Are you craving mezcal , danzón , huipiles , and tlayudas without leaving the city? Look no further! The Azcapotzalco borough is gearing up to host a celebration that embodies the spirit of Oaxaca .
This year, the Guelaguetza festivities will extend beyond Oaxaca to the Mexico City metropolitan area, and the best part? It is entirely free ! From June 19 to 22 , the Jardín Hidalgo in Azcapotzalco will come alive with vibrant colors, offering a taste of this grand Oaxacan festival.
Attendees can expect performances of traditional dances, live music, handmade crafts, and a gastronomic feast that transports them directly to the culinary heart of southern Mexico.
However, this is just the beginning of the celebration in the capital. The official Guelaguetza 2025 will take place as always in Oaxaca on July 21 and 28 , featuring the famed Lunes de Cerro or “Mondays on the Hill.” During these days, cities and municipalities across Oaxaca will buzz with craft fairs, communal festivals, gastronomic showcases, and various cultural expressions .
This year’s event aims to be grander, showcasing the diversity and pride of Oaxaca’s communities while respecting their cherished traditions. The Secretariat of Tourism , under the guidance of Saymi Pineda Velasco , is fine-tuning the final elements to ensure each celebration is special and true to the essence of the Guelaguetza.
Here’s an interesting fact: this festival is more than just dance and color ; it has roots in pre-Hispanic rituals dedicated to Centéotl , the Goddess of Corn , on a hill known as Daninayaaloani . Since then, the Guelaguetza has represented both unity and generosity among the peoples of Oaxaca.
So, now you have the perfect excuse to wear your best guayabera , enjoy some mezcal , showcase your huipil , and dance with joy. July is a month of celebration, and the heart of Oaxaca knows it well.
More than just a festival, the Guelaguetza is one of Mexico’s most vibrant living traditions. It dates back to pre-Hispanic times, but over the years, after the Spanish conquest , it blended with Catholic celebrations, leading to the honoring of the Virgin of Carmen . This fusion contributed to the creation of the famed Lunes del Cerro , which remain fundamental to the Guelaguetza even today.
In 1932 , these celebrations were formalized with the event known as Homenaje Racial , bringing together communities from across Oaxaca to share their cultures through music, traditional garments, and regional products. Since 1951 , the festival has adopted its current name, Guelaguetza , a Zapotec word that embodies the spirit of sharing and giving without expecting anything in return, according to Esther Berenice Camacho Leal in her work *La fiesta de la Guelaguetza, en Oaxaca: creación y desarrollo, 1932-2000*.