Ease your way into autumn with this selection of food festivals, concerts and art exhibitions that are taking place in Mexico City in October.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 1st – SUNDAY OCTOBER 2nd
📅 TBC, October
The wildly successful Mexican artist Rúben Maya will be bringing his trippy and interactive ‘Psico-seres de acción onírica’ to Mexico City this month. Paintings and sculpture will dominate this exhibition, while the audio-visual experience will be only enhanced by the black lights usually reserved for raves.
📍 Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, José María Pino Suárez 30, Centro, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5522 9936
📅 All October
One of Mexico’s most critically acclaimed and beloved artists is Leonora Carrington, and all through October the late surrealist’s bizarre and beautiful sculptures will be on display at the UAM campus. This exhibit is in honor of the five-year anniversary of her death, and includes a total of 34 sculptures. What’s more, it’s completely free.
Tickets: Free
📍 Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Prol. Canal de Miramontes 3855, Tlalpan, Ex Hacienda San Juan de Dios, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5483 4000
📅 All October
If you’re at all familiar with the work of South African rappers Die Antwoord, the chances are you are also familiar with the work of New York photographer Roger Ballen. He’s a longstanding collaborator of theirs but also an established photographer in his own right. His assuredly weird and wonderful exhibition will take place at Foto Museo Cuatro Caminos throughout October.
Tickets: MXN$30
📍 Foto Museo Cuatro Caminos, Calzada Ingenieros Militares 77, Lomas de Sotelo, Naucalpan de Juárez, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 6813 5964
📅 All October
Continuing on from September, October will also play host to Atrio de San Francisco’s free art installations which have revitalized structures that had fallen into disrepair and were no longer used. In total, there are 45 pieces to choose from, so you can enjoy fresh air, art and Mexico without paying a peso.
Tickets: Free
📅 Saturday, October 1st
Tickets are still available for Guadalajara’s electronic music duo, Sussie 4, who will be taking to the Lunario del Auditorio Nacional stage this October. Known for their fusion style consisting of Latin beats, French house influence and a healthy dose of pop and jazz thrown in for good measure, this twosome are always worth checking out.
Tickets: MXN$345-460
📍 Lunario del Auditorio Nacional, Av Paseo de la Reforma 50, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 9138 1350
📅 Saturday, October 1st
If you’ve never tried the weird beer and tomato juice (plus sauces, spices and lime juice) concoction that is a michelada, quite frankly, you’re missing out on both a cultural and drinking experience. This reputedly hangover busting Bloody Mary minus the vodka will be the star attraction at Pasaje América’s expo this month. Head down and try out some lesser spotted flavor combinations.
Tickets: MXN$34.50
📅 Saturday, October 1st
Punk rock will never die and this festival is only proof of that. Nápoles’ Pepsi Center WTC plays host to this great line up of acts, including artists such as Delux, Allison and Unleash The Kraken, meaning you can get your month off to the best possible start. Tickets can be bought at Ticketmaster.
Tickets: MXN$200-400
📍 Pepsi Center WTC, Calle Dakota s/n, Benito Juarez, Nápoles, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 9000 9117
📅 Friday, October 1st – Sunday, October 23rd
Combine a wide selection of moles with a super cheap MXN$5 entry fee and place them in the beautiful pueblo mágico that is San Pedro Atocpan in Milpa Alta, Mexico City and you’ve got the recipe for an unmissable food fair. Almost all of October will be witness to the 40th Feria Nacional del Mole, which will also have rides, plus sporting, art and cultural events on offer.
Tickets: MXN$5
📅 Until Tuesday, October 18th
Mexicans love to show off their so-called unique sense of humor, and anyone vaguely interested in how that is conveyed on the silver screen needs to head down to ‘El Humor en el Cine Mexicano’ at the Cineteca Nacional this month. Curated by Rafael Barajas, one of the biggest draws will be the pieces focusing on the comics Cantinflas and Tin Tan.
Tickets: MXN$50
📍 Galería de la Cineteca Nacional, 389 Colonia, Av. México Coyoacán, Colonia Xoco, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 4155 1201
📅 Until Sunday, October 30th
Globally recognised as one of the most influential Mexican artists and muralists, this exhibition of some of Diego Rivera’s interesting and culturally revealing pieces at Museo Mural Diego Rivera is more than worth a visit. Focusing on his influence on the modern art scene in the US, the pieces have been curated by his grandson.
