Items are placed on the ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jiménez at the Omni La Mansión del Rio on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Antonio.
Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-News
Florist Jessica Huisman didn’t know much about conjunto music legend Flaco Jimenez when she was hired to design a Día de Los Muertos altar for him, so she had to do some research.
“You have to start doing some investigation of who he is so you can represent it correctly,” said Huisman, owner and creative director of Freesia Designs. “It’s a tremendous responsibility to create something that is beautiful, respectful and worthy of his legacy.
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Santiago Jiménez Jr. and Woody Rodriguez, left, perform during an unveiling of the Día de los Muertos ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jiménez at the Omni La Mansión del Rio on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Antonio.
Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-News
Items are placed on the ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jiménez at the Omni La Mansión del Rio on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Antonio.
Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio’s Day of the Dead celebrations include a river parade.
Ronald Cortes
“I want the family to look at it and feel like it was created with respect, love and understanding of what he represented to San Antonio and to our culture.”
The altar she designed while listening to a lot of Jimenez’s music stands in the lobby of the Omni La Mansión del Rio, just outside of El Colegio Bar. It includes photos of Jimenez, who died last year, as well as musical instruments, bottles of Bud Light, a blue LP featuring some of his music as well as lots of flowers.
RELATED: A beginner’s guide to the music of conjuno great Flaco Jimenez
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The musician’s brother Santiago Jimenez Jr. played at the unveiling.
“I really got very emotional,” he said. “I was very grateful for those people who came to this event, to show respect for Flaco.”
The altar is one of hundreds, if not thousands, on display in public and private spaces all over
A community altar at the corner of Guadalupe and South Colorado is part of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center’s annual Dia de los Muertos celebration.
Courtesy Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
the city as part of Día de los Muertos. The holiday, observed Nov. 1 and 2, is rooted in indigenous Mexican beliefs, though it is celebrated across Latin America. On that day, spirits are believed to return to visit with those they left behind and to partake of things they enjoyed during their time on earth.
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“Día de los Muertos celebrates the lives of our loved ones who have passed on,” said Imane Saliba, who works for the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center. “We show them respect for the lives they lived in the altars.”
The Esperanza is among the San Antonio organizations that hold community celebrations every year. The nonprofit’s 31st annual celebration starts in a few weeks. Workshops will be held between Oct. 17 and 30 where folks can learn how to build their own altars and make elements for it, including paper flowers.
In addition, the MujerArtes Women’s Clay Cooperative, which is based at the Rinconcito de Esperanza, will hold its annual exhibit and sale of pieces inspired by Day of the Dead. Visitors can come by the West Side studio at 816 Colorado from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays Oct. 26-Nov. 6.
The Esperanza’s free Day of the Dead community celebration starts at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 at Rinconcito de Esperanza. It will include a full slate of live music from Conjunto Heritage Taller, Henry Gomez y Mariachi de Esperanza, Keli Rosa and Llamativa.
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Participants are invited to dress in costume and bring musical instruments to take part in a procession through the West Side from the Rinconcito to Alázan-Apache Courts.
Around 20 individual altars will be displayed in the Rinconcito in addition to an enormous outdoor community altar on the corner of Guadalupe and South Colorado streets. The altars will stay up through Nov. 8.
The whole celebration is likely to draw a lot of people. Last year, about 1,000 people took part, Saliba said.
“I feel for me, and I know for everybody else, it offers healing and solace,” she said. “And also of course, there’s the importance of sharing and transmitting the stories of our ancestors and keeping the cultural practices alive, making sure young people know about the tradition of Día de Muertos.”
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Other celebrations in the city include:
Fiesta de los Muertos: The new addition to Zoo Boo, the San Antonio Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration, includes live entertainment, culturally inspired art, face painting, themed food and Ofrenda de Animales, which honors animals who have made an impact. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 1, San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. St. Mary’s. Included with zoo admission, which ranges from $31 to $40 and is free for children under 3. Info and tickets, sazoo.org.
Market Square celebration: Altars have been set up in Market square, and visitors can take self-guided tours daily through Nov. 6. The square also will hold a celebration including a marigold giveaway, live music and Las Monas Cultural Dance Processions. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 24-26, Market Square, 514 W. Commerce. Free, marketsquaresa.com.
Day of the Dead River Parade: A procession of decorated barges will carry catrinas, altars and costumed characters. The Convention Center Lagoon will be the site of Parade Plaza, a festival featuring food, vendors and entertainment. Parade starts at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Lexington Avenue and concludes at 8:45 p.m. at Crockett and Navarro streets. Parade Plaza entrance $15.76. Reserved parade seats, $23.65-$32.25, sanantonioriverwalk.com.
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La Villita will host a three-day Day of the Dead celebration.
Bob Owen/Express-News file photo
Day of the Dead San Antonio: One of two downtown celebrations, Day of the Dead San Antonio will feature giant statues of La Catrina, albrijes (spirit animals) and calaveras, live music, food and activities for kids. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 23-25, La Villita, dayofthedeadsa.com.
Muertos Fest: The annual celebration will include a tribute to the late Texas music legend Augie Meyers by Max Baca and the Texmaniacs, processions, art installations a Day of the Dead bookshop and 100 altars created by people in the community. Other music acts taking part include Girl in a Coma, Michael Salgado, Vanita Leo, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Como Las Movies, Grupo Metal featuring Chris Perez and Mariachi Las Alteñas. The event has its own app to help folks make plans and navigate the grounds. 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 24 and noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 25, Hemisfair, 600 Hemisfair Plaza. Free. Info, muertosfest.com.
MORE: Muertos Fest will pay tribute to late Texas music legend Augie Meyers
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Calaveras Azucar Festival: The Market Square Farmers Market Association’s Dia de los Muertos celebration will include altars, live music and local vendors. 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 1, Market Square, 514 W. Commerce. Free, marketsquaresa.com.
Pearl will celebrate Día de Los Muertos on Nov. 1.
Courtesy Pearl
Día de los Muertos at Pearl: The celebration includes a procession, a community altar as well as altars curated by local artists, live performances, local vendors and a Catrin and Catrina contest. 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1, Pearl, 303 Pearl Parkway. Free, atpearl.com.
La Vida de los Muertos: The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s celebration includes workshops for sugar skull decoration and paper flower making; a procession; and performances by the Guadalupe Dance Company, Mariachi Academy and Dance Academy. 5 p.m. Nov. 2, Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe. Free, guadalupeculturalarts.org.
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Día de los Muertos exhibition and celebration: Centro Cultural Aztlan’s 49th annual “Altares and Ofrendas” exhibit features altars created by artists and community members. The opening reception will include an arts and crafts market, live music and pan de muerto. 6- 9 p.m. Nov. 2, Centro Cultrual Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg, No. 103. Free, centroaztlan.org.