{"id":504325,"date":"2026-10-22T15:08:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/504325\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T15:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:08:15","slug":"where-to-celebrate-dia-de-los-muertos-events-in-the-bay-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/504325\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to Celebrate D\u00eda de los Muertos Events in the Bay Area"},"content":{"rendered":"

D\u00eda de los Muertos is almost here. And in the coming days, families across the Bay Area<\/a> will transform a corner of their home into an ofrenda<\/a> \u2014 colorful handmade altars honoring loved ones who have passed away. Photos and mementos are placed alongside candles, sugar skulls, cempas\u00fachil (marigolds) and the departed\u2019s favorite food and drinks.<\/p>\n

Traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, D\u00eda de los Muertos is when the living pause from their daily routine and remember the dead.<\/p>\n

For centuries, families in Mexico and several other Latin American countries \u2014 where it\u2019s also known as D\u00eda de los Difuntos<\/a> \u2014 have also used this time of year to reunite with relatives and friends. Celebrating the dead can be done in both the privacy of one\u2019s home and in community out in the streets<\/a>, with music, dance and art.<\/p>\n

\"\"A mariachi group performs at the Welcome Ceremony for La Catrina de Oakland at Fruitvale Plaza in Oakland on Oct. 1, 2026.\u00a0(Martin do Nascimento\/KQED)<\/p>\n

Thanks to the Bay Area\u2019s large Latino diaspora, there are multiple public D\u00eda de los Muertos events held across the region that are family-friendly and open to all \u2014 including those who are just starting to learn more about this tradition.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that some events are high-energy celebrations with spaces for dancing and socializing, while others are more solemn occasions that include traditional blessings and spoken word.<\/p>\n

Another thing to note: This year, because Nov. 1 and 2 fall on Sunday and Monday respectively, you\u2019ll also find many organizers have scheduled their D\u00eda de los Muertos events a few days before (or after) the traditionally observed dates, with events running from this week through Nov. 8.<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda De Los Muertos NightLife Celebration at the Academy of Sciences\n<\/p>\n

\nThursday, Oct. 22\n<\/p>\n

Each month, the California Academy of Sciences hosts 21+ nighttime gatherings where adults can enjoy the museum with live music, drinks and performances. This month\u2019s NightLife event<\/a> is in collaboration with Carnaval San Francisco<\/a> and will showcase different D\u00eda de los Muertos traditions from the Mexican state of Michoac\u00e1n.<\/p>\n

This occasion will also honor Claude, the albino alligator<\/a> that lived at the Academy of Sciences since 2008 and became a local icon before dying last December at the age of 30. Sacramento-based artist Carolina Argote will unveil a sculpture of Claude in the incredibly colorful and intricate style of alebrijes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"A traditional Mexican altar for El D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration.\u00a0(Tiffany Camhi\/KQED)<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re feeling like dancing, the Bay Area\u2019s own Chulita Vinyl Club<\/a> \u2014 a collective of Latina DJs who work to preserve the region\u2019s old-school cumbia scene \u2014 will be laying tracks in the Academy\u2019s East Garden.<\/p>\n

Full-priced tickets are $26 and EBT cardholders pay $5.<\/p>\n

\n\u2018In Their Name: D\u00eda de Los Muertos 2026\u2019 exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center\n<\/p>\n

\nOpening ceremony on Friday, Oct. 23; exhibition on display through Nov. 20\n<\/p>\n

Curated by Bridg\u00e8tt Rex and Mission District-raised Rio Ya\u00f1ez, this exhibit celebrates the Mexican traditions of D\u00eda de los Muertos \u201cwhile welcoming cultures around the globe to honor the dead together in solidarity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dozens of artists have been invited<\/a> to create their own altars dedicated to loved ones who have died. This year\u2019s exhibit is dedicated to Oakland-based florist and educator Latosha \u201cTosha\u201d Stimage<\/a>, who passed away earlier this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"AAn altar made by the Young Women\u2019s Freedom Center for people lost to police brutality and gender violence as well as people who passed through the program, at a D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration in San Francisco\u2019s Mission District on Nov. 2, 2021.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

The opening reception on Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. will feature an artists\u2019 market and a musical performance by Las Hijas de la Madre.<\/p>\n

A general admission ticket is $15, but those 16 years old and under get in free.<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda de los Muertos in Half Moon Bay hosted by ALAS\n<\/p>\n

