Marigolds, candlelight, live music and a lot of very good food. This October, Loco Gringo and Akumal Direct are hosting the first Day of the Dead celebration at Casa del Sol. If you'll be in Akumal at the end of the month, it's worth planning your weekend around it.
Casa del Sol is an artistic villa on Yal-Ku Lagoon that locals know as the "Casa of the Grateful Dead," since it once belonged to one of the band's members. We can't think of a better place for a Day of the Dead party.
Day of the Dead is one of Mexico's most beloved traditions. Families build altars for loved ones who have passed and fill them with marigolds, candles and photos. Then they gather to share food, music and stories as they welcome those spirits home.
Here in the Yucatán Peninsula, the Maya version of the holiday is called Hanal Pixán, or "food of the souls." It's less a day of mourning than a celebration of memory, best shared around a full table.
At a Glance
- Opening gala: Thursday, October 29, 5 to 8 pm (Invite only for locals and property owners)
- Free yoga: Saturday, October 31, 9 to 10 am (limited spots)
- Workshops: Saturday, October 31, times coming soon
- Main celebration: Saturday, October 31, 4 to 8 pm
- Special performance: Saturday, 7 pm
- Closing ceremony: Saturday, 8 pm
- Where: Casa del Sol, on Yal-Ku Lagoon in Akumal
- Admission: Free for Loco Gringo and Akumal Direct guests; 50 pesos for all other visitors
The schedule is still being confirmed, so check back here for final times.
An Evening to Remember: Thursday's Opening Gala
The celebration opens on Thursday, October 29, from 5 to 8 pm, with an invitation-only gala at Casa del Sol. It's a night to honor the tradition and to celebrate life together.
The evening begins with an opening ceremony and the presentation of the Day of the Dead altar, a tribute to the loved ones we remember. Then the lights go down for a special performance, one that brings the spirit of Day of the Dead to life in a way you won't soon forget. An art exhibit gives you one more reason to linger.
Then the party takes over. Cocktails flow, canapés keep coming, and live music carries the night. Expect good company, great food and plenty of reasons to raise a glass to the people who came before us.
Invitations with an RSVP form will be sent to guests staying in Akumal that weekend.
Saturday: Yoga, Sweet Bread and Hands-On Workshops
Saturday starts slowly. Join Sofia for free yoga at Casa del Sol from 9 to 10 am, then linger over fresh fruit, coffee and traditional Day of the Dead sweet bread. Spots are limited, so contact us to save yours.
The day's workshops are a chance to take a little of the tradition home with you. Times are coming soon, and tickets are sold at the venue.
- Tamale cooking class (150 pesos): Chef Esmeralda teaches one of the classic dishes found on Day of the Dead tables across Mexico.
- Tequila and chocolate tasting (200 pesos): Two of Mexico's great gifts to the world, tasted side by side.
- Make your own piñata, for kids: Little ones build and decorate their own piñata with Fabiola Akumal.
- Day of the Dead bread workshop: Coming soon.
The Main Event: Food, Artisans and a Show After Dark
At 4 pm on Saturday, Casa del Sol fills with food stands, local artisans, traditional games and live Mexican music. Come hungry and plan to stay for the show.
Eat and Drink
Fabrizio of Que Onda is bringing fresh bread, and Chef Daveed is serving tacos and Mexican street corn, plus fresh fruit waters and mezcal cocktails to wash them down. Akumal's own marquesitas cart will be there too, rolling up the Yucatán's favorite street dessert: crispy crêpes filled with cheese and sweet toppings. Pizzas from Edgar of La Piccolina are coming soon.
Shop Local
Take a slow lap of the pop-ups. MexicArte, one of our favorite folk art shops in Akumal, brings Mexican handicrafts. Hamaca Marte has hammocks and home decor, and Liz of Puerto Aventuras brings Mexican clothing. Paulina has Mexican candy and artisanal honey from the Yucatán, and you'll find artisanal mezcal from [producer name] too. Paintings by Sergio Gamboa are coming soon.
Learn and Play
Stop by the Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) stand to learn about the nonprofit's work monitoring Akumal's coral reefs, sea turtles and coastline. Paulina is setting up traditional Mexican games like Mexican bingo and the classic cup-and-ball game, and Fabiola Akumal's table lets you paint your own ceramic sugar skull. Live traditional Mexican music keeps the evening moving, and a talk by Miguel Covarrubias is coming soon.
The Show
Once night falls, the show begins. At 7 pm, all eyes turn to a special performance that captures the magic of Day of the Dead, the kind of moment people talk about long after the night ends. Grab a good spot early. At 8 pm, Sofia leads the closing ceremony that sends the celebration off.
Admission and Tickets
Saturday's celebration is open to everyone.
- Loco Gringo and Akumal Direct guests: Free
- All other visitors: 50 pesos
- Morning yoga: Free, with limited spots (contact us to reserve)
- Food, workshops and goods: Tickets sold at the venue
- Thursday gala: By invitation only
Make a Weekend of It
Staying with Loco Gringo gets you into Saturday's celebration for free. Start with morning yoga, fit in a workshop and some beach time, then head to Casa del Sol at 4 pm for street food, mezcal, sugar skull painting and a special performance under the evening sky.
Browse our Akumal vacation rentals and plan your Day of the Dead getaway. We'll see you at Casa del Sol.