Tulum’s Janal Pixán 2025: Festivals & Tamale Challenge

TULUM — The Tulum City Council has announced a series of cultural and recreational activities as part of the "Janal Pixán Tulum 2025" Festival, with the purpose of preserving Day of the Dead traditions and strengthening the Mayan peninsular identity. Highlighted events include contests for Costumes, Altars, Catrinas and Catrines, as well as the "Tamale Eating Challenge" gastronomic competition, featuring attractive cash prizes.

"Dispraces" Costume Contest

The contest will be held on Thursday, October 30, at 7:00 P.M. in the Theater of the Parque Museo de la Cultura Maya. Children aged 6 to 10 and pets may participate, parading on a dramatized catwalk for a maximum of two minutes.

Prizes per category:

• 1st place: $5,000.00
• 2nd place: $3,000.00
• 3rd place: $2,000.00

Participants will be evaluated on the quality of their costume, originality, creativity, stage presence, and visual impact. Registration is open until October 30 at 5:00 p.m., at the Directorate of Social Communication and Events in the Municipal Palace. Participation is limited to 10 contestants per category.

Altar Contest

On November 1, Tulum Avenue, in the Centro neighborhood, will become the stage for the "Janal Pixán" Altar Contest, which seeks to rescue the traditional forms of Mayan communities. Each altar must integrate typical elements such as food, sweets, drinks, flowers, candles, and incense, and must also include a narrator in regional dress who explains the altar's meaning to the jury in a maximum of five minutes.

Prizes:

• 1st place: $8,000.00
• 2nd place: $6,000.00
• 3rd place: $4,000.00

Registration closes on October 29 at 4:00 p.m., and evaluations will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

"Tamale Eating Challenge" Competition

On Sunday, November 2, from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M., this fun culinary competition will take place, where participants will have 10 minutes to eat as many tamales as possible. The winner will receive $3,000 pesos. Individuals over 18 years of age in good health may participate, with prior registration until October 29 at 4:00 p.m. at the Directorate of Economic Development.

Catrina and Catrín Contest

Also on November 2, at 7:00 P.M., in the Plaza of the Municipal Palace, the Catrina and Catrín Contest will be held, in which children aged 6 to 12 and adults over 18 may participate, in pairs.

Prizes:

• Children's category:
  • 1st place: $4,000.00
  • 2nd place: $3,000.00
  • 3rd place: $1,500.00
• Adult category:
  • 1st place: $4,000.00
  • 2nd place: $3,000.00
  • 3rd place: $1,500.00

Evaluation criteria will include costume, originality, creativity, characterization, and catwalk performance. Registration will be open until October 29 at 4:00 p.m. at the CITAEM in the Municipal Palace.

With these activities, the Janal Pixán Tulum 2025 Festival is shaping up to be a celebration with significant citizen participation, where culture, gastronomy, and Mayan traditions unite to honor the memory of the faithful departed and strengthen the cultural identity of the municipality.