Saturday was Houston’s fifth annual Día de los Muertos event, consisting of a massive festival and a parade through downtown.

HOUSTON — For the fifth year, Houston’s Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival returned to Sam Houston Park on Saturday.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday that is meant to honor deceased loved ones, believing their spirits return to visit. It is a celebration of heritage and culture — both of which were on full display Saturday.

Songs of celebration filled several tents on the festival grounds as performers played instruments and danced throughout the evening. Among the performers were members of Ballet Folklorico de Houston, who brought traditional Mexican folk dancing to the stage.

“It’s a really fun dance. It’s a way to express our culture, and really fun having people around you, so you can connect,” Ballet Folklorico de Houston member Edgar Bravo said.

For some dancers, their performances were deeply personal.

“I felt so disconnected for a long time, and I finally found something that could help me connect to my roots, and I think dance is one of the biggest ways to do that,” Ballet Folklorico de Houston member Lissey Esquivel said.

In addition to performers, there were several food stands and small businesses selling clothes and trinkets. First-time attendee Jonathan Cortez said the celebration was a chance for his family to connect with the community. 

“It’s our first time out here. It has amazing food out here. Nice things to see. I mean, it’s pretty awesome,” Cortez said. “It’s always good to bring the community together.”

Organizers said they are encouraged to see more people attend each year, not just from Houston’s Hispanic community, but from all backgrounds.

“Every year, we see more non-Hispanics, just curious about this and wearing the headgear and the dresses and the face painting,” event co-chair Laura Murillo said.

Murillo added that it was also a privilege to be able to share the importance of Día de los Muertos with attendees.

“It’s significant. It’s a day where we pay tribute to family, to friends, who have passed, to honor them, to celebrate them,” she said.

Around 7 p.m., several people participated in a parade through downtown with floats, dancers and other performers filling the streets.

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