Houston’s Original Día de Muertos Celebration Honors Tradition, Remembrance & Cultural Resilience
Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts (MECA), a cornerstone of Latino arts and culture in Houston, proudly presents its Annual Día de Muertos Festival, taking place Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at MECA’s Historic Dow School campus (1900 Kane St., Houston, TX 77007). This free, family-friendly community event invites Houstonians to honor tradition and embrace cultural expression through vibrant performances, food, art, and remembrance.
The festival’s recurring theme, “Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future,” reflects MECA’s deep roots in community activism, resilience, and artistic expression, while paying tribute to the ancestors who continue to guide and inspire. For more than two decades, MECA’s festival has remained one of Houston’s most anticipated cultural traditions, bringing families together to celebrate life, memory, and heritage.
“Día de Muertos is a time of reflection, remembrance, and resilience,” said Armando Silva, MECA’s Executive Director. “At MECA, it is also a time to bring our community together through art, tradition, and joy as we honor our ancestors and look to the future.”
Ofrenda at MECA’s Ofrendas/Altar Exhibition (photo by Allen Campos, Spheres Visuals)
At the heart of the festival is MECA’s annual Ofrendas Exhibition, curated by cultural expert Luis Gavito, featuring more than 30 ofrendas (altars) created by artists, families, and community members. Visitors are also invited to contribute to a Community Ofrenda by bringing photos or mementos of their loved ones. A special highlight this year is Ofrenda Blossoms for Ghost Bikes, curated by former Houston City Council member, Karla Cisneros, which blends tradition with advocacy to honor cyclists killed in traffic incidents. Supported by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the project invites eight artists to create ofrendas for eight memorialized Ghost Bikes, drawing urgent attention to bike safety on Houston’s streets.
MECA Día de Muertos Festival (photo by Pin Lim, Forest Photography)
Pin Lim
Throughout the festival weekend, audiences will enjoy live performances from groups including Banda La Garita with Vanessa Alonzo, Duo Menil, La Kimika, Grupo Lila, Danza Azteca Macuixochitl, Ambassadors International Ballet Folklorico, and many more. Performances are presented with support from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Families can also participate in hands-on artmaking in the Family Art Zone, with print making and story circles led by the Lualo Creative Studio. Festival-goers will have the chance to enjoy food from local vendors, including traditional Latin American cuisine, alongside artisan markets showcasing folk art and handmade goods. Community partners such as AARP Houston, TheraPride, Texas Organizing Project, and AmistadesHTX by Legacy will also be present through a community resource fair.
MECA Día de Muertos Festival (photo by Pin Lim, Forest Photography)
Pin Lim
The celebration extends beyond festival weekend with special programming including the Freaks Come Out at Night Run Club – Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., a free, community social run beginning at MECA and followed by a free evening celebration with music by DJ Whitney Screwston, refreshments, and early access to the Ofrendas Exhibition. Runners will meet and take off from MECA (1900 Kane St., Houston, TX 77007) at 7 p.m. Visit the Freaks Come Out at Night Run Club on Instagram to learn more.