Día de Los Muertos

 

Día de Los Muertos: A Community Celebration

Event Overview

Saturday, October 31 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sunday, November 1 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Monday, November 2 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, October 31–November 2, 2026. Throughout the event, visitors can explore the museums to see altares de muertos (altars of the dead) honoring influential Old Town citizens, participate in hands-on art activities, and sign up for a sugar skull painting workshop (additional materials fee).

Visitors are encouraged to honor lost loved ones by contributing their names to the hanging wooden butterfly feature next to the Community Altar, located in the Plaza de Armas at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

Month of October 

Altar Tours | Robinson Rose Visitor Information Center 

Throughout October, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will offer specialized altar tours leading up to the Día de los Muertos community celebration. Participants will be led through museums decorated with altares de muertos (altars of the dead) honoring San Diego's earliest residents. Sign up this October to learn about the symbolism of the altar, or ofrenda, discover the stories of families who lived there in the 1800s, and learn more about the history of Día de los Muertos.

San Diego Unified School District Art Show | Captain Fitch Museum  

Guided by the symbolism of La Catrina, San Diego Unified School District students present a variety of artworks celebrating the imagery of Día de los Muertos that honors memory, identity, and tradition.  

La Calavera Catrina Fashion Gallery | U.S. House  

This temporary public art exhibition showcases Día de los Muertos Calavera Catrina fashion and costume design. The exhibit will display a curated selection of Catrina costumes that have previously been featured in the annual Catrina Contest. These garments, created by artists, community members, and designers, represent a unique intersection of fashion, sculpture, cultural storytelling, and performance art.

This experience is made possible through sponsorship provided by the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Boosters of Old Town, and the Arts in California Parks program.

 

Event Highlights

Community Atar | Plaza de Armas 

In the spirit of Día de los Muertos, we invite the community to come together and honor loved ones who have passed on at our Community Altar.

This traditional seven-tiered altar will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 31; Sunday, November 1; and Monday, November 2. Please feel free to bring a picture of a loved one to attach to the altar with a safety pin. Please note that any pictures or tokens placed on the Community Altar will not be returned.

Wooden butterflies will be provided for visitors to decorate and write the name of a lost loved one as part of the community experience. Visitors can honor their loved ones by contributing to the hanging butterfly art installation next to the Community Altar. This activity will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days of the event. A suggested donation of $5 is appreciated.

Historic Altars | La Casa de Estudillo, La Casa de Machado y Stewart, La Casa de Machado Y Silvas & Seeley Stable   

Visit our historic museums to see the ofrendas, or altars, dedicated to the individuals who lived within these historic structures.

San Diego Unified School District Art Show | Captain Fitch Museum  

Guided by the symbolism of La Catrina, San Diego Unified School District students present a variety of artworks celebrating the imagery of Día de los Muertos that honors memory, identity, and tradition.  

La Calavera Catrina Fashion Gallery | U.S. House  

This temporary public art exhibition showcases Día de los Muertos Calavera Catrina fashion and costume design. The exhibit will display a curated selection of Catrina costumes that have previously been featured in the annual Catrina Contest. These garments, created by artists, community members, and designers, represent a unique intersection of fashion, sculpture, cultural storytelling, and performance art.

This experience is made possible through sponsorship provided by the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Boosters of Old Town, and the Arts in California Parks program.

Live Entertainment | Stage   

Enjoy live entertainment throughout the day as performance artists bring life and energy to the festivities. Sponsored by the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce.

 

Saturday & Sunday - Additional Activities 

Hands-On Art | Plaza de Armas   

Altares de muertos (altars of the dead) are works of art that incorporate statuary, flowers, sugar skulls, hand-cut papel picado, and more. Learn from California State Park interpreters how to create traditional hands-on art, such as paper flowers found on altares de muertos, and cut your own brightly colored papel picado to hang at your altar at home.

Hands-On Art is free to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All donations to the Boosters of Old Town directly support interpretation and special events in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

La Catrina Contest | Plaza de Armas   

Join the Old Town Chamber of Commerce as they present music, dancing, and the 4th Annual Catrina Contest. This year's contest will be held on both days and be split between children and adults. On Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m., all children are welcome to participate in the children's Catrina contest. The adult's Catrina contest will take place on Sunday November 1 at 3 p.m. Dress to impress and pull together your best Carina costume for a chance to win prizes!  

Join the Old Town Chamber of Commerce as they present music, dancing, and the 4th Annual Catrina Contest. This year's contest will be held on both days and divided into children's and adult categories.

On Sunday, November 1, children are welcome to participate in the children's Catrina Contest, followed by the the adult Catrina Contest. 

Dress to impress and put together your best Catrina costume for a chance to win prizes!

Bilingual Story Time | Mason St. Schoolhouse     

Join the San Diego Public Library for a bilingual story hour at the Mason Street Schoolhouse. 

19th Century Magic Lantern Shows | Seeley Stable Theatre  

Travel back in time with Matt Schnittker for a fantastical Halloween 19th century magic lantern show. Shows are 15-20 minutes and will take place on the half of every hour, starting at 10:30 a.m.  

Sugar Skull Workshops with Sugar Skull Artist Carolina Celaya | Plaza de Armas   

Making sugar skulls is an Indigenous Día de los Muertos tradition in Mexico. Decorate a handmade sugar skull in honor of a loved one who has passed away. This workshop is appropriate for all ages.

Skulls are for decorative purposes only and are not for consumption. This workshop has a materials fee.

 

Monday - Additional Activities 

Candlelit Procession | San Diego Avenue | 6 p.m. 

On Monday, November 2, beginning at 6 p.m., the Old Town Chamber of Commerce's annual procession from Twiggs Street to El Campo Santo Cemetery will begin. This year's procession will include Aztec dancers, park staff in 1800s period attire, Catrina Contest winners, and more.

Park operations will conclude at 5 p.m., giving visitors enough time to find the perfect spot along San Diego Avenue.

 

Parking

During this special event, there will be a parking fee in all California State Parks lots.

Please note that Lot "F" will be closed to the public.

Overflow parking is available at the CalTrans Parking Lot located at: 

4300 Taylor Street
San Diego, CA 92110 

 

Public Transportation

Old Town San Diego is conventiently located next to the Old Town San Diego Transit Center (4009 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110 United States). Visitors are encouraged to utilize this service to alleviate the heavy traffic anticipated for this event. 

Learn more about the San Diego Trolley at San Diego Metropolitan Transit System or the North County Transit System (Coaster and Sprinter).

Visitors traveling from outside of San Diego County can travel via Pacific Surfliner by booking with Amtrack. 

 

Getting dropped off? 

Please utilize the drop-off zone located at the Old Town San Diego Transit Center on Congress and Taylor.