11/2/2025    Old Town San Diego SHP

2025 Día de Los Muertos: A Community Celebration

Día de Los Muertos: A Community Celebration

 

Community Celebration | Saturday, November 1 - 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Sunday, November 2nd - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate Día de Los Muertos at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2, 2025. Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the museums to see altares de muertos (altars of the dead) celebrating influential Old Town citizens, participate in hands-on art activities, and sign-up for a sugar skull painting workshop (additional material fee). Visitors are encouraged to honor lost loved one's by contributing their name to the hanging wooden butterfly feature next to the Community Altar located in the Plaza de Armas in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. 

Candlelit Procession | Sunday, November 2nd at 5 p.m. 

Saturday, November 2nd starting at 5:00 p.m., the Old Town Chamber of Commerce's annual procession from Twiggs Street to El Campos Santos Cemetery will begin. This years procession will include Aztec dancers, park staff in 1800s period attire, Catrina contest winners, and more! Park operations will conclude at 4:00 p.m, which will give you enough time to find the perfect spot along San Diego Avenue. 

 

Activities

San Diego Unified School District Art Show | Captain Fitch & Tin Smith Shop 

Guided by the theme of Remembrance and Resilience, San Diego Unified School District students present a variety of artworks celebrating the imagery of Día de los Muertos. In the Captain Fitch Store, students' work honors memory, identity, and tradition. While in the U.S. House, Crawford High School, Logan Memorial, Zamorano Elementary, and Lincoln High School partner with Sew Loka on a display regarding wearable art. Students transform reclaimed fabrics into works that tell stories of remembrance and resilience through

Community Altar | Plaza de Armas 

Wooden butterflies will be provided to honor lost loved ones by contributing their name to the hanging butterfly feature next to the community altar in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This traditional seven-tiered altar will be open from 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2rd. Suggested donation of $5.00. 

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

Visit our historic museums to see the ofrendas, or altars dedicated to the individuals who lived within these historic structures. See Día de Los Muertos Historic Altar Tours, to learn about tours through the month of October. 

Entertainment | Plaza de Armas 

Join the Old Town Chamber of Commerce as they present music, dancing, and the 3nd Annual Catrina Contest. This year's contest will be held on both days and be split between children and adults. On Saturday, Novemebr 1st, all children are welcome to participate in the children's Catrina contest, followed by the adult's Catrina contest on November 2nd. Dress to impress and bring your pets in 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 on Saturday November 1st. 

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.

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 like paper flowers found on altares de muertos and cut your own brightly colored papel picado to hang at your altare at home.

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

Making sugar skulls is an indigenous Día de Los Muertos tradition of Mexico. Decorate a hand-made sugar skull in honor of a loved one who has passed. This workshop is appropriate for all ages. Skulls are for decoration purposes and not for consumption.  This workshop is a $10 material fee.

 

Parking

 

Parking is free in all Old Town San Diego State Historic Park parking Lots.

Please note that Lot "F" will be closed. 

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

4300 Taylor Street
San Diego, CA 92110