San Antonio does not play around when it comes to Día de los Muertos. Enjoy one of the many free celebrations around the city, attend a swanky gala in the name of charitable giving and Día de los Muertos fashion, or learn about the holiday at the Centro de Artes Gallery. There’s something for everyone for Día de los Muertos. (And if we missed an event, let us know!)
Cocktails and Culture: Muerto Mash
Enjoy complimentary drinks while admiring Sugar Skull Calaveras and Alebrijes by local artist Andy Benavides at the Witte on Thursday evening. Guests can also enter to win raffle items, hear guest speakers, watch Aztec dancers, and eat goodies from food trucks. General admission tickets cost $25, and VIP – which includes a swag bag and personal bar – costs $30. Find tickets here.
Thursday, 7-9 p.m.
The Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway St.
$25-$30
Catrina Ball
Find your best suits and evening gowns because the San Antonio Library Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year is here. But remember, the attire is black tie with a Día de los Muertos twist. The Catrina Ball helps generate funds for the library, and the library foundation gave $50,000 to the Central Library’s Latino Collection & Resource Center for programming initiatives in 2018. Individual tickets are $350, and sponsorships start at $3,000. Find tickets and sponsorship levels here.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:30-11:30 p.m.
Central Library, 600 Soledad St.
$350 and up
Día de los Muertos (Muertos Fest)
Live poetry, live music, children’s programming, local craft vendors – all to celebrate the dead. The seventh annual Día de los Muertos celebration in San Antonio (now located at Hemisfair) will also feature the largest open altar exhibit, with photos submitted by community members of their recently departed loved ones. Attendees can also add their own photos or offerings to the altar during the two-day event. Find the full schedule of events here.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m-11 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 27, noon-9 p.m.
Hemisfair, 630 E. Nueva St.
Free
Almas Creativas: A Tribute to Mexican Huichol Art
As part of the city’s Day of the Dead celebrations, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is hosting a pop-up exhibit featuring the craftsmanship of the Huichol people, descendants of the Aztecs who live in Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico. The Briscoe will also host a viewing party of the Catrinas on the River parade on Nov. 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., which allows guests to access the Huichol exhibit and attend the Day of the Dead San Antonio Festival at La Villita. Find museum ticket prices and hours here.
Monday, Oct. 28-Friday, Nov. 8
Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St.
$0-$10
Día De Los Muertos Gala
Brooks Gives Back is hosting its second annual Día de los Muertos gala fundraiser, featuring performances by local musicians. Individual tickets cost $125, and sponsorships start at $3,000. Contact Stephanie Garcia
at 210-678-3371 or stephanie@livebrooks.com for more information.
Friday, Nov. 1, 6-10 p.m.
Hangar 9 at Brooks, 8081 Inner Cir.
$125 and up
Catrinas on the River Parade
San Antonio loves a good river parade, and the Day of the Dead is as good a reason as any to watch beautifully illuminated floats glide down the San Antonio River. More than 22 barges will meander down the river. Mariachis and dancers portraying La Danza de Las Mojigangas (giant dancing puppet figures) will start the parade at the Arneson River Theatre. KSAT will be broadcasting the parade for those unable to make it to the actual event. Seats are spread out along the river, and tickets start at $20. All proceeds benefit the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to local children. Find tickets here.
Friday, Nov. 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
San Antonio River Walk
$20 and up
Carnaval de los Muertos
Urban-15‘s Carnaval de San Anto will mark All Saints Day with a Carnaval de los Muertos performance. The procession starts at 7 p.m. at the eastside parking space at Elmendorf Lake, complete with dancing calaveras. The group will make its way to the Our Lady of the Lake University library, where there are student-built altares dedicated to the 22 people who died in the El Paso shooting.
Friday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
Elmendorf Lake Park, 3700 W. Commerce St.
Free
Free Movie Screening: The Book of Life
Market Square starts its Day of the Dead celebrations with a free screening of the 2014 animated film The Book of Life, which features star-crossed lovers and a journey through the Land of the Remembered and Land of the Forgotten. The movie starts at sunset. Before that, enjoy food, music, and a sugar skull workshop from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1, 4-10 p.m.
Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St.
Free
Día de los Muertos at Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
Remember the dead with literary ofrendas and giggle a little at calavera poems that poke fun at the living. Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s Día de los Muertos celebration also features live music, face painting, Mexican hot chocolate, tamales, and the traditional pan de muerto. Although the event is free, donations are appreciated. Procession starts at 6 p.m., and toy instruments will be provided.
Friday, Nov. 1, 5-11 p.m.
Rinconcito de Esperanza, 816 S. Colorado St.
Free
Día de los Muertos at Galería Guadalupe
Attendees can participate in art workshops, face painting, a peace and remembrance procession, and visit community altars. At 8 p.m., the Guadalupe Dance Company, Mariachi Azteca de America, Guadalupe Dance Academy, and Mariachi Academy put on dance performances.
Friday, Nov. 1, 6-11 p.m.
