The Alley of Eternal Christmas at night seen from a drone: the crowded street leads to the tunnel of lights, with its arch of red ornaments, next to the plaza

Home Events Christmas in Chignahuapan

October 24 to December 31, 2026

2026 Christmas season Christmas in Chignahuapan in the Cradle of the Ornament

In this Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) Christmas starts in October: the monumental tree and ornament are lit, the ornament workshops open their doors and the plaza fills with lights until the last day of the year.

Season calendar Ornament workshops

400+ornament workshops in the municipality
200 ft+is the height of the monumental tree on the main square
500,000lights in the Alley of Eternal Christmas
10 daysof the International Christmas Tree and Ornament Fair

2026 Christmas season

The five dates of Christmas in Chignahuapan

From the Lighting to New Year's Eve: this is how the town lives the season, date by date.

Oct 24Lighting Nov 20–29Fair Dec 4Parade Dec 8Immaculate Conception Dec 31New Year's Eve

24October · Saturday

Lighting of the Tree and Monumental Ornament

The magical start of Christmas: the monumental tree and the town's giant ornament light up.
- Where: main plaza (zócalo), in front of the parish church
- Time: music from 2:00 p.m. and the lighting at 8:00 p.m.
- Admission: free · Organized by the Chignahuapan Town Council
Official program, hour by hour
20–29November · Friday to Sunday

International Tree and Ornament Fair

The town's most famous fair: the Christmas ornament that made Chignahuapan famous, at its finest.
- Where: fairgrounds (the 2026 location is to be confirmed)
- What's there: ornament market, concerts, rides and mountain food
- Admission: general admission ticket, sold at the entrance during the fair
All about the fair
4December · Friday

Christmas Parade

Floats, music and lights parade through town to celebrate the most magical season.
- Admission: free · Organized by the Chignahuapan Town Council
- Tip: the Town Council announces the route and time; arrive early to get a good spot.
Events calendar
8December · Tuesday

Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception

The most important religious patron festival: processions, music and devotion at the Basilica.
- Where: Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, home to the tallest indoor Virgin in Latin America
- Admission: free · Organized by the Parish of the Immaculate Conception
Discover the Basilica
31122026 · 2027
31December · Thursday

New Year's Eve

See out the year in the Magical Town, among lights, mountain air and the glow of the ornaments.
- Admission: free · Organized by the Chignahuapan Town Council
- Tip: the town fills up on the 31st; book your stay early and bring warm clothes.
Where to stay

Confirmed dates for the 2026 season. We'll add the times the Town Council hasn't published yet as soon as they're out.

The Cradle of the Ornament

More than 400 ornament workshops open in season

Chignahuapan is the Cradle of the Ornament: the municipality has more than 400 workshops where every piece is blown, silvered and hand-painted. From October to December most of them open to the public, and many let you watch the glass blowing live.

Ask for your ornaments to be well wrapped. They're thin glass: they travel better boxed and in paper.
Carry some cash in case a stall doesn't take cards.

How an ornament is born and where to buy it straight from the workshop.

Two artisans blow glass ornaments in front of their lit torches in a Chignahuapan workshop — 01Glass blowing

The silvering drum: dozens of freshly silvered ornaments spin on their wheel inside the machine — 02Silvering

Freshly lacquered gold ornaments drying on their rods over the workshop sawdust — 03Lacquering

An artisan hand-decorates an ornament with a brush, stroke by stroke — 04Hand decorating

Hands hold a finished ornament striped in every color of the rainbow — 05Finished piece

Chignahuapan in December

What to do in Chignahuapan at Christmas

Six plans to build your Christmas weekend in town.

A downtown Chignahuapan street full of visitors among ornament and Christmas decoration shops, with the parish church tower in the background

See the tree and ornament lit upOn the main square, at night. The tree is more than 60 meters tall and has a lookout; going up has a fee. Walk the Alley of Eternal ChristmasHalf a million lights and 10,000 ornaments in the heart of town. It lights up at dusk. Buy ornaments straight from the workshopWatch the glass blowing live and take home pieces hand-painted by the people who make them. Visit the BasilicaHome to the tallest indoor Virgin in Latin America. December 8 is her big feast day. End the day at the hot springsThe best remedy for the mountain cold, a few minutes from downtown. Round out your tripThe lagoon, the Quetzalapan waterfalls and more ideas to stay another day.

360° Tour

Take a look at Chignahuapan's nights

Look around in any direction, from your phone or computer, before you come.

The Christmas market at night, with its tunnel of lights next to the plaza, in a 360° view

The Christmas marketOpen in 360°

The plaza and its bandstand at dusk, with the lit arcades, in a 360° view

The bandstand at duskOpen in 360°

A grounds full of colorful lights at night, in a 360° view

The illuminated worldOpen in 360°

See the whole 360° tour

Your questions answered

Christmas in Chignahuapan FAQ

When is the 2026 Lighting of the Tree and Monumental Ornament?

On Saturday, October 24, 2026 on the main plaza (zócalo), in front of the parish church. There's music from 2:00 p.m. and the lighting is at 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.

When is the 2026 Ornament Fair?

The International Christmas Tree and Ornament Fair runs from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 29, 2026, at the fairgrounds; the 2026 location is to be confirmed. You get in with a general admission ticket sold at the entrance during the fair.

What to do in Chignahuapan at Christmas?

See the monumental tree and ornament on the main square at night, walk the Alley of Eternal Christmas, buy ornaments straight from the workshops (there are more than 400), visit the Basilica with the tallest indoor Virgin in Latin America and end the day at the hot springs.

Which Christmas events are free?

The Lighting (October 24), the Christmas Parade (December 4), the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and New Year's Eve (December 31). The Fair requires a general admission ticket, and going up to the tree's lookout is charged separately.

What's the weather like in Chignahuapan in December?

Dry and cold at night: daytime is around 19–20 °C (66–68 °F) and at night it drops to about 5 °C (41 °F). It hardly rains. Bring a jacket and layers.

How do I get to Chignahuapan from Mexico City?

There are two good routes: from the north, via Pachuca and El Tejocotal, or from the Puebla and Tlaxcala side, via Apizaco and federal highway 119. On both you can take the toll highway or the free road. By bus, ATAH and Supra leave from the TAPO terminal.

Before you go

Plan your visit

Getting here

From Mexico City there are two good routes: from the north, via Pachuca and El Tejocotal, or from the Puebla and Tlaxcala side, via Apizaco and federal highway 119. By bus, ATAH and Supra leave from the TAPO terminal.

Routes and buses

December weather

Dry winter: daytime is around 19–20 °C (66–68 °F) and at night it drops to about 5 °C (41 °F). It hardly rains. Bring a jacket and layers: the Lighting and the concerts are at night.

Weather month by month

Where to stay

On fair weekends and in December the town fills up. Book your stay early and, if you can, go on a weekday: it's calmer to walk around.

Places to stay in Chignahuapan

Keep exploring the season

2026 Ornament FairDates, shopping, how to get there and tips for the fair. The Cradle of the OrnamentHow an ornament is born and where to buy it straight from the workshop. Events calendarAll of Chignahuapan's festivities through the year. Chignahuapan guidePlaces, map, 360° tour and the whole Pueblo Mágico.