Tickets: MXN$30, free on Sundays
📍 Museo Mural Diego Rivera, Calle Balderas y Colon S/N, Cuauhtémoc, Colonia Centro, Centro, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 1555 1900
📅 Saturday, October 1st
The monthly film screenings in Bosque de Chapultepec are well known for being thwarted by the temperamental Mexico City weather, but as we move out of rainy season this month, you’ve got a decent chance of being able to stop by. This month’s film will be La Sonrisa de Monalisa.
Tickets: Free
📍 Lanchacinema: Lago Mayor de Chapultepec, Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc, Ciudad de México, México
MONDAY OCTOBER 3rd – SUNDAY OCTOBER 9th
📅 Wednesday, October 5th
With hit singles like Sex and Chocolate, The 1975 are an English rock four piece who will make a stop at Mexico City’s Pepsi Center WTC this October. Currently on a worldwide tour to promote their latest chart topping album, I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, make sure to grab a ticket for their only Mexico City stop off.
Tickets: MXN$665-1124
📍 Pepsi Center WTC, Calle Dakota s/n, Benito Juarez, Nápoles, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 9000 9117
📅 Friday, October 7th
A mere two days later and the dulcet tones of ex-Zoé singer León Larregui make an appearance at the Teatro Metropólitano. Best known, at least as a solo artist, for songs like Como Tú and the brilliant Brillas, he is a prolific collaborator with other artists and undoubtedly one of Mexico’s beset singers. Tickets are still available, so make sure you snap one up.
Tickets: MXN$310-1070
📍 Teatro Metropólitan, Avenida Independencia No. 90, Cuauhtémoc, Colonia Centro, Centro, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5510 1035
📅 Until Sunday, October 9th
Notable Mexico City museum, Museo Tamayo plays host this October to an exhibition by one of the 20th century’s most important sculptors. Compiling a total of 50 years worth of research, including scale models, drawings and photographs, the exhibition focuses on public spaces and playgrounds. After visiting the exhibition, take the opportunity to check out what else Museo Tamayo has to offer too.
Tickets: MXN$60
📍 Museo Tamayo, Paseo de la Reforma 51, Bosque de Chapultepec, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 4122 8200
MONDAY OCTOBER 10th – SUNDAY OCTOBER 16th
📅 Friday, October 14th – Sunday, October 16th
Who doesn’t love coffee and chocolate? As a country which produces excellent, albeit underrated, varieties of both, leave it to Mexico City to host a Café & Chocolate Fest in quirky Coyoacán. Taste test homegrown products from various producers, as well as some international efforts in Plaza Jardín Hidalgo.
Tickets: Free
📅 Saturday, October 15th
Tickets are still on sale for the Non Stop Ska! music festival in Mexico City. With confirmed acts such as Inspector, Mad Caddies and the intriguingly named Voodoo Glow Skulls, this is a must-visit for any ska fan passing through the city this October. Check out their Facebook page for more act confirmations and information.
Tickets: MXN$377-492
📍 Palacio de los Deportes, Av Viaducto Rio de la Piedad y Rio Churubusco S/N, Granjas México, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 4743 1100
📅 Sunday, October 16th
The second level of the Periférico may well be controversial but why not make the most of a bad situation and go for a nighttime fun run around it? Hosted by Carrera Profuturo, this is the seventh iteration of the fun run and it continues being popular and most importantly enjoyable. What better way to squeeze some exercise into your evening plans?!
Tickets: Sign up on the website
📅 Sunday, October 16th
Former Disney star and now established performer in her own right, Demi Lovato will be dropping by Mexico City in October and tickets are still available. Perfect for the teenager in us all, her music is powerful, catchy and inspiring. Too embarrassed to go alone? Take your younger sibling and pretend they dragged you along, not the other way around.
Tickets: MXN$467.50-2681.50
📍 Palacio de los Deportes, Av Viaducto Rio de la Piedad y Rio Churubusco S/N, Granjas México, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 4743 1100
MONDAY OCTOBER 17th – SUNDAY OCTOBER 23rd
📅 Monday, October 17th – Saturday, October 22nd
For an unforgettable, albeit pricey, cultural experience, Lila Downs will be performing at an Indigenous Poetry Recital which will take place over the course of a full week in Mexico City. With performances from 57 other Mexican indigenous poets and singers in their native languages and Spanish, this event is one of a kind and therefore a must-see.
