By Francisco Peyret
Only Mexicans are born to surprise themselves, suddenly a new topic arises, or we bring in something from the past, and our imagination explodes, we begin to suggest a number of occurrences. That’s when the sense of very Mexican humor shows up, often bordering on the dark side. During these October weekends, it is worth exploring what is about to happen in Mexico City. Those of us who cannot be there can follow it on social networks, where we will see a series of unusual and very entertaining images. It is a festival, an exhibition, and two parades that take place in the Paseo de la Reforma area. If you are in CDMX at this time, do not hesitate to prepare to walk.
On October 15, you cannot miss the Star Wars Parade. It will be the first time that Mexico City is «invaded» by interstellar troops. In 2017, the first march of this type was held in Guadalajara; in 2018, it was held in Monterrey: and in 2019, in Campeche. Mexico City will be the fourth venue for what is also known as «Training Day.» The Star Wars parade will take place on the Avenida Paseo de la Reforma from the Angel of Independence to the Monument to the Revolution.
On Saturday, October 22, the Monumental Alebrijes Parade and Contest will be held. The tour begins at the Zócalo, and continues along Avenida 5 de Mayo, Juárez, and Paseo de la Reforma, to conclude at the roundabout of the Ángel de la Independencia. At the end of the parade, the Monumental Alebrijes will remain for display on the main sidewalks of Paseo de la Reforma between the Angel of Independence and the Diana the Huntress roundabouts, until Sunday, November 6, 2022. Beauty, sympathy, and the folklore of these two events have no comparison. It is worth following them because they are very characteristic in giving color to Mexican humor.
For all of October, a beautiful festival that brings together landscapers, gardeners, artists, architects, and other experts, also arrives at Paseo de la Reforma. The Autumn Flower Festival is a unique tour filled with plants, horticulture, and other green knowledge. Among the events planned for this autumn 2022, there will be garden displays and flower arrangements, art and nature exhibits, and flower shows on one of the city’s most beautiful avenues. Only Mexicans can think of celebrating a flower festival right at the beginning of autumn when one imagines a cloudy and nostalgic landscape and streets filled with a golden color of fallen and dead leaves. We prefer to fill Paseo de la Reforma with colors of flowers, and to top it off we will do it again in November. For the day of the dead, it is time to fill the walk with yellow cémpasúchil.
In the Bicentennial Park, also in the same area of the city, you have to take a look at the new edition of Mexicráneos, which presents one hundred innovative, peculiar, and original skull designs by different artists who fill these traditional objects with the color and style of the Mexican imaginary. It seems that October is becoming the month when we are making preparations for the traditional celebration of the Day of the Dead. Once again, the creativity of Mexicans explodes around one of the most important holidays. For Mexicans love to honor death, but we also love to celebrate that we are very much alive.
