Muertos Fest will be adding a third day to its weekend of Dia de los Muertos festivities, organizers of the festival announced on Tuesday.
The event will now open Friday, Oct. 24 with a special evening altar viewing and a performance called “¡Presente!” to pay tribute to Flaco Jiménez, a Grammy Award-winning musician who died in July.
“Flaco Jiménez is not only a San Antonio treasure, but a global icon whose artistry has transcended borders,” said Jim Mendiola, Muertos Fest Artistic Director. “It is an honor for Muertos Fest to pay tribute to him in this special way, surrounded by the community, music, and traditions he helped elevate.”
The opening tribute will feature an all-star lineup of performers including David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Flaco’s brother Santiago Jiménez and more, with Max Baca and Los Texmaniacs serving as the house band for the evening.
Muertos Fest returns for its 13th year from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 25 and from noon to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 at Hemisfair.
The event will host more than 80 altars, 50 performances across five stages, and 80 local businesses, and is free and open to the public.
Muertos Fest is an annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos that features altars made by local students and families. It’s the largest open-air altar exhibition in the region and has been recognized in global publications as a must-see event.
The Muertos Mercado, curated by Cristina Martinez, who owns the Chicana shop Very That, hosts dozens of businesses in the San Antonio area.
“Being featured at an event like this gives us the opportunity to remain economically stable for the next six months,” said Maria Vega, owner of Karolina’s Antiques. “We put our faith in the community to support us, and we’re very proud to share our cultural roots at an event like this.”
Over 50 performances spread across five stages will feature musicians, dancers, poets, and DJs from San Antonio and abroad, such as The Guadalupe Dance Company, Erick y Su Grupo Massore and Kings del Wepa.
Attendees can expect festival favorites to return, including Metro Health’s children’s area, a new pop-up Day of the Dead Bookstore from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico – San Antonio and the Muertos Fest’s signature processions.
Processions start at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 26 and will pay tribute to Flaco Jimenez, Selena Quintanilla, Ozzy Osborne, and more.
VIA will offer a roundtrip park-and-ride service for Muertos Fest due to anticipated high traffic in the area resulting in limited available parking.
A portion of the proceeds from the festival will benefit Inner City Development, a nonprofit dedicated to responding to the West Side’s needs.
More information, including the full list of events and festival map, will be available on its website, muertosfest.com.
