Ready to embark on a festive weekend to honor our loved ones who have passed? Día de los Muertos celebrations are growing in popularity across the United States, bringing the vibrant traditions of this Mexican holiday to cities nationwide. Each year, I explore a new destination for Día de los Muertos, both in the U.S. and Mexico. While Mexico City and Oaxaca remain my top choices for celebrating in Mexico, there are plenty of incredible celebrations across the U.S. that are well worth the trip.
Here’s a list of my 9 favorite Día de los Muertos celebrations across the United States that are perfect for your next journey.
Why celebrate Dia De Los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors loved ones that have passed on to their next journey. It's celebrated primarily on November 1st and 2nd, in Mexico, and the last 2 weekends in October in the United States.
Remembrance and Celebration: Unlike many cultures that focus on mourning, Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life. It emphasizes the belief that death is a part of life and that loved ones can return to visit during this time.
The celebrations include the following experiences:
A Procession: Festival highlight is community-wide procession. Participants, many dressed in calavera (skeleton) face paint and traditional costumes, carry colorful props like giant puppets, paper mache skulls, and banners. The procession is a joyful and symbolic way to honor the dead.
Ofrendas and Altars: Ofrendas are created by families and local artists. These altars are beautifully decorated with marigolds, candles, sugar skulls, and photos of the deceased, paying tribute to loved ones who have passed away.
Cultural Activities: Festivals includes live performances by folklórico dancers, mariachi bands, and contemporary musical acts, as well as art exhibits and workshops. It’s a great way for visitors to engage with Mexican culture through hands-on activities like sugar skull decorating and face painting.
Live Music and Performances: Mariachi bands, cumbia groups, and folklórico dance troupes perform at festivals and cultural events throughout the city. Local venues often host themed concerts or events with musicians dressed in Día de los Muertos-inspired attire.
San Jose CA - Day of the Dead
My hometown! Día de los Muertos in San José, California, is a colorful and vibrant celebration of Mexican culture and traditions, with events that bring together the local community to honor deceased loved ones. The city's large Latino population, especially in areas like the East Side, plays a big role in keeping this tradition alive. San José’s celebrations combine food, art, music, and remembrance, offering a rich, cultural experience.
Key Elements of the Celebration in San José:
One of the central locations for Día de los Muertos celebrations is the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza . This cultural hub hosts a multi-day festival filled with live performances, altar displays (ofrendas), workshops, and arts and crafts. The plaza is beautifully decorated with marigolds, candles, papel picado (cut paper decorations), and intricate altars dedicated to the deceased.
@schoolatMHP
2. Dia San Jose
Hosted Downtown San José Cesar Chavez Park, 2-day festival called “ Dia San Jose” . A public celebration with vibrant displays and activities, including the creation of large-scale altars in Cesar Chavez Park. The festival includes a main stage, 100+ vendor, an Artists Gallery, and local food vendors. Altar Displays (Ofrendas)
Throughout the festival, altars are constructed by families, local organizations, and artists to honor those who have passed.
@diasanjosefestival.
Art plays a significant role in the San José celebrations. Local art galleries, such as the MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana) , often feature special Día de los Muertos exhibitions. These exhibits display works from local artists that explore the themes of life, death, and remembrance in Mexican culture. There are also art workshops for creating sugar skulls and papel picado.
@macla_sanjose
San José’s Día de los Muertos celebrations hosted by the Multicultural Arts Guild is family-friendly, with activities designed for children. These include face painting, arts and crafts stations where kids can make their own masks or decorate sugar skulls, and storytelling sessions that explain the history and cultural importance of the holiday. sell traditional foods and crafts during the holiday. You can find pan de muerto, Mexican candies, and handmade crafts, including pottery, jewelry, and Día de los Muertos-themed decorations.
@sjmulitartguild
A Community Day: Día de los Muertos, a full day of live entertainment, cultural demonstrations, and an eclectic mix of artmaking experiences. Join us as we collaborate with local artists, partners, and organizations for this truly intracultural and multigenerational event!
San Antonio TX - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in San Antonio, is a festive community-centered celebration that reflects the city’s Mexican-American heritage. With San Antonio’s deep cultural ties to Mexico, the holiday is embraced by locals and visitors alike, bringing the city to life with colorful altars, cultural performances, and joyous remembrance of loved ones who have passed. The celebration blends traditional Mexican customs with local culture, offering a unique experience across the city's historic districts, public spaces, and cultural institutions.