\nSaturday, Oct. 24\n<\/p>\n

ALAS stands for Ayudando Latinos A So\u00f1ar, or \u201cHelping Latinos Dream,\u201d and the nonprofit will host a Day of the Dead celebration<\/a> at its office on 507 Purissima Street.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme is \u201cCatrinas, Calabazas y Cumbia,\u201d paying homage to Half Moon Bay\u2019s nickname as the World Pumpkin Capital<\/a>. There will also be Aztec dancers, face painting and sugar skull decorating.<\/p>\n

\"TwoMariah Cativo (left) and Lucy Molina pause for a portrait as they walk along 24th Street in San Francisco\u2019s Mission District during a D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2, 2021.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

\nHealdsburg D\u00eda de los Muertos Celebration\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Oct. 25\n<\/p>\n

City officials and local nonprofit Coraz\u00f3n Healdsburg will host a D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration in the city\u2019s main plaza from noon to 6 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Families are welcome to bring photos of loved ones to add to the communal ofrenda. There will be live music, a car show, dance performances and craft activities for kids throughout the day.<\/p>\n

This event has free admission.<\/p>\n

\nLuna Mexicana at the Oakland Ballet\n<\/p>\n

\nPerformances on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1\n<\/p>\n

This year sees the Oakland Ballet celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Luna Mexicana<\/a> production, which brings different Mexican folkl\u00f3rico traditions onstage with contemporary dance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Performances are family-friendly and are advertised as \u201cideal for ages 7 and up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tickets for the Oct. 30<\/a> and Nov. 1<\/a> performances are already available on Ticketmaster and prices can range from $35 to $100.<\/p>\n

\"\"Xol Venegas wears handmade butterfly gloves to the Oakland D\u00eda de los Muertos Festival in Fruitvale on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. D\u00eda de los Muertos is her favorite holiday. \u201cIt\u2019s about that nobody gets forgotten in the end. That everybody feels a sense of community,\u201d she said.\u00a0(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)<\/p>\n

\nAvenue of the Altars in San Jos\u00e9\u2019s Mexican Heritage Plaza\n<\/p>\n

\nSaturday, Oct. 31\n<\/p>\n

Located on the corner of Alum Rock Avenue and King Road, the Mexican Heritage Plaza is one of the most important gathering spots for East San Jos\u00e9\u2019s Latino community. This year, the venue celebrates the 10th annual Avenida de Altares<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to event organizers, folks are welcome to \u201cexplore a community altar gallery, participate in hands-on art activities for all ages, browse an artisanal vendor market, and experience colorful face painting.\u201d<\/p>\n

This event has free admission and starts at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

\nOakland D\u00eda de los Muertos Festival\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 1\n<\/p>\n

In terms of attendance \u2014 and sheer scale of production \u2014 this is by far the biggest celebration for D\u00eda de los Muertos in the Bay Area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Nov. 1, nine blocks along International Boulevard in the city\u2019s Fruitvale neighborhood will fill up with giant ofrendas created by local artists, live music stages and dozens of booths from community groups and local artists.<\/p>\n

\"\"Danza Azteca performs a traditional Aztec ceremony at Oakland D\u00eda de los Muertos Festival in Fruitvale on Oct. 29, 2023.\u00a0(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)<\/p>\n

Someone making their first-ever appearance at the celebration is the towering 34-foot sculpture of La Catrina<\/a>, an elegant female skull figure that serves as a symbol for the dead coming into the world of the living. The piece was brought in by the nonprofit Unity Council, which leads organizing efforts for the Oakland event.<\/p>\n

This is a high-energy event, so expect to hear live banda music for hours and lowriders bouncing through the streets. And for the first time, the Oakland Roots and Soul will be hosting street soccer games along 39th Avenue.<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda de Muertos Celebration at La Pe\u00f1a Cultural Center in Berkeley\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 1\n<\/p>\n

La Pe\u00f1a is one of the longest-running spaces dedicated to Latin American and Caribbean culture in the Bay Area, and this year\u2019s Day of the Dead celebration<\/a> will give families plenty of opportunities to be creative together.<\/p>\n

Programming starts at 5:30 p.m. with a bilingual storytime, then moves outdoors for a Four Directions ceremony<\/a> that will then lead to guests building an ofrenda together. Guests are accordingly encouraged to bring photos and mementos of loved ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Altar for D\u00eda de los Muertos.\u00a0(Adriana Morga\/KQED)<\/p>\n

