Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a time to honor the memory of loved ones who have died. The holiday’s most beloved traditions include building ofrendas at home or visiting cemeteries to decorate the graves of those who have departed.
The celebration, widely observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries, also brings colorful, vibrant events to Los Angeles. On or before Nov. 1 and 2, cempasúchil-covered altars, intricately designed sugar calaveras and pan de muerto will spring up.
We’ve rounded up a list of mostly free events on LA’s Eastside and downtown to celebrate the cherished cultural holiday.
Oct. 17: Día de los Muertos at El Sereno Community Arts
El Sereno Community Arts presents its 17th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration with a day full of activities for the whole family. The event will feature free arts and culture programming, community altars, live musical performances and food from local vendors. The festival will also feature artwork and handmade catrinas made from the arts center’s community workshops.
Cost: Free
When: 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Where: El Sereno Park, 4721 Klamath Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032
More information: Check their Instagram page here.
Oct. 17: What We Carry: East LA to Palestine at Tonalli Studio
Tonalli Studio will open its Día de los Muertos exhibition and ofrenda to showcase how land, home and family are threatened today. What We Carry tells the stories of resilience across generations from the communities of East LA to Palestine. Guests are invited to add names, prayers or written statements to this year’s “East LA to Palestine” ofrenda.
Cost: Free
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Where: Tonalli Studio, 4539A E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022
More information: Check their Instagram page here.
Oct. 18: Paint and Sip at Cafe Niña
Join the beloved coffee spot for a morning decorating a miniature altar to add to your ofrenda at home. Each ticket will include your choice of a coffee or matcha, a paint set with a miniature ofrenda and a light brunch. Tickets are limited, so be sure to grab yours through their Instagram page.
Cost: $25
When: 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
Where: Cafe Niña, 3923 1/2 E. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
More information: Check their Instagram here to purchase a ticket.
Oct. 18: Crafting Party at Benny Boy Brewing
Benny Boy Brewing is hosting its 4th Annual Día de los Muertos Crafting Celebration, featuring sugar skull decorating sessions. There will be an assortment of crafting materials to choose from and additional items include a clear box to display your completed sugar skull, ribbon, cempasuchil flowers and a customized tealight candle. Guests can purchase a small or large skull and get free face-painting. Please note that the event is for guests 21 and over.
Cost: $13
When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
Where: Benny Boy Brewing, 1821 Daly St, Los Angeles, CA 90031
More information: Visit their Instagram or purchase tickets here.
Oct. 24: Calavera LGBTQ+ Festival by Latino Equity Alliance
The Latino Equity Alliance will celebrate its annual Calavera LGBTQ+ Festival with an evening of drag and musical performances, dancing, community resource booths and an altar. In collaboration with the Get Out the Vote Initiative, the festival will also feature a free, nonpartisan, LA County Mobile Voting Center located outside the venue for the public to access.
Cost: Youth (under 18) $5 and adults $10
When: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Where: Ace Mission Studios, 516 S Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90033
More information: Visit their webpage to purchase tickets
Oct. 24 – Nov. 2: Día de los Muertos at Gloria Molina Grand Park
For 10 days, Gloria Molina Grand Park will transform into an exhibition space honoring cultural traditions through art, community altars and remembrance. Kicking off the festivities with an opening ceremony, attendees can enjoy live musical performances from El Río, Grupo Bella, Anaís Azul, and Mariachi Arco Iris de Los Angeles. The celebration will honor indigenous roots by including a sacred processional and blessing from Ohtli Yollotl Collective. Guests can explore up to 17 unique altars from local artists and organizations on display and are encouraged to contribute to the event’s designated community altar by leaving a photo, note, or memento in remembrance of a loved one. This year’s theme is “The Power of One” and is curated by artist Consuelo G. Flores. Guests will be able to participate in family-friendly activities, including free face painting, sugar skull workshops and wellness offerings from community partners.
