelled by their creators, the alebrijes will start out from El Zócalo, a public square in the heart of the city formally known as the Plaza de la Constitución. The parade route passes along Avenida 5 de Mayo, Eje Central, Avenida Juárez, and Paseo de la Reforma. Pieces from the parade will remain on display between Monumento a la Independencia and Estela de Luz until November 9.
What is an alebrije?
The traditional alebrije originated with artisan Pedro Linares López, who began crafting whimsical, hybrid creations after dreaming of them during an illness. Enlarged to epic proportions for the parade, some of these figures reach over 4 meters in height. Last year’s procession of 185 alebrijes attracted over 600,000 attendees; this year promises to be no less spectacular, with standout concept sketches including those that reference Mexican flora, fauna, or culture, and many that seem drawn from their creators’ dreams.
How can I discover more Mexican folk art?
If the Alebrijes Parade piques your interest, a visit to Museo de Arte Popular is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Mexican folk art. Their display, Folk Art and the Fantastic, showcases a variety of supernatural figures, placing historic alebrijes in context with nahuales (beings that can shift between human and animal), devils, and mermaids. The MAP digital guide also includes audio tours exploring themes such as folk art and the sacred or folk art in daily life, so you can learn more about Mexican craft traditions from wherever you are.
What are some highlights from a visit to MAP?
Museo de Art Popular in Mexico City is dedicated to the preservation and display of Mexican folk art, which museum trustee Sonya Santos describes as “one of the many examples of the creativity, knowledge, and talent of the country’s communities.” Some of the finest examples are on display in the museum, such as José Miguel Covarrubias Duclaud’s painting Geography of Mexican Folk Art, Zaulo Carrales Pavon’s woven Cuexcomate, and Francisco “Chico” Coronel’s revival of the pre-Hispanic lacquering of guajes. “Appreciating Mexican folk art is contributing to the sustainability of our ecosystems, promoting the labor rights of its creators, and favoring the continuity of our traditions,” says Santos.
The 17th MAP Monumental Alebrijes Parade takes place on Saturday, October 18 and this year’s alebrijes will be displayed between Monumento a la Independencia and Estela de Luz from October 18 – November 9, 2025.