Xcaret Park is truly one of the most magical places on earth. Riviera Maya‘s cultural and entertainment mecca celebrates Mexico’s Bicentennial and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution with multifaceted expressions of theatre, dance, music, narrative,  and gastronomy.

For almost 20 years Xcaret has paid tribute to the natural and cultural wealth of Mexico and during this special celebration the park becomes a mosaic of color, music and tradition; with an outstanding program of activities for children, teenagers and adults.  As a celebration of ‘Dia de los Muertos’ from October 30th to November 2nd the park is celebrating the 5th Annual festival “200 years of Life and Death” .  The Festival brings to life the most representative characters from Mexico’s history, the clothes of the era and the most significant food and landscapes in its history; all expressed through music, theatre, literature and dance.

The program includes, “Here comes the Death, Shining with a Thousand Bright Colors”, a musical cabaret theatre by Astrid Hadad; “Juárez Shouldn’t Have Died”, a musical recital-show by Oscar Chávez; and the presentation of the Nandayapa Marimba in concert. There will also be performances by the “Traditional Yucatecan Music” Jaranera Orchestra from Xcaret; family theatre, a multidisciplinary show by the Isadora Art in Movement Group; a regional Yucatecan comedy theatre and tales and legends from the Maya.

The program has something for everyone including community theatre, a narrative of stories, street theatre and folkloric dance. There will also be a “Mexican Catholic Mass” in memory of the Little Angels and all the Saints” given by Archbishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo, accompanied by the Nandayapa Marimba.

This year the presence of Chiapas in this Festival will be accompanied by rituals and exhibitions in which the real symbolism (offerings, flowers, drinks and food) of the Day of the Dead will be conserved with an exhibition of traditional altars. To make matters official the directors of the Park and the Chiapas State Council for Culture and the Arts met at the entrance to Xcaret’s graveyard to sign the collaboration agreement, which formally confirms the presence of this entity in the Festival.                        
The document was signed by  Marvin Lorena Arriaga Córdova, Director of the  Chiapas State Council for Culture and the Arts; Enrique Pérez López, Director of the Chiapas State Centre for Indigenous Languages, Art and Literature (CELALI); Francisco Marrón, Executive Director of Xcaret; and  Leticia Aguerrebere, Festival Director. 

Signing as witnesses of honour were Carlos Constandse Madrazo, Vice-President of Experiencias Xcaret and Vanesa Gracia, representing the Minister of Culture of the Government of Quintana Roo, accompanied by Dario Flota, Director of the Riviera Maya’s Tourism Promotion Trust and Alejandra Rodriguez Zetina, Deputy Minister of Planning of the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism.

A visit to Riviera Maya’s Xcaret Park during the ‘Day of the Dead/ Day of the Saints’ celebrations is perhaps the best time to discover the history, culture and traditions that only Mexico can offer.For more information visit www.rivieramaya.com