Each fall, San Antonians don catrin and catrina makeup, black lace and marigold crowns to celebrate Day of the Dead, the ancient Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos made modern with festivals, parades, processions and altars aplenty.
This year’s slate of events includes the Day of the Dead River Parade, Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession at Market Square and Muertos Fest at Hemisfair this weekend.
Next weekend, watch a Dia de los Muertos-themed performance at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and processions at the Rinconcito de Esperanza, the Pearl and Elmendorf Lake Park.
The City of San Antonio strongly encourages visitors to plan ahead for downtown events to avoid disruptions related to traffic, construction projects and parking.
La Villita
Visit San Antonio hosts the Day of the Dead River Parade downtown on Friday. Elaborately decorated river floats will showcase altars, catrinas and other much-loved symbols representing the holiday.
The event is ticketed, with prices starting at $18 and many seating areas are already sold out. A general admission seating area is available near the Henry B. González Convention Center.
The parade begins at 7 p.m. at Martin Street and is expected to float by the Arneson River Theatre at around 7:45 p.m.
For those interested in continuing the Day of the Dead San Antonio celebration, La Villita will play host to 20 giant alebrije spirit-animals and 10 hand-painted calaveras, as well as live music, a catrina artisan market, face painting and workshops.
Hemisfair
The Hemisfair Día de los Muertos celebration bills itself as Muertos Fest, with a roster of bands, DJs and poets.
Girl in a Coma, the recently revived San Antonio band, will headline the festival, and other featured acts include Santiago Jimenez Jr., Jesse Borrego y Tribú, Piñata Protest, Mariachis Campanas de America and the Guadalupe Dance Company.
Running Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 9 p.m., the free event features processions on both days through a cavalcade of more than 80 altars. More than 70 local vendors will populate the Muertos Mercado.
A free app offers a map of the Hemisfair grounds and more information to help attendees navigate the celebration.
Market Square
Also Saturday and Sunday, Market Square hosts a free Día de los Muertos cultural celebration from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession, described by organizers as “a mesmerizing display of dance and storytelling,” will take place both days from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
During the procession, dancers will bring to life the spirits of ancestors with colorful costumes and rhythmic movements in true Day of the Dead tradition.
Market Square also offers free self-guided altar tours daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m through Nov. 3.
Rinconcito de Esperanza
The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center celebrates Día de Muertos Nov. 1, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at its Rinconcito de Esperanza on the West Side.
The free event features altares and ofrendas, live music including a 5 p.m. performance by Conjunto Heritage Taller, ephemeral tapetes de aserrín (sawdust carpet) and a 6 p.m. procession through the Alazan Courts neighborhood.
The MujerArtes Cooperativa de Esperanza will hold their annual Día de Muertos Exhibit and Sale starting Oct. 28 and running through Nov. 2.
Altars will remain on display at the Rinconcito through Nov. 8.
The Pearl
The Pearl comes alive with Día de los Muertos events starting Nov. 2, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Seven altars will honor figures including Emma Koehler, the Michelin-recognized hotel‘s namesake and former leader of the Pearl Brewery.
Artist Regina Moya has created a Tzompantli skull-rack art installation featuring 30 hand-painted skulls, and artist Mauro de la Tierra used recycled materials to create two large alebrijes.
Plaza Guadalupe
Nov. 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center will present an engaging theater and dance performance by the Guadalupe Mariachi Academy, Guadalupe Dance Company and Guadalupe Dance Academy.
The multidisciplinary performance, titled “La Vida de los Muertos,” features a storyline that interweaves traditional themes of love, family and friends with myths and legends told through generations.
Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs for this free outdoor event.
The Progreso Community Gallery will present original altars from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The altars will remain on display through November.
Elmendorf Lake Park
The URBAN-15 ensemble celebrates “the ethereal space between life and death” during their free annual Día de los Muertos procession at Elmendorf Lake Park, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.
Known as Carnaval de Los Muertos since 1985, organizers call the processional performance “a magical spectacle of motion, imagery, sound, and color.” Dancers’ costumes feature embedded lights and glowing banners.
