Mexico City Day of the Dead Parades, Closures, Oct 31-Nov 2

Mexico City's Day of the Dead program will bring major parades and pedestrian crowds from Friday, October 31, through Sunday, November 2. The Grand Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 1, starting at 2:00 p.m., and will run several hours with rolling closures on a central corridor from Chapultepec Park to the Zócalo. Travelers should use Metro and Metrobús where possible, avoid crossing Reforma during the parade window, and budget extra time for trips to and from Mexico City International Airport.

Grand Parade route and timing

The official route begins at Puerta de los Leones in Bosque de Chapultepec, proceeds along Paseo de la Reforma, then turns on Avenida Juárez, continues along Calle 5 de Mayo, and finishes in the Zócalo. Authorities and tourism outlets are guiding visitors to expect a four-hour moving spectacle featuring large-format Catrinas, "art in motion," music, and dance. The start time published for 2025 is 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1.

Crowd density and viewing pressure will be highest around iconic Reforma landmarks and throughout Centro Histórico, with additional festival activity in the Zócalo. Media and city cultural calendars emphasize that 2025 programming spans the week, culminating October 31 to November 2, which will extend the period of intermittent closures and transit adjustments.

Closures, crossings, and how to move

During the Grand Parade, the city implements rolling traffic holds along the route. Motorists should avoid Reforma, Juárez, 5 de Mayo, and the streets feeding the Zócalo. If you must cross Reforma, do it well outside the parade window or far from the route where traffic officers open controlled crossings. Past advisories show that Metrobús Line 7, which runs on Reforma, typically shortens or suspends service at stations near Chapultepec, Anthropology, Auditorio, and Campo Marte during parade operations and staging; expect similar adjustments in 2025 and watch the @MetrobusCDMX channels for specifics.

Metro and Metrobús remain the fastest options to reposition before and after the parade. Weekend Metro service follows normal hours, but plan for crowded platforms and trainsets at transfer hubs serving Centro Histórico. Riders should allow space to board, consider traveling one or two stops beyond the Zócalo to back-track by foot, and build in time for line changes.

Getting to and from the airport

Citywide congestion and parade perimeters can complicate surface trips to Mexico City International Airport. If your flight departs on Saturday afternoon or evening, add 30 to 60 minutes to your usual buffer, use Metro or authorized airport taxis from outside the closure zone, and check live flight status before leaving for the terminal. The airport's official site provides real-time information and links to airline channels.

What to expect on the ground

Cultural programming surrounding Day of the Dead in 2025 includes the monumental ofrenda in the Zócalo and allied events across the city, which draw large, family-oriented crowds. Expect staged performances, music, and street vendors near the route and in Centro Histórico. Separate processions, such as the Mega Procesión de Catrinas, also follow Reforma-Juárez-5 de Mayo into the historic center on adjacent days, creating additional foot traffic and intermittent vehicle holds even outside the Grand Parade window.

Background

Mexico City's modern Grand Parade blends traditional ofrenda culture with a contemporary civic procession. While Day of the Dead customs date back centuries, the large, city-scale parade format through Reforma and the Zócalo has grown over the past decade and now anchors a multi-day calendar that attracts domestic and international visitors each year.

Practical tips

Arrive early to secure a spot if you plan to watch the parade, and identify your exit streets in advance. Carry water and sun protection, and agree on a meeting point if your group gets separated. If you are transiting the core for other reasons, route around the axis of Reforma and Centro Histórico entirely during the parade hours. Travelers with mobility needs should prefer Metro stations with elevators and avoid curbside areas that may be fenced or barricaded for crowd control.

Air travelers should confirm their ground transportation plan before the parade begins, and anyone with tight connections should consider moving to the airport earlier in the day to wait air-side. Real-time airport conditions and airline notifications remain the best source for last-minute gate or timing changes.

Final thoughts

Expect Mexico City Day of the Dead parades and closures to peak on Saturday, November 1, with the Grand Parade starting at 2:00 p.m., and plan transit accordingly. Use Metro and Metrobús, avoid cross-Reforma movements during the parade window, and budget extra time for trips to the airport.

Sources

• Visit Mexico, Grand Parade date, time, and route (official tourism)
• El Financiero, parade timing and how to follow live (Oct 27, 2025)
• N+ / Nmas, start time confirmation and parade details (Oct 29, 2025)
• El País, 2025 CDMX cultural calendar, Zócalo ofrenda, and parade context
• Infobae and prior-year Metrobús advisories for typical Line 7 adjustments on Reforma (reference pattern)
• Mexico City International Airport official site, flight-status hub