MND Local CDMX: A nighttime race, queer musical and medieval masquerade

With Día de Muertos firmly in the rearview mirror, we have a couple of weeks before the Christmas season really kicks into high gear. But that doesn’t mean Mexico City is short on ways to keep busy in the meantime. From a nighttime 10K run through UNAM and a musical celebration of queer identity to a medieval-inspired winter masquerade, the capital has a few quirky surprises up its sleeve this December. Let’s get into it. The landscaped grounds of UNAM, the nation’s oldest university, are eye-catching by day or night … as participants in the upcoming 10K nocturnal rave run will discover. (Gomnrz/Wikimedia Commons) Mexico City’s Rave Run brings a nighttime 10K to UNAM Runners looking for a different kind of nighttime outing can lace up for the Rave Run by Carrera Nocturna 2026, a 10-kilometer race taking place at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Organized by Emoción Deportiva, the event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19, with the starting gun firing at 7 p.m. at Estadio Universitario in Ciudad Universitaria. The race will follow a circuit through the university campus, offering a unique opportunity to experience one of Mexico City’s most recognizable educational institutions after dark. Inside the massive cheating scandal shaking UNAM, Mexico’s top university The competition, billed as a general 10K, is open to anyone 15 and older. Participants must complete the course within a maximum of 80 minutes, and the top three finishers in both the women’s and men’s divisions will receive awards — but don’t expect big cash prizes. Registration is limited and costs 749 pesos, while late registration costs 849 pesos. The entry fee includes a commemorative T-shirt, finisher’s medal, runner number, promotional item, race timing, finish-line photography, water and isotonic drinks along the course, medical assistance (hopefully that won’t be needed) and access to official results. Date: Saturday, Dec. 19 Location: Estadio Olímpico Universitario Cost: 749-849 pesos For more information and to register your spot in the race, visit Emoción Deportiva. Mexico City’s Gay Choir presents a musical journey of identity and self-actualization Mexico City’s premier queer choir, Coro Gay Ciudad de México, is gearing up for its rendition of “La Misteriosa Flama de la Reina Leona,” a coming-of-age musical journey that chronicles two characters as they navigate childhood, identity and self-acceptance. The performance is slated to take place Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris in the capital’s Historic Center. Described by the theater troupe as a “journey through shadows, memories and discoveries,” “La Misteriosa Flama de la Reina Leona” explores the search for a mysterious flame that, despite seeming lost, exists within us throughout our lives. The production unfolds through two childhood stories: The first follows a girl trying to find her way in a world of giants, while the second centers on a boy who, while leading a parade, discovers the courage to realize the best version of himself. Together, the stories explore imagination, identity, fear and the possibility of growing up without abandoning one’s true self. More than 100 singers and musicians bring the performance to life, allowing the power of music and storytelling to wade through the sometimes messy worlds of memory, reflection and resistance. The performance is open to all ages, although children ages 3 and older require tickets. It’s also worth noting that Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris does not have an elevator. Date: Tuesday, Dec. 15 Location: Donceles 36, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México Cost: 253-878 pesos For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster. You can also check out the Coro Gay Choir on Instagram. Tierra Mágica Navidad brings medieval fantasy to Mexico City Our next event roundup will focus more heavily on Christmas-themed events, but for now, we’ll start with something truly unique and quirky. If your idea of Christmas involves a little more magic, a touch of medieval fantasy and perhaps a masquerade ball, Tierra Mágica Navidad might just be the event for you. The family-friendly Christmas festival will take over Doméstico in Colonia Hipódromo on Dec. 12 and 13, transforming the venue into a fantasy-inspired celebration that blends traditional holiday festivities with the atmosphere of an enchanted medieval kingdom. It’s like “Game of Thrones,” but Bran Stark is a young Santa and Westeros is Mexico City. MND Local CDMX: Rent reforms, a viral Tesla crash and possible Cowboys game Visitors are invited to don their finest medieval or fantasy-inspired garb for a weekend of music, magical characters and festive entertainment. Don’t forget your mask, though, as one of the event’s flagship activities is a themed masquerade ball and mask competition, allowing attendees to show off their most imaginative creations. The festivities will also include a Christmas-themed bazaar full of seasonal offerings. With its combination of holiday traditions, fantasy-inspired characters and immersive activities, Tierra Mágica Navidad sounds to us like an unusual alternative to the capital’s more traditional Christmas celebrations, and a great way to start the season. Date: Dec. 12 and 13, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location: Av. Nuevo León 80, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de México Cost: Free For more information and to register your free spot, visit Tierra Mágica Navidad on Boletia. Drew Pittock serves as Mexico News Daily’s features director. He is based in Mexico City. Have an idea for a feature story or unique event in CDMX? Send an email to drew.pittock@mexiconewsdaily.com.