Honor those no longer with us at ofrendas, celebrations, performances and festivals for 2023 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.
In honoring them, families create ofrendas, or altars, that are decorated by the person’s favorite foods, drinks, photos and memorabilia to encourage the spirits to visit.
Across the city, communities and Houston’s signature institutions will host Día de los Muertos events that honor the tradition and pay respects to the city’s dearly departed.
We’ve gathered 20 of these events taking place across the Greater Houston area, where you can join in on community ofrendas, take in the city’s rich Mexican culture, and enjoy tasty treats and artisan crafts.
2023 Día de los Muertos Events in Houston
- Sugar Land Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Sugar Land Town Square | Saturday, October 21 | FREE – Take in traditional mariachi and ballet folklórico performances, Aztec dancers, Hispanic cuisine and more at this annual festival in Sugar Land for the whole family. Noon to 5pm.
- Day of the Dead: Calavera con Calavera at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, October 27 | FREE – Back for its fourth 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, October 27 to Sunday, October 29 | Some FREE – Immerse yourself in all things Day of the Dead at a three-day celebration headlined by Friday’s Art of the Spirit Cocktail Party, Saturday’s Mercado and Calacas & Cocktails procession, and Sunday’s free screening of Coco. Times and prices vary.
- Dia de los Muertos Festival at Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts | Saturday, October 28 | FREE – The fine arts outpost in Spring celebrates Day of the Dead with a free family day that features Mixteco Ballet Folklórico and Aztec dance performances, a large public ofrenda on the museum’s steps, plus other art activities, food trucks, face painting and more. 10am to 2pm.
- 10th Annual Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos Festival & Parade at Hidalgo Park | Saturday, October 28 | FREE – The First Barrio community of Magnolia Park, one of the oldest Latino neighborhoods in the city of Houston, hosts its 10th 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. Noon to 5pm.
- Día de los Muertos Celebration at the Esplanade at Navigation | Saturday, October 28 | 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. Noon to 7pm.
- Day of the Dead in the Heights at Montie Beach Park | Saturday, October 28 | FREE – The Heights park near Airline and Cavalcade hosts a full day of festivities for Día de los Muertos. Expect folklorico performances, Mariachi Orgullo, the jazz group Free Radicals, colorful decor and more. Noon to 8pm.
- Halloween & The Day of the Dead at J-Bar-M Barbecue | Saturday, October 28 | FREE – The EaDo barbecue joint celebrates both Halloween and Day of the Dead with a night of music from DJ Pachuco Boogie Sound System and Los Skarnales, plus drink and food specials. 7pm to 10pm.
- Día de Muertos Festival at MECA Houston | Saturday, October 28 & Sunday, October 29 | FREE – MECA’s annual two-day Día de los Muertos community festival in Sixth Ward returns, packed with delicious foods, live music and dance performances, arts and crafts activities, a local vendor market, artists, ofrendas and more. 11am to 7pm both days.
- Day of the Dead Celebration at Kemah Boardwalk | Sunday, October 29 | FREE – The Boardwalk has an all-day celebration planned for Day of the Dead, featuring sugar skull crafts, live music and folklórico performances, a kids costume contest and more. 2pm to 9:30pm.
- Día de los Muertos WonderWeek at Children’s Museum Houston | Tuesday, October 31 to Sunday, November 5 – The Children’s Museum celebrates Day of the Dead with a week of activities through Sunday. Enjoy crafting sugar skull masks and papel picado banners, add to your ofrenda with a shadowbox activity that honors loved ones, and make a movable puppet that celebrates the Monarch butterfly. $17 for ages 1 and up. 10am to 6pm daily.
- Community Ofrenda para Día de los Muertos at Discovery Green | Wednesday, November 1 | FREE – Houston artist Angel Quesada again builds a community ofrenda in the Downtown park space. Visitors are invited to bring images or recuerdos of their loved ones to place on the community altar (copies of photos only as nothing will be returned). 6pm to 10pm.
- Candlelight Open Air: Día de los Muertos String Quartet Concert at Houston Arboretum | Wednesday, November 1 – The nature center hosts DIVISI’s Amp’d String Quartet for a night of traditional Mexican folk songs like “La Llorona” and “La Bruja,” plus music from artists like Juan Gabriel and Lola Beltran. $55 and up. 6:30pm and 8:45pm.
- Day of the Dead Celebration at Under the Volcano | Thursday, November 2 | FREE – The longtime Rice Village brew house will host a Mexican market, DJ tunes from Felipe Galvan, and prize raffles, plus discounts on margaritas and DosXX. 5pm to 10pm.
- Dia de los Muertos Dinner at El Venado Tacos & Tequila | Thursday, November 2 – Enjoy a multi-course meal with wine selections at the Washington Avenue spot for tacos and tequila. Bring pictures and offerings to place on the community ofrenda. $50 and up. 6pm.
- Candlelight Open Air: Día de los Muertos Mariachi Concert at Houston Arboretum | Thursday, November 2 – Adelaide Pilar Band heads to the nature center at Memorial Park for an evening mariachi 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. $55 and up. 6:30pm and 8:45pm.
- Day of the Dead Celebration: Blood Dance in Concert at Henke & Pillot | Thursday, November 2 – This Día de los Muertos celebration will get you moving when Blood Dance arrives from Mexico City for a performance, along with Death of the Last Beautiful Jaguar and live DJs. $15 and up. 7pm.
- 3rd Annual Houston Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival at Sam Houston Park in Downtown | Saturday, November 4 | FREE – The Día de los Muertos festival returns to Downtown, offering an evening of live music, a parade procession from 7pm to 8pm, delicious concessions, arts and crafts, and more. Free to participate in the parade, but traditional attire—full of pageantry and beauty—is recommended. 2pm to 10pm.
- Dia de los Muertos Market at Karbach Brewing Co. | Sunday, November 5 | FREE – The Spring Branch brewery hosts an all-day celebration for Day of the Dead, featuring local vendors, food trucks, a live DJ and other activities. 11am to 6pm.
- Dream with Alebrijes Fall Festival at Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Sunday, November 5 | FREE – Celebrating the Mexican folk art tradition of alebrijes and spirit guides, this outdoor fest unveils large-scale artworks by six artists, plus a lineup of tasty food vendors, lotería, film screenings and more. The festival will be held in MFAH’s Cullen Sculpture Garden and at the Brown Plaza at the Glassell School. 1pm to 5pm.
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