This Saturday, November 1, Rosarito will host La última fiesta (“The Last Party”) — a Day of the Dead celebration inspired by the ancestral journey to Mictlán, taking place at Abelardo L. Rodríguez Park.
The Rosarito Tourism and Conventions Committee (Cotuco) invites the community to join this event where the living and the dead meet through music, fire, and memory. Organized by the Municipal Institute of Art and Culture (IMAC), the festival will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and feature local gastronomy, live performances, music, and traditional altars honoring loved ones who have passed.
“The Last Wave”
One of the festival’s most symbolic moments will be the paddle out ceremony, known as La última ola (“The Last Wave”), in which friends and family gather at the departed’s favorite beach to paddle out together, forming a circle on their surfboards.
In this circle, they scatter flowers, garlands, or ashes into the sea, sharing memories and celebrating the person’s life and bond with the ocean. The ceremony concludes as participants ride “the last wave” together, symbolizing farewell, grief, and the eternal cycle of life and nature.
For surfers, who constantly face the power of the waves, this ritual embodies living in the present — a final wave that carries them toward the next journey.
“The Last Party”
The festival will culminate in a communal celebration honoring a member of the Kumiai community, with bonfires, food, dance, and live music. The event represents a heartfelt farewell as the spirit returns to bid one last goodbye to loved ones.
Visitors can also enjoy a cowboy community parade, a theatrical performance, a display of calaverita poems, and the lighting of candles at the Purépecha community’s grand altar. The evening will include a visual projection of alebrijes and an altar competition among local public agencies.
For updates on upcoming events and cultural attractions, follow Cotuco Rosarito:
Website: www.rosarito.org
Facebook: @rosaritobajanorte
Instagram: @rosarito_baja