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in San Antonio:
1. La Villita Historic Arts Village
La Villita, a historic district in downtown San Antonio, is the heart of the city’s Día de los Muertos celebration. It hosts a multi-day event filled with vibrant altars (ofrendas), live music, traditional Mexican dance performances, and artisan markets. The festival often includes interactive art installations, face painting, and workshops where participants can create their own Día de los Muertos crafts. It’s a family-friendly environment that draws thousands of visitors.
@lavillitaarts
Market Square is another focal point for the celebrations. Known as the largest Mexican market in the U.S., it hosts a weekend-long festival filled with altars, live entertainment, traditional foods, and vendors selling arts and crafts. Musicians, including mariachis and tejano bands, perform throughout the festival, and folklórico dancers add to the festive atmosphere.
@ marketsquaresa
Muerto Fest is hosted at Hemisfair Park, a major 2 day celebrating Día de los Muertos . The park hosts a family-friendly festival that includes altars, art exhibits, live music, and food vendors. The setting allows for outdoor performances and interactive experiences, such as sugar skull decorating and mask-making workshops for children. Cultural Performances include traditional Mexican music, including mariachi bands, cumbia, and tejano, and folklórico dancers and Aztec dancers participate, bringing indigenous rituals into the celebration with ceremonial dances honoring the dead.
@muertofest
San Antonio River Walk hosts a Day of the Dead River Parade. Elaborately decorated floats with altars, Catrina’s, and costumed riders, all celebrating life and loved ones. Decorated barges will parade down the river that runs through the heart of our magnificent city along the River Walk. Each barge represents a different figure or tradition associated with the Day of the Dead.
@ thesanantonioriverwalk
The Pearl District, known for its trendy shops, restaurants, and historic charm, also joins in on the celebration with its own Festival de Muertos. This event often features music, art, and pop-up markets showcasing local artisans and traditional crafts. It’s a more modern take on the holiday, attracting younger crowds while still respecting the cultural traditions.
@ historicpearl
San Diego CA - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in San Diego, California, cultural celebrations, reflect the city’s strong Mexican heritage and proximity to the border. The celebrations span multiple neighborhoods and feature a mix of traditional altars, colorful processions, art exhibits, live performances, and family activities. The event is embraced by both locals and visitors, with some of the largest celebrations taking place in historic districts like Old Town and Barrio Logan.
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in San Diego:
A historic area known for its preserved 19th-century architecture, is the heart of San Diego's Día de los Muertos festivities. The multi-day event in Old Town features beautiful altars (ofrendas), candlelight processions, face painting, and live music. Restaurants and shops participate in the celebration, offering traditional Mexican food and themed products. The streets are lined with colorful papel picado (cut paper decorations), creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere.
@visitoldtownsd
Processions: A central event in Old Town is the Candlelight Procession, which usually starts at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and moves through the streets. Participants carry candles, some dressed as skeletons (calaveras), in a symbolic march to honor the deceased.
Ofrendas: Throughout the park and surrounding buildings, you’ll find altars dedicated to loved ones, adorned with marigolds, photos, candles, sugar skulls, and food offerings. These altars are often created by local families, artists, and organizations, making each one unique and deeply personal.
Barrio Logan a historically Latino neighborhood, is home to one of the most authentic and vibrant Día de los Muertos celebrations in San Diego. The neighborhood is known for its rich cultural history and artistic expression, particularly at Chicano Park, which is famous for its murals depicting Chicano culture and social justice.
Cultural Festival at Chicano Park
The park hosts a major festival with traditional Aztec dance performances, mariachi music, folklórico dancers, and various live entertainment. The event also features an artisan market, showcasing local artists and vendors selling Día de los Muertos-themed crafts, jewelry, and art.
Artists and families from the community create altars throughout Chicano Park, adding to the park’s already colorful murals. These altars reflect both traditional Mexican elements and local Chicano influences, often with political or social justice themes.
@Chicano_park
The Center holds one of San Diego’s longest-running Día de los Muertos celebrations. The center transforms into a vibrant hub of activity with altars, workshops, and community performances. One of the highlights of the celebration is the Sherman Heights Ofrenda Tour, where visitors can tour altars created by local families and artists in homes and businesses throughout the Sherman Heights neighborhood. Each altar tells a story, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of the community.
