Day of the Dead in the towns of Morelos and the eastern State of Mexico looks nothing like the parade in Mexico City. Here you visit ofrendas (altars) inside people's homes, bring a candle, eat what families offer you and follow the band to the cemetery. This guide brings together five towns less than two and a half hours from the city: what happens in each one and which day to go.
In 2026 the busiest days are Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, and Monday the 2nd is cemetery day almost everywhere. Further down you'll find the events we have already confirmed for those dates.
The dates at a glance
- October 28: in some towns, such as Hueyapan, families set up the altar for people who died in accidents.
- Saturday, October 31: the children arrive. Altar visits and night walks begin.
- Sunday, November 1: the main altar goes up at noon. It's the busiest night.
- Monday, November 2: families go to the cemetery and say goodbye to their dead.
- November 8 and 9: la octava in Tepoztlán, which closes the season.
Ocotepec, Cuernavaca: candles for the new altars
1 h 20 from Mexico City. Ocotepec is an indigenous village in the north of Cuernavaca, and its tradition is one of the strongest in Morelos. Families who lost someone during the past year build an ofrenda nueva (a "new altar") and open the doors of their home. On the table they shape the body of the person who died with bread and banana leaves, dress it in their clothes and give it a sugar skull for a head.
Visitors bring a candle and hand it to the family. Locals call this cerear, and in return the family offers mole, tamales, bread or coffee. Adult altars are ready before noon on November 1, and the nights of the 1st and 2nd are the busiest. The village's communal authority usually publishes a map of the homes with a new altar.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhibition: it's a home in mourning. Ask before taking photos, don't touch the altar and follow the family's lead.
Tetela del Volcán and Hueyapan: the Huehuenchada
2 h 20 from Mexico City. In Tetela del Volcán, on the slopes of the Popocatépetl volcano, the altars are large and open to the public. They are known for an arch of cocoxóchitl flowers placed over the main table and at the door of the house.
At noon on November 1 families welcome their dead and the Huehuenchada begins: neighbors in costume, the huehuenches, come out of the San Jerónimo cemetery and dance through the streets. People say they lend their bodies to the souls so they can spend a day with the living. At noon on the 2nd they dance back to the cemetery. The tradition is more than a hundred years old.
Nearby Hueyapan sets up its altars day by day. On October 28 comes the altar for those who died in accidents. On the 31st comes the children's altar, with only white flowers and miniature dishes. The main altar goes up on November 1. Every altar is placed at noon.
Bring a jacket: next to the volcano, nights get cold.
Tlayacapan: the band in the cemetery
1 h 40 from Mexico City. In Tlayacapan, the Banda de Tlayacapan, run by the Santamaría family, plays funeral marches in the town cemetery. It is one of the oldest brass bands in Morelos, and hearing it among the candlelit graves is reason enough for the trip.
In 2025 there were also night tours on the Chinelobús. If they return this year, they'll show up in the events list below. During the day, visit the 16th-century former convent of San Juan Bautista, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tepoztlán: a giant altar and pumpkin lanterns
1 h 30 from Mexico City. Tepoztlán puts together a two-week program. In 2025 it ran from October 25 to November 9, with a flower carpet and a giant altar on the main square, concerts, a mass with a string ensemble in the town cemetery and the closing of la octava.
The best part is watching children go door to door asking for their calaverita, a bit like trick-or-treating, carrying a carved chilacayote or pumpkin with a candle inside, on November 1 and 2 and again on the octava. As soon as the town publishes the 2026 program, it will appear in the listings.
Be aware that Tepoztlán gets very crowded. Arrive early or stay the night, because the town center and the road jam up in the afternoon.
Amecameca: a night walk with La Catrina
1 h 15 from Mexico City, the closest. Amecameca has already announced two night walks for 2026:
- Saturday, October 31, 8:00 p.m.: candlelight vigil at the Santa Rosa cemetery.
- Sunday, November 1, 9:00 p.m.: walk to the El Castillo cemetery, leaving from the main kiosk.
Everyone is invited to bring a candle or torch to light the way. On these dates you'll also see La Catrina in the streets and the marotas dance. If you go during the day, climb the Sacromonte hill: the view of the volcanoes is worth it.