Halloween isn’t the only celebration taking place this fall. For travelers looking to trade haunted houses and spooky attractions for colorful parades, music, art and centuries-old traditions, Día de los Muertos offers a completely different way to experience the season. Celebrated primarily on November 1 and 2, this beloved holiday brings families and communities together to honor loved ones who have passed away while celebrating the continuing cycle of life.
Rooted in a blend of Indigenous Mesoamerican traditions and Spanish Catholic observances such as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, Día de los Muertos is not a somber occasion. Instead, it is filled with vibrant colors, elaborate altars, flowers, food, music and joyful gatherings. While traditions vary from place to place, preparations and celebrations often begin in late October. For travelers hoping to experience this remarkable cultural tradition firsthand, these destinations offer some of the most memorable Día de los Muertos celebrations in the Americas.
San Antonio Hosts the Largest Day of the Dead Celebrations in the United States
San Antonio, which has a Hispanic or Latino population greater than 60%, hosts numerous events in late October and November to celebrate Dios de Los Muertos. Festivities kick off Friday October 23 with a Day of the Dead River Parade, where illuminated boats featuring altars, calaveras, and costumed performers float down the historic San Antonio River Walk.
Other signature events in San Antonio include Muertos Fest at Hemisfair, featuring live music and original art, free family friendly activities at La Villita, cultural performances at the Historic Market Square, and walking along the Day of the Dead Tradition Trail. Local spaces including the San Antonio botanical garden and zoo also prepare for and participate in Day of the Dead celebrations.
If San Antonio is on your bucket list of places to visit, visiting during the Day of the Day celebrations will immerse you in the vibrant culture of the city. Visit the city website to plan your visit!
Día de los Muertos Takes Center Stage Across Los Angeles
Every year, L.A.’s Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the final resting place for many Hollywood legends including Judy Garland, plays host to Aztec dancers, art exhibits, and music performances celebrating the Day of the Dead. The event is noted as one of the largest Day of the Dead scenes in the country. This year’s event, themed “All Under One Sky (Bajo un Mismo Cielo), will be held on October 24, 2026.
L.A. also holds other multi-day events to celebrate the Day of the Dead, including nightly Novenario processions for nine days along Olvera Street and a free 10-day outdoor public art installation of altars at Gloria Molina Grand Park. Learn more about what the L.A. community offers this year here.
Mexico City Comes Alive for Día de los Muertos
From late October to early November, this capital city’s entire infrastructure (including millions of locals) is mobilized to produce a massive spectacle blending carnival pageantry with authentic Mexican culture that no other metropolitan in the world can rival. Highlights include the Gran Desfile (Grand Parade) along Paseo de La Reforma, featuring giant skeletal puppets, thousands of dancers, and vibrant eye-catching floats.
Visitors and locals alike also enjoy viewing public altars (ofrendas) in Zócalo and taking day trips to nearby historic neighborhoods like Coyoacán, candlelight boat excursions through Xohimilco canals, or traditional graveyard candle-lighting in the village of San Andrés Mixquic.
Experience Día de los Muertos Through Oaxaca’s Deep-Rooted Traditions
In contrast to Mexico City, Oaxaca celebrations are on a smaller, more spiritual, and more community-focused. Oaxaca is widely considered the cultural heartland for Dia de Muertos, where visitors and witness authentic family vigils and candlelight graveyard visits. It is one of the most famous global destinations for the holiday, with unique temporary sand tapestries representing the fleeting essence of life, breathtaking vigils at the Panteón General, and street parades.
Traditionally, the spiritual realm opens on October 31 as families visit local cemeteries, November 1st is dedicated to honoring deceased children an infants, and November 2nd each year is dedicated to adult souls.
Guatemala’s Giant Kites Create a Colorful Bridge Between the Living and the Dead
Visit Sumpango, Sacatepéquez in Guatemala to experience the world-famous Festival de Barriletos Gigantes (Giant Kite Festival) In Sumpango, locals favor celebrating the dead with gigantic ornate kites instead of skulls. Mayan Kaqchikel traditions believe the giant kites act as a communication bridge between the living and the dead, helping guide spirits safely home. Local artisans spend up to six months handcrafting the intricate kites, with some measuring over 60 feet in diameter. The craftmanship and community impact led to Sumpango, Sacatepéquezbeing inscribed in 2024 on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Whether you are drawn to the energy of a massive parade, the intimacy of a candlelit cemetery or the breathtaking artistry of a giant kite soaring above a Guatemalan village, Día de los Muertos offers a meaningful way to experience the traditions and cultures that honor those who came before us. From San Antonio and Los Angeles to Mexico City, Oaxaca and Sumpango, each destination celebrates the holiday in its own unique way while sharing the same message: remembering the dead can be a joyful celebration of life. If you are looking for a memorable cultural getaway this fall, these destinations offer an opportunity to celebrate, learn and experience Día de los Muertos beyond the traditional Halloween festivities.