California Day of the Dead Events

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is observed in many parts of Mexico and Latin America, and includes altars to welcome and honor the departed who are said to come back to walk among the living on November 1 and 2. It is now popular in the United States among Latinos and non-Latinos alike. Humorous skulls (calaveras) and skeletons going about worldly business are the dominant symbols of the celebration, which has roots in pre-Columbian as well as Spanish religious beliefs.

Day of the Dead 2024

DOWNEY: Dia de los Muertos Art Festival October 27, 2024, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at Downey Theatre. Location: 8435 Firestone Blvd., Downey, CA. Now in its 11th year, the free event expects more than 25,000 people who come to Downey Theatre and Civic Center to see this intriguing tribute to those who have passed. Free, downtowndowney.org

 

Past events

DINUBA: Dia de Los Muertos October 21, 2023, 6-10 p.m. at Alta Historical Society. Bar, food trucks, costume contest, auction and music performed by the band, Old's Cool.  Location: 275 South K Street, Dinuba, CA. $25  age 21+ only, (559) 591-2144

LA PUENTE: Dia de Los Muertos November 6, 2021, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Held on Main Street in La Puente, and hosted by the City of La Puente. Business sponsorships available, facebook.com/cityoflapuente/

ONTARIO: Dia de Los Muertos Community Altar October 29-November 2, 2021
R. Jack Mercer Community Bandstand, 1265 S. Palmetto Ave. Bring your offering to the Armstrong Community Center Oct.18-27, 2021. ontarioca.gov

SANTA FE SPRINGS: Dia de Los Muertos  October 16, 2021, 5-10 p.m.
Heritage Park
Free, santafesprings.org
At the event you will experience the key elements of Día De Los Muertos that revolves around ofrendas (altars) or offerings. Enjoy musical entertainment, altar displays, artisan vendors, and sugar skull crafts, $10 per skull. Decorating is geared for those 8 years of age and older. Registration for sugar skull decorating is required.

Feel free to look up these past events and let us know of any updates so we can add them to the current list. Thanks

CAMARILLO: Dia De Los Muertos Celebration November 2, 2019 Conejo Mountain Funeral Home

CANOGA PARK: Annual Día de los Muertos Family Festival November 3, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sherman Way between Topanga Blvd. and Canoga Ave.
Cost: Free, mainstreetcanogapark.la
Community art festival features musical entertainment, Car Show, Chalk Artists, Altars and Vendors galore, plus  international foods, calaveras, artists' exhibits, altar displays, a children's art pavilion,.

CARLSBAD: Dia de Los Muertos November 2, 2019, 6 or 7:30 p.m. sessions
City of Carlsbad's Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park Candlelight  Tour Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park 6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane,  $20 reservations required, carlsbadconnect.org.

CATHEDRAL CITY: Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead A Celebration Honoring the Memory of Loved Ones
November 2, 2019,  Free

DAVIS: Dia de los Muertos Festival Celebration October 19, 2019 Davis Cemetery and Arboretum

ESPARTO: Dia de los Muertos Arts and Crafts October 29, 2019

FONTANA: Dia de Los Muertos Celebration October 29, 2019 at Lewis Library | November 1, 2019 at Jack Bulik Center 

FRESNO: Dia De Los Muertos Art Exhibition Luna Y La Muerta November 1-7, 2019
November 1, 2019, 4-9 p.m. Tower District Block Party
November 2, 2019, 1-9 p.m. Cala Gala, 1630 Van Ness Ave.
Fresno, CA $5, arteamericas.org
November 7, 2019, 5-8 p.m. Art Hop
Arte Américas. Altars and Art Work featured in the gallery. Guests interact with altars, murals, artwork and larger than life 3D sculptures honoring the memories of the deceased whose lives impacted the San Joaquin Valley community and beyond.