Tickets: MXN$2500
📍 Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, José María Pino Suárez 30, Centro, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5522 9936
📅 Friday, October 21st
Bloc Party supported by Colombian band Bomba Estéreo, you say? Well, Mexico City will play host to just such an event on October 21st 2016. Tickets are on the pricier end, but are well worth purchasing if you’re a fan of either band. Indie or Latin American music fans will not be disappointed, and hopefully Bomba Estéreo will play their new smash Soy Yo!
Tickets: MXN$864-1124
📍 El Plaza Condesa, Av. Juan Escutia 4, Cuauhtémoc, Hipódromo Condesa, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5211 0044
📅 Saturday, October 22nd
Alebrijes are delicate wooden animals, hand painted in vibrant colors and found across all of Mexico, although they originally hail from Oaxaca. With lithe limbs and fantastical forms, they’re one of the coolest forms of Mexican folk art. Mexico City will host a parade of giant versions of these whimsical pieces in October, which is definitely worth checking out.
Tickets: Free
📅 Until Saturday, October 22nd
German artist Lore Bert is hosting her ‘Fragile Values’ exposition, which seeks to depict the fragility of the world in which we live. However, this collection doesn’t just encourage reflection of fragility, but also on beauty, the ephemeral, freedom and the transitory nature of life. Part of the Germany-Mexico year, Bert’s work is being shown for free.
Tickets: Free
📍 Galería Ethra, Londres 54, Juárez, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5514 2710
MONDAY OCTOBER 24th – SUNDAY OCTOBER 30th
📅 Wednesday, October 26th
The Catrina skull is emblematic of Mexico, being inextricably tied to its culture and people as well as making for a popular Halloween costume across the world. Despite this international association with Halloween, they’re actually part of the Day of the Dead festivities in Mexico, and this month you can see a (free!) giant procession of them passing through the city center. Cultural and cool.
Tickets: Free
📅 Wednesday, October 26th
If you’ve not yet seen director Alonso Ruizpalacios’ black and white cinematic debut Güeros, this open air cinema screening in October is the perfect opportunity. Taking place in one of Mexico City’s best and most historic plazas, Plaza Aguilita, this free event is organized in part by La Casa del Cine Mx.
Tickets: Free
📅 Wednesday, October 26th
Every month, Mexico City plays host to Night at the Museum come to life; this month Noche de Museos falls on October 26th and various museums stay open late into the night. See Bellas Artes at dusk or wander around MUNAL instead. Museum fans can’t pass up this once monthly opportunity.
Tickets: Various, depending on the museum
📍 Various museums across the city.
📅 Thursday, October 27th
Some may consider them a one hit wonder, but this multi-national band would love to prove those people wrong at their Mexico City concert. Formed from British Jenny, Spaniard David and Mexicans Icho and Pantera, this foursome are to be found at El Plaza Condesa this month. Tickets can be found on Ticketmaster.
Tickets: MXN$434-665
📍 El Plaza Condesa, Av. Juan Escutia 4, Cuauhtémoc, Hipódromo Condesa, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5211 0044
📅 Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, until Thursday, October 27th
An art exhibition to be held at the fantastic Kurimanzutto contemporary art gallery which ruminates on the somber reality of Mexicanness nowadays. Tax havens, daily corruption and organized crime are just some of the topics that this Mexican artist’s third exhibition at this gallery touches upon.
Tickets: Free
📍 Kurimanzutto, Gob. Rafael Rebollar 94, Miguel Hidalgo, San Miguel Chapultepec I Secc, Ciudad de México, México, +52 55 5256 2408
📅 Friday, October 28th – Saturday, October 29th
The legendary Isla de las Muñecas will be the site of a pre-Day of the Dead rave this October. From Friday 28th to Saturday 29th, revellers can descend on Xochimilco and camp on the island, all while enjoying the Electronic Music Festival that will be taking place there. A great way to see in the autumn festivities in Mexico City.
Tickets: MXN$150-250
📍 La Isla de las Muñecas, Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, México
MONDAY OCTOBER 31st
📅 Monday, October 31st
All across the city on this day, people will be starting to prepare their Day of the Dead altars which serve as homages to deceased friends and relatives. Prepare to see a ton of vivid orange flowers and mementos spotted across the city, as well as a muted sense of celebration. For Mexicans, death should be both mourned and celebrated, hence the Day of the Dead traditions. A cultural experience for the casual traveler that should be observed but respected.
Tickets: Free
📍 Various locations across the city
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