In the U.S., few cities embrace Día de los Muertos quite like San Antonio.
Every autumn, the city comes alive with vibrant tributes to the dead as community altars, mariachi performances, river parades and cultural festivals transform neighborhoods across town.
While Muertos Fest, one of the largest Día de los Muertos celebrations in the city, is already behind us, these six events show why the Day of the Dead has become one of San Antonio’s most beloved traditions.
Muertitos Fest
The City of San Antonio might have cancelled its official event, but our kids continue to show up especially when truly needed. Say Si, San Antonio’s premiere after-school arts program, celebrates Halloween and Dia de los Muertos in puro Westside style with Muertitos Fest. Expect art of all ilk up for sale, participatory craft booths, local food and drink as well as live music, DJs and spontaneous performances. This is an all-ages event where warm smiles and warm drinks are part of the fun. Free, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Say Si, 1310 Brazos, (210) 201-4950, saysi.org.
31st Annual Día de Muertos Celebration at the Esperanza Center
For more than three decades, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center has hosted one of the West Side’s most beloved Día de Muertos gatherings. Visitors can explore altars made by community members, enjoy live conjunto and mariachi performances, view MujerArtes clay works and join a neighborhood procession led by danzantes. Free, 4-10 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 1, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 816 S. Colorado St., (210) 228-0201, esperanzacenter.org.
30th Annual ‘La Vida de los Muertos’ performance
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center will celebrate 30 years of “La Vida de los Muertos” with a performance at the Plaza Guadalupe. The fest begins with a sugar skull and paper flower workshop, followed by a reimagined theatre and dance production fusing cherished stories and local legends with innovative Mexican-American artistry. The show is free, and the center encourages audience members to bring chairs and prepare for a memorable night. Free, 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 2, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 1327 Guadalupe St., (210) 271-3151, www.guadalupeculturalarts.org.
Jardín de las Catrinas
The San Antonio Botanical Garden’s annual Día de los Muertos installation is bigger and better than ever, according to officials. This year, the garden planted 10,000 marigold flowers and tapped local artist Regina Moya to create larger-than-life skeleton sculptures known as Catrinas to honor Mexican American heritage. Regular garden admission required, garden hours daily through Nov. 2, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org.
Culinary Spirits Presented by Hennessy
This month-long culinary program turns participating River Walk restaurants and bars into stops on a Día de los Muertos-inspired tasting trail. Expect specialty cocktails and limited-time dishes, along with personal stories from local chefs and mixologists honoring their loved ones through food and drink. Free; food and drink purchases extra, daily Oct. 2-Nov. 2, San Antonio River Walk, (210) 227-4262, thesanantonioriverwalk.com.
49th Annual ‘Altares y Ofrendas’
Centro Cultural Aztlan will continue its decades-long tradition with the annual exhibition “Altares y Ofrendas,” which showcases altars created by community members. The opening celebration on Monday, Nov. 2, will include live music, a community mercadito, traditional foods and opportunities for families to learn more about the cultural roots of the Día de los Muertos holiday. Free, 6-9 p.m., Monday, Nov. 2 through Nov. 12, Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 432-1896, centroaztlan.org.
Anjali Gupta contributed to this piece.
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