Latinos in California go BIG for Dia de Muertos celebrations.
Take a look at the best Dia de Muertos events put together looking to keep the culture alive.
Catrinas, altares, local vendors and entertainment are the main ingredients to all of these!
1) Dia de Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Saturday October 29 from 12pm to 12am
Price: $20 per person – (please bring exact change)
What’s good: Mexican cuisine, arts and crafts, Calaca costumes, Julieta Venegas, Buyepongo, Mariachi Flor de Toloache and an altares contest where 3 winners will take $3,000 home.
2) Noche de Altares Santa Ana
Saturday November 5th from 12pm to 10pm
Price: FREE
What’s good: The largest Dia De Los Muertos event in OC organized by Volunteers @Downtown Santa Ana. Community brings a unique 100+ altars, vendors, food & music.
3) Dia de los Muertos Celebration Santa Barbara Bowl
Saturday November 5th at 5pm
Price: $44-$85
What’s good: Mexican Institute of Sound, Rubén Albarrán (of Café Tacvba) No DJ Set, Mariachi Manchester, Grupo Bella, ballet folklorico de Los Angeles, altares, maquillaje de catrinas, etc.
4) Poderosas Para Siempre: A Dia de Muertos Celebration in Long Beach
Saturday October 22 from 8pm to 12apm
Price: $45
What’s good: DDLM exhibition, body art performance by David Gilmore, artisan marketplace, photo booth, food vendors, face painting by Drop Dead Gorgeous.
5) Anaheim Fall Festival
Saturday October 29 from 11am to 10pm
Price: FREE
What’s good: Kiddie Costume Contest, Howl-o-Ween Pooch Pawrade, fantastic food and drinks, a real Ferris Wheel right on Center Street Promenade and a Halloween parade!!
6) Riverside Day of the Dead
Saturday November 5th from 1pm to 10pm
Price: FREE
What’s good: Aztec dancing, traditional altars, music, children’s activities, authentic Mexican food, Ballet Folklórico de Riverside, Community Altar (Bring a copy of a loved one’s photo) and Catrina Pageant.
7) El Velorio at Plaza de la Raza
Saturday November 5th from 7pm to 1am
Price: $25-$50
What’s good: Aztec dancers, low rider car show, face painting, movie screenings, costume contest, photo booth, drinks & food, arts & crafts and Mariachi “Dia de los Muertos attire is strongly encouraged”
8) Downtown Dia de los Muertos: Noche de Ofrenda
Saturday October 29 from 7pm to 9pm
Price: FREE
What’s good: La Victoria, Casa 0101 Youth Teatro, danza Chicomecoatl, Cuicani band, altars will be on display all week, along with large scale sculptures and art by Lore Productions.
9) Old Town San Diego’s Dia de los Muertos
Saturday October 29th – Sunday October 30th from 11am to 8pm
Price: FREE
What’s good: Altars tour, candlelight procession, face painting, sugar skull workshops, live music, food and drinks specials, storytelling and tequila!
10) Bakersfield Dia de los Muertos Expo
Wednesday November from 5pm to 11:30pm
Price: FREE
What’s good: Loteria de los muertos, Kalivera hula hoop spinner, traditional altares and ofrendas, deli food and drinks, skeleton costume contest and raffles.