GILROY: Altars for Dia De Los Muertos Altars, exhibit October 15-November 2, 2019
Gilroy Center for the Arts
7341 Monterey Rd.
Gilroy, CA
Free admission, gilroyartsalliance.com
Arts & Crafts Vendors, Face Painting and Sugar Skulls, Youth Folkloric Dancing and Youth Mariachis. Presented by the Gilroy Arts Alliance at the Center for the Arts

HEALDSBURG:  Día De Los Muertos postponed (October 26, 2019) due to fire evacuations
Healdsburg Plaza, Matheson Street and Healdsburg Avenue Healdsburg, CA 95448 Corazón Healdsburg in partnership with the City of Healdsburg honor those that have passed in a festive celebration featuring live music, traditional dance performances, children’s art activities, an ofrenda altar, and much more. ci.healdsburg.ca.us/911/Da-De-Los-Muertos

FULLERTON: Day of the Dead Festival November 3, 2019

HOLLYWOOD: Hollywood Forever Cemetery Dia de los Muertos Festival November 2, 2019, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Noon-Midnight
$25, ladayofthedead.com
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

INDIO: Dia de Los Muertos Fundraiser Dinner November 2, 2019 SOLD OUT according to announcement
Includes Dinner, Tequila, Entertainment, Music, Art, Silent Auction. Location: Coachella Valley History Museum, 82616 Miles Ave, Indio, CA 92201  $90, cvhm.org

IRVINE: Pretend City's Day of the Dead November 2, 2019
Activities teach children about this Mexican holiday

LOS ANGELES: Carrera De Los Muertos 5k October 26, 2019 honors Day of the Dead. Join family and friends to remember loved ones that have passed in this rich cultural tradition which includes Olvera Street Run with route through Chinatown, art, music and a lot of fun.  Location:  Olvera Street, 845 N Alameda St Los Angeles, CA 90012  Register: losmuertos5k.com/events/los-angeles/

LOS ANGELES: Day of the Dead Celebration November 1-2, 2019, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Procession October 25-November 2, 2019, nightly procession at 7 p.m. As part of the Day of the Dead celebration, this is a Pre-Colombian Novenario procession and includes blessings each night beginning at 7 p.m. Sponsors: El Pueblo Historical Monument, Olvera Street Merchants Location: El Pueblo Historical Monument 125 Paseo de la Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012. elpueblo.lacity.org 

MARYSVILLE: Yuba Sutter Arts Dia de Los Muertos October 27, 2019, 12 p.m.  
Yuba Sutter Mall
1215 Colusa Avenue
Yuba City, CA
Free, shopyubasuttermall.com | facebook.com/yubasuttermall
 Day of the Dead Celebration, Altars Ofrendas, Arts & Crafts, Music, Performances and more!

MILL VALLEY: Dia de los Muertos Altar Making November 1, 2019

MODESTO: Dia de Los Muertos Celebration October 19, 2019 Altares, and a procession through downtown 

MURPHYS: Day of the Dead November 2, 2019, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Main Street & Murphys Community Park
Downtown
Murphys, CA
Free, visitmurphys.com

Annual Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is held 1st Saturday in November. Catrina contest, Art, food, sugar skulls, face painting and live music, as well as displaying altars and evening procession to the Catholic cemetery at the end of the day.

OAKLAND: Days of the Dead Ceremony October 20, 2019 Oakland Museum of California OMCA

OCEANSIDE: Day of the Dead  October 27, 2019
Mission San Luis Rey

OXNARD: Sugar Skull, the Musical  November 2, 2019

PALM SPRINGS - RANCHO MIRAGE: Day of the Dead at Sunnylands October 30-November 3, 2019
37977 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
sunnylands.org
(760) 202-2254

PASADENA: Old Pasadena Dia De Los Muertos October 26, 2019

PASADENA: City's Dia De Los Muertos at Villa-Parke November 1, 2019, 5-8 p.m.

PETALUMA: El Dia de Los Muertos November 2, 2019, 4-10 p.m.
Petaluma Fairgrounds
175 Fairgrounds Drive
Past event included Candlelight Procession with Giant Puppets and Closing Event Petaluma Fairgrounds 

PLEASANTON: Hispanic Cultural Celebration November 2, 2019

REDWOOD CITY: Dia de Muertos November 3, 2019, 4-9 p.m.
Courthouse Square
2200 Broadway
Redwood City, CA
Free, redwoodcity.org
casacirculocultural.org/dia-de-muertos
Casa Circulo Cultural, with the San Mateo County History Museum and the Friends of the Library, and Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation, host the Annual Celebration of Day of the Dead- Dia de los Muertos. There will be music, dancing, an elaborate altars contest, a procession down Broadway, food court, vendors, free activities for children and a community Chalk Art Mural that everyone is encouraged to participate in.

