Day of the Dead Events Around San Antonio

The Day of the Dead, known in Spanish as Dia de los Muertos, is a holiday devoted to celebrating and remembering loved ones who have passed on, as well as sharing their memories. Showcasing its rich heritage, San Antonio celebrates the holiday with numerous events and exhibits.

November 1^st & 2^nd– Dia de los Muertos at The Pearl– Historic Pearl District- 303 Pearl Parkway- Free admission- From 5PM-9PM- The event features 2 days of altar displays created by local and regional artists, children’s activities, food and drinks, live music from local musicians, a procession and vendors.

November 1^st & 2^nd– Muertitos Fest 2019: Mestizo– Say SI- 1518 South Alamo Street- Free admission- November 1^st from 6PM-10:30PM and November 2^nd from 12PM-4PM- November 1^st is First Friday and features altars, artisan booths, best-dressed contest, exhibits, festive foods, hands-on art activities, live musical & dance performances and spirited procession. November 2^nd is Family Day and features an artisan market, face paintings, folk art workshops and music & dance performances.

November 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd– Day of the Dead San Antonio 2019 Festival– La Villita Historic Arts Village- 418 Villita Street- Free admission- November 1^st & 2^nd from 6PM-11PM and November 3^rd from 12PM-6PM- Festival includes artistic displays, beer garden, children’s activities, culinary treats, dancing, educational presentations, live music, musical performances and spirits bar.

November 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd– Dia de los Muertos at the Historic Market Square– 514 West Commerce Street- Free admission- November 1^st from 4PM-10PM, November 2^nd from 11AM-7PM and November 3^rd from 11AM-6PM- November 1^st is Family Movie Night, with a showing of the 2014 The Book of Life. Each day will feature a Dia de los Muertos procession, festive foods, kids activities, live music and performances, self-guided altar tours, sugar skull workshops and unique market shopping with 100+ locally owned businesses.

November 1^st– Catrinas on the River Parade– San Antonio River Walk- 849 East Commerce Street- From 7PM-8:30PM- The parade features 22+ colorful, Day of the Dead-themed barges.

November 1^st– Celebrando Tradiciones Dia de los Muertos– Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center- 723 South Brazos Street- Free admission- From 6PM-11PM- Activities include art making workshops, community altars, face painting, pan de muerto & hot chocolate and peace & remembrance procession. Also, from 8PM-9:30PM, there will be performances by the Guadalupe Dance Academy, Guadalupe Dance Company, Mariachi Academy and Mariachi Azteca de America.

November 1st- Dia de los Muertos Celebration– Esperanza Peace & Justice Center’s West Side Space- Rinconcito de Esperanza- 816 South Colorado Street- Free admission- From 5PM-11PM- The celebration features altar displays, calavera poems, community vendors, concessions, face paintings, live music and readings of literary ofrendas.

November 2^nd– Celebrating Life 5K Run-Walk– Mission Park Funeral Chapels & Cemeteries South- 1700 Southeast Military Drive- $20 registration fee- From 8AM-11AM- Participants will receive a commemorative event, skeleton-themed t-shirt, a participation medal and a water bottle. The first runner to cross the finish line will win a trip to the 2020 Mexico City Marathon.

November 2^nd– 6^th– Dia de los Muertos Community Ofrenda Exhibit– Esperanza Peace & Justice Center’s West Side Space- Rinconcito de Esperanza- 816 South Colorado Street- Free admission- November 2^nd from 12PM-7PM, November 3^rd from 12PM-5PM and November 4^th, 5^th & 6^th from 10AM-6PM- Altars created for the community, Lanier High School alumni and local families will be on display so the community can visit and pay their respects.

November 2^nd– Dia de los Muertos: Celebrando Las Misiones– Mission Marquee Plaza- 3100 Roosevelt Avenue- Free admission- From 2PM-10PM- Presented by the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office, the event features calaveras, community altars, dance and drum procession, educational workshops, face paintings, live music and movie screening.

November 2^nd– Dia de los Muertos on The Old Spanish Trail- Centro Cultural Aztlan- 1800 Fredericksburg Road- Free admission- 12PM-10PM- The event features altar installations, arts & crafts fair, complimentary Pan de Muerto and Ponche de Frutas, face paintings, food trucks, live music, a procession and refreshments.

November 2^nd– Family Funday: Dia de los Muertos Sugar Cookies– The Culinary Institute of America- 312 Pearl Parkway- $30 for 1 adult and 1 child- 9AM-10:15AM- This class allows you to create, design and decorate your own colorful, cookie-cutter sugar skull cookies.

November 2^nd– Family Funday: Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls– The Culinary Institute of America- 312 Pearl Parkway- $30 for 1 adult and 1 child- 11AM-12:15PM- This class allows you to create your own colorful and oh-so-sweet sugar skull.

November 2^nd– Planet K Presents: Dia de los Muertos Fireworks 2019– Woodlawn Lake Park- 1103 Cincinnati Avenue- Free admission- 4PM-9PM- The highlight of this event is the 20-minute pyrotechnic fireworks display that starts around 8:15PM. However, the event also features art exhibits, children’s activities, face paintings, food trucks, live music, memorial balloon release, vendor booths and vintage car parade.

November 3^rd– Family Day: Dia de los Muertos– San Antonio Museum of Art- 200 West Jones Avenue- Admission for museum members is free. For non-members, admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for military & students and free for kids ages 12 & under- 12PM-3PM- In this event, families can contribute to the community altar, craft ofrendas, decorate a sugar skull and make Catrina-inspired art.

ONGOING

Now through November 2^nd– Day of the Dead Tour– Gray Line Tours San Antonio- 1343 Hallmark Drive- $45 for a 3-hour tour- 9AM-12PM- On the tour, you will learn about the history of the Day of the Dead holiday and explore two art institution exhibits. Plus, you will also get to enjoy an authentic pan dulce from a Tex-Mex restaurant located in El Mercado at the Historic Market Square.

Now through November 2^nd– Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda Displays– Mission San Jose Granary- 6701 San Jose Drive- Free admission- 7 days a week from 9AM-5PM- Each year, for Dia de los Muertos, descendants of the missions create and display altars to pay homage to departed loved ones and to honor their family histories.

Now through January 19^th, 2020- Two exhibits- Dia de los Muertos: A Cultural Legacy, Past, Present & Future and The Day of the Dead in Art- Centro de Artes Gallery in Historic Market Square- 101 South Santa Rosa Avenue- Free admission- 11AM-6PM- Sponsored by the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture.

October 28^th through November 8^th– Almas Creativas: A Tribute to Huichol Art– Briscoe Western Art Museum- 210 West Market Street- Admission is free for museum members. For non-members, admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $5 for retired military, educators, firemen, first responders and police officers. Active military & their family and children 12 and under are free. The exhibit is a series of huge calaveras and catrinas that were handcrafted by Huichol artisans at the Menchaca Studio in Mexico.

November 2^nd through November 15^th– Altares Y Ofrendas Exhibit– Centro Cultural Aztlan’s Old Spanish Trail Cultural Corridor- 2.5 mile stretch, along Fredericksburg Road, from West Elmira Street to Hildebrand Avenue- Free admission- Monday through Friday from 9AM-5PM- The exhibit is a giant installation of altars and offerings by community artists and students.