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Items are placed on the ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jim\u00e9nez at the Omni La Mansi\u00f3n del Rio on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Antonio.<\/p>\n
Andrew J. Whitaker\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
Florist Jessica Huisman didn\u2019t know much about\u00a0conjunto music legend Flaco Jimenez<\/a> when she was hired to design a D\u00eda de Los Muertos altar for him, so she had to do some research.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to start doing some investigation of who he is so you can represent it correctly,\u201d said\u00a0Huisman, owner and creative director of Freesia Designs.<\/a> \u201cIt\u2019s a tremendous responsibility to create something that is beautiful, respectful and worthy of his legacy.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Santiago Jim\u00e9nez Jr. and Woody Rodriguez, left, perform during an unveiling of the D\u00eda de los Muertos ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jim\u00e9nez at the Omni La Mansi\u00f3n del Rio on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Antonio.<\/p>\n Andrew J. Whitaker\/San Antonio Express-News Items are placed on the ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jim\u00e9nez at the Omni La Mansi\u00f3n del Rio on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Antonio.<\/p>\n Andrew J. Whitaker\/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio’s Day of the Dead celebrations include a river parade.<\/p>\n Ronald Cortes<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The altar\u00a0 she designed while listening to a lot of Jimenez\u2019s music stands in the lobby of the Omni La Mansi\u00f3n\u00a0del Rio,<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n RELATED: A beginner’s guide to the music of conjuno great Flaco Jimenez<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The musician\u2019s brother Santiago\u00a0Jimenez Jr. played at the unveiling.<\/p>\n \u201cI really got very emotional,\u201d he said. \u201cI was very grateful for those people who came to this event, to show respect for\u00a0Flaco.\u201d<\/p>\n The altar is one of hundreds, if not thousands, on display in public and private spaces all over<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Courtesy Esperanza Peace and Justice Center<\/p>\n the city as part of\u00a0D\u00eda 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cD\u00eda de los Muertos celebrates the lives of our loved ones who have passed on,\u201d said Imane Saliba, who works for the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center.<\/a> \u201cWe show them respect for the lives they lived in the altars.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0Esperanza is among the San Antonio organizations that hold community celebrations every year. The nonprofit\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n In addition, the\u00a0MujerArtes Women\u2019s Clay Cooperative,<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Esperanza\u2019s free Day of the Dead community celebration starts at 4\u00a0p.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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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 Al\u00e1zan-Apache Courts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Around 20 individual altars will be displayed in the\u00a0Rinconcito 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.<\/p>\n The whole celebration is likely to draw a lot of people. Last year, about 1,000 people took part, Saliba said.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel for me, and I know for everybody else, it offers healing and solace,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd also of course, there\u2019s the importance of sharing and transmitting \u00a0the stories of our ancestors and keeping the cultural practices alive, making sure young people know about the tradition of D\u00eda de Muertos.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Other celebrations in the city include:<\/p>\n Fiesta de\u00a0los Muertos: The new addition to Zoo Boo, the San Antonio Zoo\u2019s annual Halloween celebration, includes live entertainment, culturally inspired art, face painting,\u00a0themed 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\u2019s. Included with zoo admission, which ranges from $31 to $40 and is free for children under 3. Info and tickets, sazoo.org.<\/a><\/p>\n 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,\u00a0marketsquaresa.com.<\/a><\/p>\n Day of the Dead River Parade:\u00a0A 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\u00a0p.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.<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n La Villita will host a three-day Day of the Dead celebration.<\/p>\n Bob Owen\/Express-News file photo<\/p>\n 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,\u00a0food and activities for kids. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 23-25, La Villita, dayofthedeadsa.com.<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u00a0Salgado, Vanita Leo, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Como Las Movies, Grupo Metal featuring Chris Perez and Mariachi Las Alte\u00f1as. 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.<\/a><\/p>\n MORE: Muertos Fest will pay tribute to late Texas music legend Augie Meyers<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Calaveras Azucar Festival: The Market Square Farmers Market Association\u2019s 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,\u00a0marketsquaresa.com.<\/a><\/p>\n Pearl will celebrate D\u00eda de Los Muertos on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n Courtesy Pearl<\/p>\n D\u00eda 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\u00a0to 9 p.m. Nov. 1, Pearl, 303 Pearl Parkway. Free,\u00a0atpearl.com.<\/a><\/p>\n La Vida de los Muertos: The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center\u2019s 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,\u00a0guadalupeculturalarts.org.<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n D\u00eda de los Muertos exhibition and celebration: Centro Cultural Aztlan\u2019s 49th annual \u201cAltares and Ofrendas\u201d 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-\u00a09 p.m. Nov. 2, Centro Cultrual Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg, No. 103. Free,\u00a0centroaztlan.org.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Items are placed on the ofrenda dedicated to the late Flaco Jim\u00e9nez at the Omni La Mansi\u00f3n del…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":459408,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[82,84,83],"class_list":["post-459407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=459407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/459408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=459407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=459407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=459407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n
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