As soon as the leaves change, we automatically think pumpkin spice, cooler weather, comfy sweaters, and holiday fun, especially Halloween, which in Latin America hasn’t always been celebrated. However, Mexican content creator Luisito Comunica is changing the narrative of how Mexico City celebrates the spooky season with his annual party, Maloween. The celebration kicked off in 2023 with Gran Malo, a tequila co-founded by Luisito that combines the fun of October 31st with the traditions of Día de Muertos, which falls on November 1st and 2nd.
“Well, the wordplay was already there, no? Halloween, Maloween, it seemed like something; I don’t know, it was just putting things together, aside from the fact that our characters are literally death and the devil, so it’s already something like horror, right?” Lusito shared days before the 4th edition of Maloween in Mexico City. “So that’s why we wanted to do our version of Halloween, which is Maloween. And this year, I think it’s going to be the biggest one.”
What was once taboo about celebrating Halloween has now been embraced by the Latino community and is even seen in Mexico as a reason to have a week of festivities to go along with the 31st and Día de Muertos. Dress up in your costumes to have fun, get all the dulces, and set up your ofrenda to switch over to November’s celebration. “The way I see it, at least nowadays, among young or not-so-young people like me in Mexican society, we already lump that whole week together, you know? So it’s like, okay, Halloween celebrations are coming, and yes, you dress up as a little witch and little devil and so on, and literally one day later is Day of the Dead,” Luisito explained. “So I feel like we’ve already fused them, even though obviously our Día de Muertos tradition is very close to our hearts, and I put up my ofrenda at home; I always put up my ofrenda, I love it. But I do think society has brought them together in a certain way, like, well, Halloween is the 31st, Day of the Dead is the 1st, so we take the dates together.”
Beyond the espooky dates, another huge part of Maloween is Gran Malo Tequila, founded in 2021. The flavors capture the essence of Mexico, allowing the spirit to be enjoyed for many reasons. “Gran Malo is a product we developed with Mexico in mind; I mean, it’s what we consume most here. Tequila is always number one and we also like a bit of heat, but a *good* kind of heat. You know, we always say, “let it be spicy, but in a delicious way.” It’s got that sweet, zesty, delicious kind of spice—it’s just really good. That’s why we felt that Gran Malo was an absolute home run,” Lusito described.
While tequila makes any celebration memorable, the music also plays a role in making Maloween what it is, and if the spirit could be a song, Lusito told us what it would be. “If Gran Malo were a song, it would be “Caballo Homosexual De Las Montañas” because it’s fun, yet it also carries deeper meaning. It makes you want to dance, but it also prompts you to reflect. It’s fun, but it’s also cultural. So, I think that’s the kind of thing that would represent “Gran Malo,” he confirmed.
Gran Malo’s Maloween 2026 took place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Aztlán Parque Urbano (formerly Aztlán Feria de Chapultepec) in Mexico City. It was the first time the annual celebration took place at this location, and it was meaningful to Luisto to expand it and add roller coasters and other fun activities to Maloween.
“This year is very special because we’re holding it at an amusement park, the legendary Feria de Chapultepec. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun; seeing everyone in costume, it’s going to have that whole “horror-themed amusement park” vibe, you know? That’s why we’re so excited,” Lusito expressed. “It’s the biggest event we’ve ever organized, the largest venue, the most complex to manage, and the one with the most attendees. It’s our first time doing something on this scale. In the past, it was just a typical party—you show up, dance, have a good time, maybe have a few drinks—but this time, it’s more activity-based. You can arrive early, go on roller coasters, and encounter clowns—it’ll be a different experience, but I think it’ll be much more fun.”
If you missed it this year, no worries — you can start planning for 2027, and from how Lusito puts it, Maloween will only get better every year, so you still have time to enjoy it—maybe even in a bigger way. “We want Maloween to keep growing to become a bigger celebration each year. Maybe even evolve into a festival—who knows?” Lusito hopes. “We already have some top-tier musicians involved, and we hope to keep that up: having high-caliber artists at Maloween. Hopefully, people will enjoy it!”