Every autumn, Mexico is painted in orange and violet hues to welcome one of its most emblematic celebrations: the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos). In Riviera Nayarit, this festivity takes on a special meaning, combining indigenous roots with the warmth of its communities and the contemporary creativity of its tourist micro-destinations. From towns steeped in history to coasts bathed by the Pacific, this part of the state of Nayarit prepares to pay tribute to life and memory with events full of color, music, and tradition.

LAS VARAS
A TRIBUTE TO WIXÁRIKA CULTURE
From October 24th to 26th, 2025, the Festival de Los Muertos Las Varas will be held. This edition will be dedicated to the Wixárika culture, whose worldview and sacred places (such as Jamura and Chacala) have a deep connection to life and death.

During these three days, visitors can enjoy a series of activities including the exhibition of altars in the main square, a parade of catrinas (elegant skeleton figures) and floats, a gastronomic corridor, musical performances, folkloric ballets, live mariachi, fireworks, and the creation of a seven-meter monumental catrina. Additionally, there will be a screening of a themed short film and an exhibition of local handicrafts. This is a family event that honors those who are no longer with us, in an atmosphere of joy and shared memory.

TEPIC
STORIES THAT COME TO LIFE
The state capital will transform into a stage of legends with the Festival de Las Almas Eternas (Festival of Eternal Souls), celebrating its fifth edition from October 31st to November 2nd at the emblematic Calzada del Panteón Hidalgo. This historic cemetery is the starting point for an immersive experience that blends art, culture, and mysticism.

The program will include video mapping shows, speaking tombs, altar competitions, and themed parades, along with artistic and musical presentations. One of the biggest attractions is the dramatized representations of historic Nayarit figures, performed by local actors and guides, who bring to life the legends that are part of Tepic’s cultural heritage.

BAHÍA DE BANDERAS
ART, SURF, AND TRADITION
Bahía de Banderas celebrates the Day of the Dead in a vibrant and contemporary manner. This year, the local government launched a call for visual artists and muralists to intervene in the municipality’s cemeteries with murals alluding to the festivity. The goal is to fill the spaces where the departed are honored with color, identity, and life, uniting art and tradition on the same canvas.

Furthermore, the Festival Internacional Día de Muertos Bahía de Banderas 2025 will take place in the pueblo mágico (Magical Town) of Sayulita from October 30th to November 2nd. In addition to cultural and gastronomic activities, the event will include a surf tournament with the participation of national and international athletes. The competition will feature six women’s and men’s categories, and cash prizes reaching 100,000 pesos, merging the adrenaline of sport with the spirituality of the celebration.

SANTA MARÍA DEL ORO
BETWEEN LEGENDS AND MARIGOLD FLOWERS
In the Nayarit mountains, Santa María del Oro offers a more intimate and deeply rooted celebration. At the end of October and the beginning of November, its streets fill with marigold flowers (cempasúchil), candles, and altars decorated with the favorite dishes of departed loved ones.

The town’s families organize altar contests, parades, and traditional ceremonies, in an atmosphere where remembrance becomes an expression of love and community. Additionally, the town is famous for the legend of its lake, known as Samao, which tells the tragic story of an indigenous princess in love with an enemy warrior. According to tradition, the young woman threw herself into the waters after his death, and on the calmest nights, her song still resonates among the mountains, reminding us that love transcends life and death.

DAY OF THE DEAD
A TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE
From historic towns to the most vibrant coasts, Riviera Nayarit offers a unique way to experience the Day of the Dead. Here, every altar, every flower, and every musical note becomes a bridge between generations, a sign of respect for those who came before us, and a celebration of life in all its forms.

Each of these events (which combine art, history, culture, and sport) confirms that traditions are not only preserved but are reinvented year after year. In every micro-destination, the Day of the Dead becomes a mosaic of emotions that invites residents and visitors to discover, with awe and gratitude, the beauty of remembering.