Mexico City Breaks Another World Record

08/31/09  Print This Post Print This Post    7 Comments      Written by Julie Schwietert
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As one of the world’s largest cities, Mexico City doesn’t do small.

Back in February of this year, 40,000 Mexicans gathered in the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main plaza, for a massive kiss-in, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people to gather together for a big collective kiss.

Still high from setting one record, they gathered again this weekend, this time to set a different record: the largest number of people to gather together simultaneously in a single place to re-enact Michael Jackson’s video for the song “Thriller.”

Feature photo: Guerry; Photo above: Eneas

While New Yorkers were gathering in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to celebrate the late pop star’s birthday in a bash sponsored by the film director Spike Lee, Mexicans gathered at the Monument of the Revolution in full Jackson regalia: black fedoras, aviator sunglasses, and bloody make-up, according to NPR’s Mexico City correspondent, Jason Beaubien.

It didn’t take much to break the existing record, which was set by 242 people at the College of William and Mary earlier this year.

An estimated 12,000-13,000 people showed up to dance, while as many as 40,000 more showed up to watch.

While the Guinness officials convene to ensure whether all of the dancers performed the song from start to finish, you can check out some video footage from the event:

Community Connection:

Interested in bizarre record-breaking feats? Peru won the world’s largest ceviche title earlier this year, and Anandita Dutta Tamuly won a Guinness title for downing the most hot chiles –51–in less than a minute. I don’t know about you, but I think I’d rather moonwalk.


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About the Author

Matador ID: collazo

Julie Schwietert is the managing editor of Matador Network. She contributed a chapter to the recently published book, The Voluntary Traveler, and is currently working on five features for Fodor's Puerto Rico, 6th Edition.

7 Comments... join the discussion!

  • Candice replied on August 31, 2009

    Geeeeeeeeez, I love Mexico!

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  • Megan Hill replied on August 31, 2009

    This Thriller re-enactment stuff is quite the phenomenon. I know there’s a group trying to break the record in Seattle, too.

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  • AdventureRob replied on August 31, 2009

    If I had known about this I would have flown out to Mexico just to do this, looks amazing, kudos to Mexico City residents and the council for doing this.

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  • Julie Schwietert replied on August 31, 2009

    Megan-

    And Mexico City was just one of the cities in Mexico that had thousands show up! :)

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  • Megan Hill replied on August 31, 2009

    craziness! The dance isn’t easy, either.

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  • Marissa replied on September 1, 2009

    I wondered if the untimely death of Michael Jackson was going to inspire something like this. I’ve been checking out this site: http://thrilltheworld.com/. There will be people “Thrilling” all over the world on October 24/25th! I’ll be at the San Francisco one this year!

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  • Rachel replied on September 1, 2009

    I go to William and Mary. We had the spotlight for so brief a time! But this is awesome, so I can’t complain so much.

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