Live music for the season: Day of the Dead, December 12, the posadas and the holidays
Published October 14, 2026. Every figure has its source at the end.
From late October to early January the celebrations pile up: Day of the Dead, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the posadas, Christmas and New Year’s. Here is what each one is, according to the sources, and what to ask the group before you book.
ZONAS doesn’t sell performances or take a commission: you talk directly with the group, and the deal is between you.
The short answer
- Day of the Dead runs from the end of October to the beginning of November, according to UNESCO.
- In the early hours of December 12, people sing Las mañanitas to the Virgin of Guadalupe; at the Basilica, since 1955 (El Imparcial). Some Catholics can’t imagine the feast without a mariachi Mass (NPR).
- The posadas run from December 16 to 24: nine nights of processions, with musicians following, asking for shelter in song (Britannica).
- The price can change with the date: in Profeco’s survey, several groups charged differently on a big holiday than on another day. Ask for a quote early.
Reference prices, with sources, are in our price guide: How much does a mariachi, a norteño group or a banda cost?
Celebration by celebration
Day of the Dead, late October to early November
UNESCO describes it as the temporary return of relatives who have died: families lay petals, candles and offerings along the path from the cemetery to the home, and prepare the deceased’s favorite dishes. UNESCO inscribed it as intangible cultural heritage in 2008. If you want to bring them music, you can ask the group for the songs they loved; at a cemetery, check its rules and hours first.
The Virgin of Guadalupe, December 12
In the early hours of December 12, thousands of people sing Las mañanitas to the Virgin in front of the Basilica of Guadalupe. The custom began in 1955, improvised during a TV broadcast, and since 1956 artists and mariachis have sung it (El Imparcial). In the US, NPR reports that some Catholics can’t imagine the feast without a mariachi Mass. If your parish or family wants a mariachi that morning, book early and confirm the exact time.
The posadas, December 16 to 24
They recall Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem. In many places there’s a procession each night, with children in front and adults, musicians included, behind; at each house they ask for shelter in song, sing villancicos, and sometimes the night ends with a party, piñata, tamales and ponche (Britannica). If the group will walk with the procession, ask whether they can play without a sound system and how long the route is.
Christmas, New Year’s and year-end parties
For a Christmas, New Year’s or work party: if you’re unsure which group fits your party, we have a guide to choosing between mariachi, norteño, banda or sierreño. And before paying a deposit, read our guide on how not to lose it.
What to ask the group during the season
- Are you free on the exact date and time? Early on the 12th or on the night of the 24th, the hour matters as much as the day.
- Is the price the same as on another date, or does it change for the holiday?
- How many songs or hours are included? How much is an extra song or hour?
- Can you play while walking, or do you need a fixed spot with sound?
- How much is the deposit and what happens if someone cancels? Get it in writing.
Find groups on ZONAS
Listen to each group, see their social media and message them directly, with no commission. Some city pages:
Norteño groups
Sources
- UNESCO, “Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead,” inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- El Imparcial, Zuzeth González López, “El origen de Las Mañanitas a la Virgen del Tepeyac,” December 10, 2025.
- NPR, John Burnett, “‘Our Soul Music Is Mariachi Music’: Houston’s Mexican Mass,” January 3, 2014.
- Britannica, “Las Posadas,” accessed October 14, 2026.
- Profeco, “Costos de mariachis, norteños y bandas, 2022,” Survey Department, October 2022.