@shermanheightscc
Various museums and cultural centers in downtown San Diego also participate in Día de los Muertos celebrations. The San Diego Museum of Art, New Children’s Museum, and, San Diego History Center often host special exhibitions, art workshops, and family-friendly activities around the holiday.
@visitsandiego
Food and drinks are a highlight throughout the celebrations, food plays a big role. Traditional Mexican foods such as tamales, tacos, mole, and pan de muerto (bread of the dead) are widely available. Many local restaurants and street vendors join the festivities by offering special menus and Día de los Muertos-themed treats. Sugar skulls (calaveras) are sold both as edible sweets and decorative art.
Austin TX - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in Austin, Texas, celebrations that reflect the city’s dynamic mix of Mexican-American culture, creativity, and love for community events. Known for its thriving arts scene and multicultural diversity, Austin embraces Día de los Muertos with a range of activities, from traditional altars and processions to modern festivals that blend music, art, and food. The holiday brings people together to honor deceased loved ones in a joyful way, combining ancient traditions with Austin's signature creative energy.
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in Austin:
The Mexic-Arte Museum is at the center of Austin’s Día de los Muertos celebrations, and it plays a key role in preserving and showcasing Mexican culture year-round. For the holiday, the museum hosts special exhibitions that feature traditional and contemporary Mexican art, focusing on themes of life, death, and remembrance. Visitors can view altars created by local artists and learn about the cultural significance of the holiday through the museum’s educational programs.
@mexic_arte
The Viva La Vida Festival organized by the Mexic-Arte Museum is Austin’s largest and most well-known Día de los Muertos celebration. It’s a colorful, multi-day event that includes a grand procession, cultural performances, live music, and art exhibits. The festival takes over downtown Austin, with activities that blend traditional Mexican customs with the city’s unique creative spirit.
In Austin, local art galleries and creative spaces also celebrate the holiday by showcasing Día de los Muertos-inspired artwork. Places like the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) host exhibitions that explore the themes of life, death, and memory through contemporary and traditional Mexican art. The displays often feature paintings, sculptures, photography, and installations that highlight the beauty and significance of the holiday.
- Educational Workshops and Cultural Programs
Austin’s cultural centers and schools offer a variety of workshops around Día de los Muertos. These programs focus on teaching the community about the traditions of the holiday, such as how to build altars, make sugar skulls, or create papel picado. The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) often leads these efforts, offering educational programming for people of all ages.
San Francisco CA - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in San Francisco honors Mexican and Latin American traditions while embracing the city’s diverse cultural landscape. The holiday is widely celebrated, particularly in the Mission District where the Latino community has long upheld the custom of honoring deceased loved ones through altars, processions, and art. The city’s Día de los Muertos events combine traditional elements with San Francisco's unique creative spirit, creating a celebration that is both somber and joyous.
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in San Francisco:
The Mission District is the heart of San Francisco’s Día de los Muertos celebrations. Known for its Latino heritage and vibrant street art, the neighborhood hosts the largest and most significant events during the holiday. The streets of the Mission come alive with altars, music, dance, and art, creating a community-wide experience that invites people of all backgrounds to participate.
@dayofthedeadsf
Festival of Altars: One of the main events in the Mission District is the Festival of Altars at Garfield Square. Here, families, artists, and community members create elaborate ofrendas (altars) to honor deceased loved ones. These altars are adorned with photos, marigolds, candles, sugar skulls, and personal mementos. The public is invited to contribute to the community altar or build their own, creating a collective space for remembrance.
Ofrenda Workshops In the weeks leading up to the holiday, local organizations like the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA)host workshops on how to build traditional altars and create Día de los Muertos crafts like sugar skulls and papel picado (cut paper banners).
The annual Día de los Muertos Procession is a moving and visually striking event that takes place in the Mission District. Organized by Marigold Project, the procession is a solemn yet beautiful way for the community to honor the dead.
Candles and Calaveras: Participants in the procession often carry candles, wear calavera (skull) face paint, and dress in traditional Mexican attire. The march is a powerful symbolic journey that winds through the streets, starting from 22nd Street and Bryant and moving toward Garfield Park . Giant papier-mâché skeletons, colorful banners, and marigold flowers add to the atmosphere, while musicians and drummers accompany the march with rhythmic sounds.
