Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican cultural celebration that honors loved ones who have passed by celebrating their lives with family, food, music, and art. Rooted in Indigenous Mexican traditions that date back centuries, the holiday centers on ofrendas, colorful altars decorated with marigolds, photos, candles, and the favorite foods of those being remembered. Across Texas, events and celebrations unfold from late October into early November, with river parades, street festivals, community ofrenda exhibitions, and artisan markets shaped by the cities that host them.
San Antonio: River Parades and Celebrations Across Historic Downtown
In San Antonio, Día de los Muertos spreads across several of the city's most historic spaces at once.
The River Walk Parade
The signature event is the Day of the Dead River Parade, when decorated floats carrying altars and costumed riders drift along the River Walk after dark, turning the river into a moving gallery of Day of the Dead art.
La Villita, Market Square, and Hemisfair
The celebration continues in La Villita, a historic arts village where giant alebrije spirit animals and hand-painted calaveras have filled the grounds alongside workshops and a catrina artisan market. At Historic Market Square, themed altars line the plaza and the Las Monas dance procession moves through the crowd. Nearby, Muertos Fest at Hemisfair brings bands, DJs, and poets to the celebration.
Austin: The City's Largest and Longest-Running Celebration
In Austin, the Viva la Vida Festival and Parade is the city's largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos event. Mexic-Arte Museum, which is designated as the official Mexican and Mexican American fine art museum of Texas, organizes it, blending the holiday's traditional customs with the city's creative energy.
Viva la Vida Festival and Parade
The festival fills downtown Austin streets with traditional Mexican dancers, towering handmade props, floating ofrendas, and elaborate costumes.
After the parade, the celebration continues with live music, dance performances, and hands-on art activities like marigold flower crowns and decorated paper sugar skulls. Don't miss the artisan vendors, whose handmade Día de los Muertos crafts bring the tradition home.
Houston: The City's Original Día de Muertos Festival at MECA
In Houston, MECA's Día de Muertos Festival is known as the city's original celebration of the holiday. It takes place in one of Houston's oldest neighborhoods, and brings together children's art activities, artisan vendors, festival foods, and live performances across multiple stages. Don't miss the ofrenda exhibition, where dozens of altars created by artists, families, and community members fill the halls, and where visitors can add photos of their own loved ones to a community ofrenda.
Corpus Christi: A Downtown Street Festival Celebrating South Texas Heritage
The Día de los Muertos Street Festival in downtown Corpus Christi brings the heritage of South Texas and Mexico to center stage with music, culture, and a tribute to the traditions of centuries past. Find entertainment all day long with multiple stages of live music, from Latin-influenced rock to dance performances by Ballet Folklorico and other troupes. Art and food vendors line the streets, and around each corner you’ll find happenings worth stopping to enjoy.
Hecho a Mano Art Expo
A juried Hecho-a-Mano Art Expo features handcrafted Día de los Muertos jewelry, crafts, and fine arts from more than 80 vendors, along with artisan demonstrations. A youth art exhibition and piñata contest are also offered.
An anchor of the festival, the Walk of Remembrance Ofrenda Display at the Ritz Theater, gives patrons an opportunity to view and pay respects at ofrendas created by community members, including one placed at center stage to honor Coastal Bend residents who have passed. This special celebration brings life to Corpus Christi in more ways than one!
Fort Worth: A Northside Parade with Celebrations Across the City
In Fort Worth, Día de los Muertos is rooted in the Historic Northside, where Artes de la Rosa leads a parade up North Main Street toward the Historic Stockyards. The celebration continues with a festival at Marine Park featuring mariachi, ballet folklórico, and local artists, while ofrendas and face painting extend the festivities to Sundance Square and the Cultural District.
San Angelo: A Riverside Celebration in the Panhandle
In San Angelo, the San Angelo Hispanic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center hosts a daylong celebration at Bart DeWitt Park. Live mariachi, dance performances, a Catrina and Catrín costume contest. A procession along the river honors those who have passed, while visitors can add photos and mementos of their own to the community altar.
A Celebration of Life Across Texas
From decorated floats on the San Antonio River Walk to a riverside procession in San Angelo, Día de los Muertos in Texas is a celebration of memory, family, and heritage. Each city brings its own character to the tradition, offering a meaningful way to experience one of the most colorful cultural celebrations in the state.