RIVERSIDE: Day of the Dead November 2, 2019

SACRAMENTO: Día de Los Muertos Fiesta October 11, 2019 California Museum

SAN DIEGO: Carrera De Los Muertos 5k November 3, 2019 honors Day of the Dead. Join family and friends to remember loved ones that have passed. Location: Embarcadero Park South. Registration: losmuertos5k.com/events/san-diego/

SAN DIEGO: Old Town San Diego's Dia de los Muertos November 2-3, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO: Day of the Dead Procession and Festival of Altars  November 2, 2019
dayofthedeadsf.org

SAN FRANCISCO: SOMArts' annual Day of the Dead October 11-November 8, 2019
Somarts.org

SAN GABRIEL: San Gabriel Dia de Los Muertos Festival November 1, 2019, 6-10 p.m.
Hosted by City of San Gabriel Government and Casita Del Pueblo
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse
320 S Mission Dr
San Gabriel, California 91776
Free, facebook.com/pg/CasitadelPueblo13100/
The festival  includes artists, vendors, crafts for kids, face painting, live entertainment and food trucks.  The event begins with a community procession beginning at Plaza Park at 428 South Mission Drive leading to the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse Plaza. Attendees are encouraged to bring a memento or picture of their beloved family and friends who have passed on to display at the community altar held at the Mission Playhouse lobby.

SAN JOSE: Day of the Dead November 2, 2019
San Jose Museum of Art

SAN JOSE: Day of the Dead October 18-19, 2019
St. James Park

SAN LUIS OBISPO: Dia de los Muertos November 1, 2019 Procession | November 2, 2019 Festival at Mission Plaza
Free, community invited to participate

SAN PEDRO: San Pedro Day of The Dead Festival October 27, 2019
San Pedro Historic Waterfront District

SAN RAFAEL: Day of the Dead Celebration November 2, 2019
Procession, drumming, dancing...

SANTA ANA: Annual Noche de Altares November 2, 2019  | Bowers Museum Day of the Dead Festival November 3, 2019

SANTA BARBARA: Dia de Los Muertos Free Family Day October 27, 2019
Santa Barbara Museum of Art

SANTA CRUZ: Dia de los Muertos Community Festival November 1-2, 2019 at Museum of Art and History

SANTA MARIA: Dia De Los Muertos October 27, 2019

SANTA MONICA: Dia de los Muertos November 2, 2019 

SIMI VALLEY: Day of the Dead October 27, 2019

STOCKTON: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Saturday, October 26, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Address: 111. S Sutter St. Parking lot, and Sutter St.@ Market St. (street closure)
Entertainment: Car Show | Food Trucks | Arts & Crafts | Altar Exhibits | Face Painters | Aztec Dancers | Folklorico Dancing | Catrina Pageant | Live Bands | Kids Corner    
Hosted by Visit Stockton and Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery, Inc. mexicanheritagecenter.org

VENTURA: Day of the Dead Celebration November 2, 2019

WASCO: Dia de Los Muertos Festival November 1, 2019, 6-10 p.m.
Downtown Wasco
7th Street
Wasco, CA
facebook.com/downtownwasco
Enjoy special performances by Mariachi Toros de Mexico | Ballet Hauztecalli | Altar Competition with prizes | Art Exhibits | Food
  Mento Buru  as part of the 4th annual Wasco Dia de Los Muertos Celebration!
downtownwasco@gmail.com / Tania Cordova: 661-446-5060.  

WATSONVILLE: Day of the Dead Family Crafts October 24-26, 2019

WHITTIER: Casita del Pueblo Los Mueurtes Art & Music Festival October 13, 2019, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. casitadelpueblo.org

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.