Galería Guadalupe, 723 S Brazos St.
Free
Muertitos Fest: Mestizos
SAY Sí makes sure its Día de los Muertos celebration provides educational context while also highlighting student art, showcasing altars, hosting food booths, and putting on a mercado. Find more information here.
Friday, Nov. 1, 6-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, noon-4 p.m.
SAY Sí, 1518 S. Alamo St.
Free
Día de los Muertos at the Pearl
The Pearl is hosting its third annual Día de los Muertos celebration in conjunction with the Mexican Cultural Institute. Guests can enjoy live music, altars and ofrendas, calaveras stilt walkers, and a procession on Friday, Nov. 1 at 6:15 p.m. Costumes and face paint encouraged. Find the full schedule of events here.
Friday, Nov. 1-Saturday, Nov. 2, 5-9 p.m.
Pearl Park, 312 Pearl Pkway
Free
Celebrating Life 5K Race
This race celebrates life and loved ones who have left us. Racers can get their faces painted before the race as well. There will be a memory wall for people to share who they are running in honor of, live music and performances, and a children’s 1K as well. This might not be primarily a competitive race, but first place does receive a fully-sponsored trip to the Mexico City Marathon in 2020. Sign up for the race here.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 8-11 a.m.
Mission Park Funeral Chapels & Cemeteries South, 1700 SE Military Dr.
$20
Celebrando Descendientes de las Misiones
The World Heritage Office’s Day of the Dead celebration starts at Mission San Jose Granary will have over 10 mission descendant families’ ofrendas on display. At 4 p.m., the procession takes everyone over to Mission Marquee Plaza. There, the celebration continues with live music, face painting, and a screening of Pixar’s Coco at the end of the night. Find more information here.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2-10 p.m.
Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave.
Free
Planet K Día de los Muertos Fireworks Festival
San Antonio families and their pets can enjoy local artists’ works, building skulls, face painting, photo booths, a memorial balloon release, a classic car show, folklorico dancers and the Tehuan Band of Mission Indians, and lots of food trucks at Woodlawn Lake Park on Nov. 2. At the end of the evening, watch spectacular fireworks light up the sky.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 4-8 p.m.
Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati Ave.
Free
42nd Annual Día de los Muertos with Centro Cultural Aztlan
Centro Cultural Aztlan is putting on its 42nd annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, Nov. 2. The event starts with art installations and altares along the Old Spanish Trail, while the procession from the Deco District H-E-B (2118 Fredericksburg Rd.) to Centro Cultural Azatlan starts at 5 p.m. Community members are encouraged to dress up in Día de los Muertos garb and bring offerings for the community altar. At the end, participants can enjoy more altares, refreshments, food trucks, face painting, and complimentary pan de muerto. Find more information here.
Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Rd.
Saturday, Nov. 2, noon-10 p.m.
Free
8th Annual Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio Festival
Local high school mariachi groups compete for the “Best High School Level Mariachi in the San Antonio Area” title at Main Plaza, while individuals try out for Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio. Altars will be set up for people to see, and the night ends with a concert finale by Mariachi Corazón. Find more information here.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 5-10:30 p.m.
Main Plaza, 115 N. Main Ave.
Free
Prints & Pints: Día de los Muertos
Learn the art of printmaking while also marking Día de los Muertos at the Edward Steves Homestead on Saturday, Nov. 2. Guests can enjoy adult beverages and snacks while they create. Tickets cost $12 for members and $15 for non-members. Find tickets here.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Edward Steves Homestead, 509 King William St.
$12-$15
Día de los Muertos at Market Square
Market Square continues its Day of the Dead festivities with altars and activities. There will be face painting, live music, arts and crafts to be purchased, and food. There’s also a Día de los Muertos procession on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Find the full schedule here.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m.-6 p.m
Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St.
Free
Family Day: Día de los Muertos
Families can enjoy Day of the Dead activities like decorating sugar skulls, making Catrina-inspired art, and crafting ofrendas. Members may attend for free, and non-members can join in on the fun after buying a museum ticket. Find ticket information here.
Sunday, Nov. 3, noon-3 p.m.
San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave.
Included with museum admission, $0-$20
Day of the Dead San Antonio 2019 Festival
La Villita turns into the magical world of the Day of the Dead for Día de los Muertos. Mojigangas and Catrinas welcome visitors, and kids can make and smash piñatas, decorate sugar skulls, enjoy puppet shows and traditional crafts workshops. Find more information here. Register for the festival here.
Friday, Nov. 1-Sunday, Nov. 3
La Villita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita St.
Free
Day of the Dead at Centro de Artes
In honor of Día de los Muertos, the Centro de Artes Gallery is displaying two exhibitions on the holiday. The first floor is dedicated to Day of the Dead art, while the second floor will show the evolution of Day of the Dead celebrations in Los Angeles. Centro de Artes is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Through Jan. 19, 2020
Centro de Artes, 101 S. Santa Rosa Ave.
Free
