Celebrate Day of the Dead in San Antonio with These Día de Muertos Events
Día de Muertos is a time-honored Mexican celebration honoring loved ones who have passed on. It is a colorful, vibrant holiday meant to commemorate the lives of friends and family rather than focus on the sorrow of missing them.
There is no better way to celebrate Día de Muertos than in San Antonio, with our rich Latin cultural heritage and authentic traditions. There are many Día de Muertos events and activities throughout October and up until the beginning of November 1st and 2nd, the traditional dates of the holiday.
So, start building your ofrendas because these are some of the top Day of the Dead celebrations in San Antonio:
Market Square Día De Los Muertos: Self-Guided Altar Tours
October 21-November 14, 2022
If you have never seen an altar or an ofrenda before, your next chance is coming at Historic Market Square. Though there are traditional items that are commonly placed on ofrendas, every ofrenda is special in its own way and often includes personalized elements that are unique to the individual(s) being honored. Visit Historic Market Square between October 21-November 14, 2022 to view altars throughout the El Mercado and Farmer’s Market buildings of Historic Market Square. These altars celebrating loved ones passed will be on display for public viewing in honor of Día de Muertos.
6th Annual Catrina Ball at the San Antonio Central Library
October 22, 2022
On October 22nd, don your best Catrín, and Catrina attire at the 6th Annual Catrina Ball held at the San Antonio Central Library. Starting at 7:00 p.m., there will be live music, food, drink, and Catrina makeup artists to help you complete your Día de Muertos look. While you attend, you can also bid on a silent auction or dance the night away while honoring those you hold dear at El Gran Día de Los Muertos Altar.
This event typically sells out yearly, so do not delay getting your tickets, tables, or purchasing a sponsorship package.
SpiritLandia River Parade & Festival
October 27, 2022
If you are familiar with Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead – you know how colorful and vibrant this celebration can be. What better place to experience it than on the iconic San Antonio River Walk? Join us on Thursday, October 27th for an elaborate river parade celebrating the cultural traditions of this holiday at the Spiritlandia (Day of the Dead) River Parade! Expect floats with catrinas, altars, and costumed float riders! This parade will also be recorded and shown on Peacock on November 1st so that you can relieve the magic of this beautiful historical celebration. Tickets are on sale for this parade now! If you prefer to have a little dinner with your show, many of the restaurants along the River Walk offer dining packages. Reserve your dinner and a show today!
Once the river parade concludes, the celebrations do not stop there! Live music and entertainment continue all weekend long through October 30th at La Villita for the SpiritLandia: Day of the Dead Festival. Tickets are on sale now!
Plaza De Los Muertos
October 27, 2022
Join us at the Main Plaza on October 27th, 2022 from 4:00-10:00 p.m. for Plaza de Muertos, a celebration in honor of Día De Los Muertos. This festival includes live music from Azul Mariachi de San Antonio, food trucks, free face painting, AM Project DJ, a free salsa lesson, as well as showings of San Antonio | The Saga projected onto San Fernando Cathedral. In addition, kids’ crafts and Design Your Own Sugar Skull stations will be available.
2022 Día De Los Muertos: Celebrando Las Misiones
October 29, 2022
The 5th Annual Día de Los Muertos: Celebrando las Misiones (Celebrating the Missions) returns to San Antonio Saturday, October 29, 2022. Head over to Mission Marquee Plaza, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., for a free, family-friendly Día de Muertos event brought to you by The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office. This year’s theme is “The Cycle of Life and Death,” and will be represented by the legendary migration of monarch butterflies between the United States and Mexico and the symbolic association of this epic journey to the Day of the Dead.
Activities begin at the Mission San Jose Granary at 2 p.m. with mission descendant families’ ofrendas (altars) on display, educational workshops, four directions and a native blessing of the ofrendas by Danza Azteca de Yanaguana, followed by a dance and drum procession from Mission San Jose Granary to Mission Marquee Plaza.
Insider Tip: The community is invited to contribute offerings to the Community Altar celebrating friends and family members who have passed. Be sure to bring offerings if you would like to contribute. Stay up to date on event information by visiting the Mission Marquee Plaza Facebook page.
Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair (Muertos Fest)
October 29-30, 2022
On October 29th and 30th, celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Muertos Fest, a Día De Los Muertos cultural celebration at Hemisfair. Named one of National Geographic’s 7 Best Fall Festivals in the United States, Muertos Fest celebrates the lives of family and friends who have passed on and shows us that our loved ones are still with us at Día de los Muertos.
Experience live music, local art, food, and plenty of entertainment at this culturally rich event. There is also a Day of the Dead crafts and artwork market, a drum dance, procession, workshops, children’s programming, and more!
The commemorations continue all weekend long – head to muertosfest.com for complete information.
Ballet Nepantla Premiere’s “Mística” -A Dia De Muertos Themed Production
October 29, 2022
Ballet Nepantla, a New York City-based dance company, spearheaded by Texas native Andrea Guajardo comes to San Antonio with Mística, a Dia De Muertos production. This production honors the folklore traditions of Día de Muertos with its Indigenous, Afro, and Hispanic roots. Mística seeks to tell the story of Day of the Dead through cultural choreography, fashion, and a truly spectacular experience.
The show begins on October 29, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. Visit the website for tickets and box office information.
Día De Los Muertos At Pearl
November 2, 2022
Pearl joins in Día de Muertos festivities honoring the traditional Mexican holiday that remembers loved ones who have passed with multiple altars/ofrendas, childrens’ activities, live music, art installations and more on Wednesday, November 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The celebrations at Pearl include activities throughout the property, with face painting, stilt walkers from the dance company at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, drummers and puppets, Los Olvidados & Las Monas, and live music from Mexican-American folk singer and San Antonio native, Tish Hinojosa.
Join in commemorating the holiday at Pearl. This event is free and open to the public.
45th Annual Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Altares y Ofrendas at
Centro Cultural Aztlan
November 2-10, 2022
Centro Cultural Aztlan has long honored Día de Muertos with intimate viewings of altares and ofrendas and this year, they continue the tradition – with a twist. Celebrate the 45th Annual Altares y Ofrendas event at Centro Cultural Aztlan and take a look at this year’s special exhibition, “La Muerte Es Pareja II”. The title of this year’s exhibit is a play on words in Spanish, in which “Pareja” means both Couple and Equal, as in death is the great equalizer and relates to the event as installations will be created by local San Antonio artist couples. This cultural event begins Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. and runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through November 10.
San Antonio is the Premier Destination for Real Heritage and True Traditions
There is no other place where you can experience rich, world heritage quite like San Antonio. With cultural staples like The Alamo and The River Walk, there are many historical sites that give visitors a uniquely Texas experience.
At San Antonio, there is also plenty to see and do. We have cultural events all year around so make plans to see and experience all this authentic city has to offer.
