The 36th edition of the Tenorio Mendocino will take place across the monuments of Guadalajara on 31 October and 1 November. In light of the official mourning period, Halloween celebrations and the traditional Buñuelo Dance have been moved to Sunday, while children's stories and art will complete the cultural agenda.
Guadalajara will once again transform into a grand theatrical stage with the return of the Tenorio Mendocino, one of the city's most significant cultural and tourist events. Over the weekend, the verses of José Zorrilla will echo through the monumental spaces linked to the Mendoza family in an itinerant performance that combines heritage, theatre, and tradition around the All Saints' festival.
Organised by the Gentes de Guadalajara Association in collaboration with the city council, this year's Tenorio Mendocino is recognised as a Regional Tourist Interest Festival. The performances are free, turning some of Guadalajara's main monuments into natural stages for one of Spain's most renowned theatrical works.
Both days will commence at 19:00 with pre-show activities in the Plaza de Santa María, followed by the itinerant performance starting at 21:00 from the same location. Audiences will accompany the characters of Don Juan Tenorio through various historical buildings, following a narrative of love, challenge, honour, and redemption that takes on a unique dimension in the city's heritage spaces.
Notable changes for this edition include the return of Abigail Tomey as director, alongside co-director Julia Piera, and the inclusion of actress Laura Galán, who won the Goya Award for Best New Actress in 2023, in the role of Butarelli. Some scenes will also see adjustments in their staging, with the gardens of the Palacio del Infantado hosting one performance and the dinner scene moving to the palace's entrance hall, overlooking the Patio de los Leones.
This weekend's municipal programming has been modified due to three days of official mourning declared following a tragic train accident in Urda. In respect for the victims and their families, the city council has rescheduled Halloween activities initially planned for Saturday to Sunday, 1 November, at both the Parque de la Concordia and the bullring. The traditional Buñuelo Dance for seniors will also take place on Sunday at its usual location.
On Sunday, the Parque de la Concordia will host Halloween children's programming from 16:30 to 19:00 for children aged 3 to 12. Activities will include bouncy castles, spooky face painting, a 'Paint Your Pumpkin' workshop, games like 'Wrap the Mummy' and 'Trick or Treat', piñatas, and photo opportunities, alongside inclusive activities for children with special needs. The storytelling session 'The True Story of Witch Piruja' will occur at 17:00, followed by a costume contest at 18:30, and a collective witches' gathering at 19:15.
Youth programming will also be held on Sunday, 1 November, at the bullring, featuring a haunted house from 20:30 to 00:30 for those aged 12 and over, with under-16s required to be accompanied by an adult. The traditional Buñuelo Dance will take place on Sunday from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Social Centre on Calle Cifuentes, maintaining its usual location. Live music will be provided by the Anais quartet, creating an enjoyable afternoon of dance and community for seniors, accompanied by traditional buñuelos and chocolate. Admission is free.
Halloween programming will commence on Friday, 30 October, at 18:00 with the children's activity 'Scary Stories, but Not Too Scary', led by TararíqueteCris at the Municipal Library 'José Antonio Suárez de Puga'. This storytelling session will proceed as scheduled, with free entry until capacity is reached. Additionally, the vermouth event planned for Saturday at the Parque de la Concordia has been cancelled, and a conference on menopause scheduled at the Espacio Tragaluz has been postponed, with a new date yet to be determined.
The Francisco Sobrino Museum will also offer a creative space for families. On Saturday, 31 October, from 11:00 to 13:00, it will host the educational workshop 'Pixelart: From Canvas to Pixel', allowing children aged 8 to 12, accompanied by an adult, to discover how small squares of colour can create complex visual compositions. This activity has 16 places and requires prior registration.
Thus, the Tenorio Mendocino will bring theatre back to the palaces and streets of Guadalajara during the All Saints' festival, while Sunday will feature Halloween activities for children and youth, along with the traditional Buñuelo Dance. Stories, artistic workshops, and exhibitions will complete a cultural agenda that adapts some of its programming to the official mourning days, while maintaining offerings of heritage, tradition, and culture for all ages.