Community Participation: The procession is open to everyone, and participants are encouraged to join in remembrance of their own loved ones. It is both a public expression of grief and a celebration of life, with many carrying photos or mementos of those who have passed.
The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts plays a central role in San Francisco’s Día de los Muertos celebrations, hosting cultural exhibitions, performances, and educational workshops leading up to and during the holiday. Every year, MCCLA presents an art exhibition dedicated to Día de los Muertos, showcasing both traditional and contemporary interpretations of the holiday through paintings, sculptures, and installations.
Altars and Art Installations: MCCLA’s gallery space is transformed with elaborate ofrendas and art pieces created by local and international artists. These works explore themes of life, death, and cultural identity, making the exhibition a profound and thought-provoking experience.
Workshops and Performances: The center offers workshops where participants can learn to make traditional Día de los Muertos crafts, such as papel picado, sugar skulls, and decorative altars. In addition to visual art, MCCLA hosts live performances including folklórico dance, Aztec dance, and live music, enriching the cultural experience for attendees.
Cultural institutions such as the San Francisco Symphony and de Young Museum also participate in Día de los Muertos celebrations. The symphony may host concerts featuring Latin American composers, while the de Young Museum often holds special events, exhibits, and family-friendly workshops in honor of the holiday.
Chicago IL - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in Chicago celebrations take place in neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village. Chicago’s observance of Día de los Muertos blends traditional Mexican customs with the city’s local artistic and community-focused spirit. Altars, colorful processions, art exhibitions, and family-friendly activities make this holiday a beautiful and solemn time to honor deceased loved ones, while also celebrating life.
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in Chicago:
Located in the heart of the Pilsen neighborhood, the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) plays a central role in Chicago’s Día de los Muertos celebrations. The museum hosts one of the largest and most comprehensive Día de los Muertos exhibitions in the country, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
- Ofrenda Exhibitions: NMMA’s Día de los Muertos: Love Never Dies exhibition showcases elaborate ofrendas (altars) created by artists from across Mexico and the United States. The altars are filled with traditional elements like marigolds, candles, sugar skulls, and personal mementos. Each altar is unique, often telling a personal story or honoring important cultural figures, and the exhibition offers visitors a chance to reflect on life, death, and memory.
- Workshops and Events: Leading up to the holiday, the museum hosts community workshops, where participants can learn how to create altars, make sugar skulls, and understand the significance of the holiday. There are also storytelling sessions, live performances, and family-friendly activities.
The Pilsen neighborhood is the cultural heart of Día de los Muertos in Chicago. With its rich Mexican-American heritage and vibrant street art scene, Pilsen embraces the holiday with a combination of traditional practices and modern creativity.
Community Altars: Throughout Pilsen, businesses, homes, and community centers set up altars dedicated to deceased family members and cultural icons. These altars are adorned with colorful decorations like papel picado (cut paper banners), candles, marigolds, and offerings of food and drink, creating a communal atmosphere of remembrance and celebration.
One of the most anticipated events in Pilsen is the Día de los Muertos Procession , a lively and colorful parade through the neighborhood. Organized by local community groups, the procession is a joyful yet solemn march where participants, many dressed in skeleton costumes and calavera (skull) face paint, carry candles and photos of loved ones.
In Little Village , another predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood in Chicago, Día de los Muertos is celebrated with community gatherings, altars, and family-friendly events. The neighborhood’s streets and businesses come alive with colorful decorations, traditional foods, and music.
Albuquerque NM - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a deeply spiritual and culturally rich celebration that reflects the city’s strong ties to Mexican, Indigenous, and Hispanic traditions. The holiday is widely embraced throughout the city, with a focus on remembering and honoring deceased loved ones through art, altars, music, and community processions. Albuquerque’s unique blend of cultures adds a distinctive flavor to the festivities, making it one of the most meaningful and colorful events in the city’s annual calendar.
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in Albuquerque:
The South Valley is the heart of Albuquerque’s Día de los Muertos celebrations, hosting the annual Muertos y Marigolds Parade , one of the most significant and community-driven events in the city. This parade is a vibrant, grassroots celebration that draws large crowds each year.
