How to celebrate Día de los Muertos in San Antonio
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A mariachi band plays during the Day of the Dead River Parade in 2021. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
San Antonio is getting a head start on its Día de los Muertos celebrations ahead of the holiday on Nov. 1-2.
Why it matters: The city hosts one of the biggest Day of the Dead festivals in the U.S., rivaling those in larger cities like Los Angeles as the holiday has gained mainstream popularity.
- The festival at La Villita also claims to have the tallest catrina and catrín in the country.
State of play: Expect downtown traffic to be hectic this weekend, between Muertos Fest and the Paul McCartney concert at the Alamodome on Saturday.
Pro tip: VIA will offer free service all day Saturday, so you can avoid the hassle of parking.
- Park & Ride event service runs Saturday and Sunday.
Plan ahead: There is a chance of storms on Friday and Saturday, so maybe pack an umbrella.
From community altars to dances, here are some ways to honor the tradition around San Antonio:
Día de Los Muertos at the Missions: Through Nov. 16, stop by the Margil Center at the El Camino Campus to see an ofrenda from each of the four Mission parishes. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm.
Muertos Fest: The free festival is back Friday through Sunday at Hemisfair. There will be more than 80 altars to view, five performance stages, art vendors, food and more.
- At 8pm Friday, there will be a special musical tribute to the late Flaco Jiménez on the Civic Park Stage.
Day of the Dead River Parade: The colorful event will bring decorated floats, altars and catrinas to the River Walk.
- The route begins at 7pm Friday at Lexington Avenue. Tickets are still available.
Calaverita Run 5K and Family Walk: Lace up and dress up to enjoy altars, music and face painting along the route. Starts at 7pm Saturday at La Gloria at Pearl.
- Registration costs $45 for the race or $25 per person for the family walk.
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center: This free, family-friendly celebration includes community altars and live music, 4-10pm on Nov. 1.
- Email digital photos to [email protected] by Thursday to be included on the community altar.
The Rock at La Cantera: The Spurs destination will host its free celebration 11am-11pm on Nov. 1.
Pearl: On Nov. 1-2, the area will be filled with altars, live music, performances and more. There will be kids' activities, workshops and a procession.
- While there's a lot you can see for free, there will also be some ticketed events and dinners.
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center: The storied West Side center will mark the holiday on Nov. 2, 6:30-8:30pm at the Plaza Guadalupe.
- It will feature a free theater and dance performance that represents the land of the dead. Bring your own chairs.
- The center will also have an altar exhibition honoring Jiménez at the Progreso Community Gallery throughout November.
The bottom line: San Antonio offers a multitude of ways to hold space and remember our departed loved ones.