Honor those no longer with us at ofrendas, celebrations, performances and festivals for 2022 Día de Muertos events around Houston.
Day of the Dead, a Latin American tradition that originated in Mexico, is a time that families take to remember their loved ones that have passed, creating ofrendas, or altars, in their honor that are decorated by the person’s favorite foods, drinks, photos and memorabilia to encourage the spirits to visit.
We’ve gathered just some of the 2022 Día de los Muertos events taking place around the city, honoring the tradition and paying respect to the dearly departed.
2022 Día de los Muertos Events in Houston
Weekend of Saturday, October 22, 2022
- The World in Between: Ancient Roots of Día de los Muertos at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Saturday, October 22 | FREE – Join Archaeology Now for an evening discussion on the loving, glorious celebration of life and death. Explore its origins in ancient Mesoamerican peoples, discover the rituals and meanings that are represented, and watch as Ambassadors International Ballet Folklorico perform ahead of the talk. Free with registration. 7pm to 9pm.
- Taste & Remember: Día de los Muertos Oaxacan Cuisine and Mezcal Tasting at Xochi | Sunday, October 23 – Enjoy a Oaxacan food and mezcal tasting celebrating Día de los Muertos with chefs Hugo Ortega, José Luís Ortega, Elvis Espinosa at Xochi. $65. 4pm to 6pm.
Weekend of Friday, October 28, 2022
- 2nd Annual Día de los Muertos Black Dinner at City Place | Friday, October 28 – Talented chefs of Mexico and Houston collaborate for this second annual dinner on the waterfront of City Place in Spring. The four-course wine dinner features expertly paired bottles with main courses, plus a cocktail hour with Catrina face painting, flower crowns and a candlelight procession. $150. 6pm to 10pm.
- Day of the Dead: Calavera con Calavera at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, October 28 | FREE – Back for its third year, this production follows the Burgos family on Día de Muertos, preparing to celebrate the tradition while exploring all its different elements and what it means to embrace death as a reminder that life is beautiful. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles. 7:30pm.
- Dia de los Muertos Celebration at City Place | Friday to Sunday – Immerse yourself in all things Day of the Dead at a three-day, four-part celebration headlined by Friday night’s four-course Black Dinner, Saturday’s El Mercado and Calacas & Cocktails procession, and Sunday’s free screening of The Book of Life. Times and prices vary.
- Day of the Dead: Family Day at Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts in Spring | Saturday, October 29 | FREE – The fine arts outpost in Spring celebrates Day of the Dead with a free family day that features Mixteco Ballet Folklórico and Klein ISD Mariachi performances, a large public ofrenda on the museum’s steps, plus other art activities, food trucks, face painting and more. 10am to 2pm.
- 9th Annual Magnolia Park Día de los Muertos Festival & Parade in Hidalgo Park | Saturday, October 29 | FREE – The First Barrio community of Magnolia Park, one of the oldest Latino neighborhoods in the city of Houston, hosts its 9th celebration for Día de Muertos, featuring a community parade to the Hidalgo Park altar, followed by a festival of food, kids activities, live music, cultural performances and artwork. 11am to 5pm.
- Día de los Muertos Celebration at the Esplanade at Navigation | Saturday, October 29 | FREE – The Navigation Blvd. Esplanade in Second Ward is the site for a cultural celebration of eternal love that features a day of traditional music and dance performances, a local arts and vendors market, ofrendas, foods, margaritas and more. 11am to 7pm.
- Sugar Land Dia De Los Muertos Celebration at Sugar Land Town Square | Saturday, October 29 | FREE – Embrace life as a family at this Sugar Land celebration that features delicious foods, cultural art exhibitions, children’s activities and performances by traditional Mariachi and ballet folklórico groups, Aztec dancers and more. Noon to 4pm.
- Calacas & Cocktails at City Place in Spring | Saturday, October 29 – Presented by San Migeul de Allende, this evening party is highlighted by live music and entertainment, a margarita cash bar, and a second candlelight procession led by mojigangas to the ofrenda on site. Ahead of the evening festivities, stop by and enjoy an all-day mercado of Mexican folk art vendors and artisans from noon to 6pm. Free; VIP tickets are $30. 6pm to 9pm.
- Día de Muertos Festival at MECA Houston | Saturday, October 29 & Sunday, October 30 | FREE – MECA’s annual two-day Día de los Muertos festival in Sixth Ward returns, offering a weekend packed with delicious foods, live music and dance performances, arts and crafts activities, a local vendor market, artists, a sprawling ofrendas exhibition and more. 11am to 7pm both days.
- Día de los Muertos at Karbach Brewing Company | Sunday, October 30 | No Cover – The Spring Branch brewery hosts an all-day celebration for Day of the Dead, featuring limited glassware and beer specials, plus local vendors, food trucks, a live DJ and other activities. 11am to 6pm.
- Day of the Dead Celebration at Kemah Boardwalk | Sunday, October 30 | FREE – The Boardwalk has an all-day celebration planned for Day of the Dead, featuring sugar skull crafts, live music and folklórico performances, mariachi, a kids costume contest and more. 2pm to 10pm.
- Día de los Muertos at Discovery Green | Sunday, October 30 | FREE – The 5th annual festivities at the Downtown park space get rolling with a screening of Coco, followed by live performances and music, hands-on art activities, artist demo, vendors and more. Visitors are encouraged to bring images of departed loved ones for the community altar (note these items will not be returned). 3pm to 7pm.
Week of Wednesday, November 2, 2022
- Candlelight Open Air: Día de los Muertos Concert at Houston Arboretum | Wednesday, November 2 – Adelaide Band heads to the nature center at Memorial Park for an evening concert by candlelight that features traditional Mexican folk songs, as well as “Remember Me” from Coco, songs by Juan Gabriel and Julieta Venegas, and more. $35 and up. 7pm and 9:15pm.
- 2nd Annual Houston Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival at Sam Houston Park in Downtown | Saturday, November 5 | FREE – After a successful inaugural parade in 2021, the Día de los Muertos festival returns to Downtown, offering a day and night of live music, a parade procession from 7pm to 8pm, delicious concessions, arts and crafts, and more. Festival and parade participation is free, though traditional attire—full of pageantry and beauty—is recommended for those in the procession. 2pm to 10pm.
- Día de los Muertos at Children’s Museum Houston | Saturday, November 5 & Sunday, November 6 – The Children’s Museum celebrates Day of the Day with a special two-day event that stretches into Sunday, when the museum is typically closed. Enjoy crafting sugar skull masks and marigold garlands, hear the sounds of Mariachi Monarco, and create sugar skull art with artist Christian Navarrete. $15 for ages 1 and up. 10am to 6pm.
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