@ muertos_y_marigolds
- The Procession: The Marigold Parade is a beautiful community-led procession that honors deceased loved ones with floats, colorful costumes, and music. Participants, many of whom wear calavera (skull) face paint and traditional Mexican attire, march through the streets accompanied by musicians, dancers, and large, handmade marigold flowers. Marigolds, known as the “flower of the dead,” are a key symbol of Día de los Muertos, believed to guide spirits back to the living.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center plays a central role in Albuquerque’s Día de los Muertos festivities. The center hosts special events, exhibitions, and performances in honor of the holiday, drawing attention to its cultural significance and the ways it is celebrated across Latin America.
@nhccnm
Muertos y Marigolds Art Exhibit:
Albuquerque’s vibrant arts scene is a big part of the city’s Día de los Muertos celebrations. Leading up to the holiday, many local galleries and community centers host art exhibitions featuring Día de los Muertos-themed works.
- Community Art: The South Broadway Cultural Center often showcases community art that explores the themes of death, memory, and the afterlife through traditional and contemporary lenses. These exhibits feature works by local artists who draw inspiration from Mexican and Indigenous cultural traditions, blending modern art with ancient symbols.
Albuquerque’s Día de los Muertos celebrations are filled with live music and dance performances that reflect the city’s Mexican and New Mexican heritage. Traditional Mexican music like mariachi, along with New Mexican folk music, is often performed during the processions and at community events. Dancers in traditional folklórico costumes perform lively dances that add energy and joy to the festivities.
@newmexicotrue
Phoenix AZ - Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos in Phoenix, Arizona, celebrations celebrate s the city’s rich Mexican and Latino heritage. With colorful altars, festive parades, cultural performances, and community gatherings, Phoenix’s Día de los Muertos festivities blend traditional customs with the unique cultural elements of the Southwest. Phoenix hosts a variety of community processions in neighborhoods with strong Mexican heritage. These processions often involve participants dressed in traditional attire, carrying photos of loved ones, marigolds, and candles, creating a moving tribute to those who have passed
Key Elements of Día de los Muertos in Phoenix:
The Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC) is a coalition of Latino artists and art organizations that celebrate and promote the Latino presence in Arizona through education and advocacy. They host an annual Day of Dead Street Festival.
@ culturalcoaz
Cultural Coalition is host to a Dia De Los Muertos festival in Phoenix MIKIZTLI. A family friendly event has expanded to offer audiences more cultural performances, art vendors, food trucks, and MIKIZTLI’s largest community altar or ofrenda. The festival includes Mariachi music, Ballet Folklòrico performances, arts and crafts activities, delicious food, face painting, and art vendors.
Ofrenda Displays: Created by local artists and community members. These altars are intricately decorated with photographs, flowers, candles, and traditional items, creating a moving tribute to loved ones who have passed.
Art and Workshops: Workshops and activities for families, allowing children and adults to create traditional crafts, such as sugar skulls and papel picado (cut paper banners).
Día de Muertos is it celebrated at the Gardens with a stunning community altar, vibrant procession, food, music and more. Starting Nov. 1, a community altar centered on the legend of the Cempasúchil flower (marigold) and the story of Xóchitl and Huitzilin will be on display in Ottosen Gallery.
Los Angeles CA - Day of the Dead
The festivities in LA blend Mexican heritage with the city’s diverse culture, resulting in a colorful, artistic, and lively event.
Key Elements of Dia De Los Muertos in Los Angeles:
The Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts one of the largest Día de los Muertos events in Los Angeles. The event features beautifully decorated altars created by families to honor the deceased, often adorned with marigolds, candles, photos, and offerings like food and mementos. There's live music, traditional Aztec dances, and performances. Attendees often dress up as La Catrina, the elegant skeleton figure, and paint their faces in intricate skull makeup.
Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles also hosts a Día de los Muertos celebration that includes a large-scale altar display, musical performances, and cultural activities. The event encourages community involvement, and the altars often reflect themes of social justice and inclusivity, blending tradition with modern-day relevance.
The historic Olvera Street is one of the most traditional places in LA to experience Día de los Muertos. The area comes alive with vibrant decorations, papel picado, folklorico dancing, and live mariachi music. There are processions with Aztec dancers, and families come together to celebrate in a deeply meaningful way. This setting offers an authentic glimpse into how Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated in Mexican communities.
Plan Ahead! To include your favorite Catrina or Catrin costume to particpate in the processions. Meet the local artist and enjoy the cuisine. It is a beautiful feeling to celebrate with community and honor traditions.
Bien Viaje!
@dulcevidatravel