The city will soon resemble Mictlán because the Day of the Dead in Mexico City is just around the corner. If you still don’t know what to do this season full of tradition, mark the Water Lantern Festival in Chapultepec on your calendar.
Something magical will happen on the night of October 30 ! Floating candles will light up Lago Mayor in the Second Section of Chapultepec as people dedicate words, memories, and good wishes to the departed.
This event is free, but if you’d like to release your own lantern and write a few words for a loved one who has passed away, you can purchase your official kit now (it includes a reusable LED lantern and sustainable materials to avoid harming the natural environment).
30 October 2026 15:00 + more dates
Lago Mayor de Chapultepec
Chapultepec Water Lantern Festival: floating candles on Chapultepec’s Lago Mayor, music, and food to remember the departed
The Water Lantern Festival will be a moving outdoor nighttime experience, part of the Day of the Dead Festival program in Chapultepec Forest.
The event is inspired by the tradition in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where thousands of paper lanterns are released into the night sky as a symbol of hope and good luck.
It has taken place in cities like Toronto, New York, and Buenos Aires. This time, it’s coming to Mexico in a very special way: to honor loved ones who are no longer with us.
Instead of releasing sky lanterns into the sky, floating candle lanterns will be set adrift on Lago Mayor in the Second Section of Chapultepec.
The idea here is simple, yet deeply moving. You can write a message on your lantern for someone you’re remembering during this Day of the Dead season.
While thefloating candles— —light up the lake, there will be music and food from local vendors for four hours.
The show is free to watch, but to participate by launching your own floating candle, you’ll need to purchase the official kit (which includes all the materials needed for the ritual and costs $400).
When and where will the Water Lantern Festival take place?
The Water Lantern Festival in Chapultepec will take place on Friday, October 30, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Lago Mayor in the Second Section of Chapultepec Forest, as part of the incredible Day of the Dead Festival.
Admission is free for everyone, but if you don’t want to miss out on your own floating lantern, now is the time to get your kit before they run out.
A unique plan for the Day of the Dead in Mexico City
Celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico City is like experiencing a huge celebration filled with traditions, flavor, and nostalgia. Although there will be plenty of things to do on this date, this is one event you can’t miss if you want to enjoy nature on an autumn night.
You can go to the Water Lantern Festival in Chapultepec and simply enjoy the atmosphere, stroll along Lago Mayor, and take in the beautiful scenery illuminated by the lights. But if you want your own lantern, we suggest you pick up your kit for that day now, because they sell out fast.
It’s worth noting that the lanterns are designed to protect the natural environment of Chapultepec Forest. They’ll feature reusable LED candles and sustainable materials to avoid harming the environment, and at the end of the event, there will be a cleanup day to help preserve the natural surroundings.
Water Lantern Festival Chapultepec Forest
30 October 2026 15:00 + more dates
Lago Mayor de Chapultepec
