I was lucky to attend the sold-out Noche de Alebrijes Gala! The memorable evening featured the fine dishes from Mexican American chefs—plus tequila & wine tastings, live music, and beautiful art all around us.
The best part of the evening was getting to see the towering 20-foot alebrijes, glowing with color-changing LEDs—absolutely magical!
These fantastic creatures from Oaxaca are part of Alebrijes en San José, lighting up Plaza de César Chávez through Sept 28.
Magical Alebrijes
A fusion of Mexican culture and mythology, alebrijes are whimsical creatures embodying the connection between the spiritual and physical worlds. They act as spiritual guides and protectors, warding off evil for individuals. Originally created by Pedro Linares, a cartonería (papier-mâché) artist best known for having crafted alebrijes—fantastical or mythical creatures that came to him during a fever dream. These colorful creatures are typically made from cardboard and wheatpaste.
This exhibit is a part of the ten monumental alebrije sculptures that were featured at the Lille3000 Festival in France in 2019, running for eight months. Starting in April 2025, these eight new sculptures began a tour in the United States, inviting all to celebrate and enjoy Mexico’s cultural heritage in public spaces nationwide.
The pieces bridge the worlds of fine art and folk art with rich history. Artists from Oaxaca to Mexico City utilized artistic and craftsmanship traditions to bring these magnificent pieces to life. Each tower sculpture stands between 20 and 22 feet tall and is enhanced with LED light sequences that animate the pieces after dark, lighting up open spaces with magic. Below is the list of artists and the alebrijes they have contributed.
COYOTE Artist: Efraín Fuentes
CATBIRD by Leonardo Linares
ARMADILLO by Margarito Melchor
CAT NAHUAL by Angélico Jiménez
DOG by Adrian Xuana
LION BULL by Leonardo Linares
HAPPY ALIEN by Constantino Blas
RABBIT by María Jiménez
If you’re looking for a unique date night or family outing idea, don’t miss this breathtaking celebration of Mexican culture, art, and imagination.
Throughout the month, there are various festivities taking place as part of the exhibit. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Alebrijes en San José: Ritmos y Colores event. The event commenced with a vibrant community procession featuring Calpulli Ocelocihuatl, lowriders, Mariachi Alma Bohemia de Angel Mendez, Grupo Folklorico Los Lupeños, and SJZ High School All Stars Float. I witnessed stunning fashion designs by the talented designer Paulina, live music performances, and a spectacular drone show. Be sure to explore the full event lineup for upcoming community events for more details.
Location: Plaza de César Chávez, Downtown San Jose
Exhibit Running: Aug 8 – Sept 28, 2025