The night will end with a jam session open to the community and a son jarocho concert \u2014 music emblematic of the Mexican state of Veracruz.<\/p>\n

Admission is free, and there will be food and drinks available for purchase.<\/p>\n

\nTenderloin Street Fair\u2019s D\u00eda de Muertos Celebration\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 1\n<\/p>\n

San Francisco\u2019s Tenderloin district is throwing a free family street fair from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. for D\u00eda de los Muertos, featuring a full lineup of live music from all over Latin America: rock with Soucano, salsa with Agua Pura, psychedelic Peruvian cumbia with Combo Tezeta and Mexican m\u00fasica regional with Banda La T\u00f3xica.<\/p>\n

There\u2019ll also be lucha libre matches, a kids zone and loteria. Tickets are free, but you can RSVP a spot now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"A poster for Tenderloin Street Fair\u2019s D\u00eda de Muertos Celebration.
\u00a0(Courtesy of Tenderloin Street Fair)<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda de los Muertos at the Children\u2019s Discovery Museum of San Jos\u00e9\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 1\n<\/p>\n

The Children\u2019s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jos\u00e9 will host a family-friendly D\u00eda de los Muertos event<\/a> from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019ll be storytelling for children, sand painting, performances by Aztec dancers, and the Chicano theater group Teatro Familia Aztl\u00e1n will lead a short procession that stops at different installations in the museum, including its 14,000-year-old mammoth skeleton.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $22 for both adults and children. Seniors pay $20 for entrance and infants get in for free.<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda de Muertos celebration in Concord\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 1\n<\/p>\n

Local officials will host a gathering<\/a> at Concord\u2019s Pacheco Square from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. that will feature live mariachi music and \u201cfree tacos for the community.\u201d Residents are invited to bring photos of their loved ones for a community ofrenda.<\/p>\n

Admission is free.<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda de los Muertos in Santa Rosa\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2\n<\/p>\n

The procession will first gather at Bryant and 22nd Street at 7 p.m., then move over to 24th Street in the direction of Mission Street.<\/p>\n

Thousands of families gather on the sidewalk to watch the procession, with many\u2014 both kids and adults \u2014 in skull face paint. If you don\u2019t know how to paint a skull, don\u2019t worry \u2014 you can easily find a makeup artist walking around that can help you out, along with food vendors and musicians set up on each corner.<\/p>\n

This event has free admission.<\/p>\n

In previous years, the Mission District has hosted other public gatherings for D\u00eda de los Muertos: a festival of altars at Potrero Del Sol Park and a separate arts exhibition at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.<\/p>\n

However, the website<\/a> for the festival of altars only shows information for last year\u2019s events, and organizers of previous festival of altars have not returned KQED\u2019s requests for details. And last January, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts shut down<\/a> due to major financial pressures, taking away a historic venue for Day of the Dead celebrations in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\nD\u00eda de los Muertos at the San Francisco Symphony\n<\/p>\n

\nSaturday, Nov. 7\n<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s premier symphony orchestra will perform music from across Latin America with Jos\u00e9 Luis G\u00f3mez, music director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, as conductor. The culture of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala will be in the spotlight this year, with performances from salterio players David Hern\u00e1ndez Pozos and Claudio Israel V\u00e1zquez, along with traditional dancers from Redwood City\u2019s Casa C\u00edrculo Cultural<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And if you get to the Symphony before the performance starts, you\u2019ll have the chance to walk around the lobby to see interactive altars and plenty of catrinas.<\/p>\n

Seat prices<\/a> depend on location and can range between $35 and $180.<\/p>\n

\"ADaniela Zurita walks during D\u00eda de los Muertos in San Francisco on Nov. 2, 2021, in memory of her mother who passed away in August due to COVID-19.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

\nRedwood City\u2019s D\u00eda de los Muertos Celebration\n<\/p>\n

\nSunday, Nov. 8\n<\/p>\n

This year, the biggest D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration in San Mateo County<\/a> will take place a week after most events in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dance and music performances will fill Redwood City\u2019s Courthouse Square from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Families will also have the chance to learn how to make sugar skulls, get catrina face painting and join the ritual procession.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s celebration will also feature a competition for the best ofrenda mounted on a car \u2014 \u201cRecuerdos sobre ruedas or \u201cmemories on wheels.\u201d According to organizers, entries should honor the memory of children who have passed away and \u201cshould reflect tenderness, innocence, and the love families hold for the little ones who left too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

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