Racing Against Time: Will the Day of the Dead Parade 2024 Happen?
The Government of Mexico City has issued a last-minute call for bids to find a company capable of organizing the highly anticipated Day of the Dead Parade and the iconic Monumental Ofrenda in the Zócalo. With tight deadlines, the selected organizer will have just days to plan and execute two of the city’s most celebrated events.
On October 15, Mexico City’s Ministry of Culture announced in the Official Gazette the launch of a National Public Tender for these events. Interested companies must act quickly—requirements and paperwork move fast, and the timeline leaves minimal space for trial and error.
Here is the official schedule that companies must follow. The window is tight, and the execution phase begins almost immediately after the winner is announced.
Time is of the essence. The Monumental Ofrenda may be set up between October 27 and November 1, while the Parade is anticipated for November 2. That leaves the winning bidder with about one week to finalize logistics—setup, safety, entertainment, and full operational coordination.
In 2023, both events drew over one million visitors, making them essential fixtures on Mexico City’s cultural calendar. That level of attendance raises the bar for production standards, crowd management, public safety, and the overall cultural experience.
The challenge is clear: deliver a memorable, respectful, and visually powerful celebration—without the usual months of preparation. The coming days will determine whether Mexico City can once again bring its most iconic Day of the Dead public events to life at full scale.
With deadlines closing in, all eyes are on the final decision and the production team that will carry the responsibility of honoring one of Mexico’s most meaningful cultural traditions—at full scale, and against the clock.