Cost: Free
When: Opening ceremony: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Noche De Muertos Closing Celebration: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. 10-day exhibition displays open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Where: Gloria Molina Grand Park, 200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
More information: Check their webpage here.
Oct. 25: Family Day at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
For an afternoon full of family-friendly activities and entertainment, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes welcomes attendees to participate in this year’s community celebration. Featuring three workshops that explore traditional practices, including painting skull masks, flower accessories and herb bundles. Food from Tamales Veracruz y Más and Sammy’s Elotes y Más will be available for purchase. This year’s celebration will feature a number of live entertainment acts, including Banda Filarmónica Los Alebrijes, Grupo Folklórico Princesa Donaji, and Los Elejidos de Asís de los Muertos. LA Plaza encourages guests to contribute to their Ofrenda Comunitaria.
Cost: Free
Date: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
Location: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
More information: Check their webpage here.
Oct. 25: Las Fotos Project Community Wellness Day
In partnership with Youth to the People, Las Fotos Project is hosting its bi-monthly community wellness day with a Día de los Muertos celebration. The event will feature family-friendly activations like art-making, including their signature vela decorating station, calavera or catrina face painting, a community ofrenda, and a stylized portrait station. Guests can enjoy light bites and beverages and explore the free clothing swap station and community resources available, including special guest Soluna to discuss their free mental health resources. In partnership with Polo’s Pantry and Saticoy Food Hub, there will also be fresh produce available while supplies last.
Cost: Free
When: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Las Fotos Project, 2210 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
More information: Check their Instagram
Oct. 27: Community Ofrenda at SuperNova Thrift
Beginning Oct. 24, SuperNova Thrift invites the community to take part in the making of their Día de los Muertos altar. People are encouraged to bring a photocopy of their loved ones with their name, a letter, drawing, or memory, flowers, and small nonvaluable offerings. Participants are also welcome to join by being a helping hand in the making of the altar. The altar will be open for viewing at the storefront from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, with three special days of remembrance.
Cost: Free
When: Oct. 27 to Nov. 2
Where: Supernova Thrift, 1852 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
More information: Check their Instagram page here.
Oct. 30: 1st Street Community Block Party
The 1st Street Collective, a hub for the businesses along Boyle Heights’ 1st Street corridor, is back with its Día de Muertos Community Block Party at Mariachi Plaza. This year’s celebration will feature music, dancing, family-friendly activations and local vendors. Enjoy free face painting, live art installations, performances, a community altar and more for people of all ages.
Cost: Free
When: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30
Where: Mariachi Plaza and along 1st Street, 1831 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
More information: Visit their Instagram page here.
Nov. 1: Día de los Muertos at Plaza de la Raza
Join Plaza de la Raza’s annual outdoor community celebration, which will include hands-on workshops, musical entertainment, art and local vendors. Attendees can join a variety of crafting workshops, from calaca puppet making to papel picado, alebrije making, and flower making with altarista Ofelia Esparza and family. Attendees can also walk through a vendor marketplace and explore the artwork and altar installations that will feature over 25 participating artists. Live performances include members of Ozomatli, El Mariachi Manchester, Danza Divina de Los Angeles, Tiny Tots Folklorico, Plaza de La Raza Mariachi and Folklorico students, and Folkor Pasión Mexicana.
The Boathouse Gallery will also be open for its “El Velorio” exhibit, featuring original work from over 200 local artists and curated by Superchief Gallery, Irene Hernandez and Manny Martinez. The exhibit will be on display from Oct. 10 to Nov. 7.
Cost: Free, including free parking at the DMV lot
When: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Where: Plaza de la Raza, 3540 N Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90031
More information: Check their Instagram page here
Nov. 6 – 8: Every Altar Begins with a Story by Colibri Dance Theatre & Casa 0101 Theater
This Día de Los Muertos, a contemporary theatrical dance production takes center stage at Casa 0101. Presented by the Colibri Dance Theatre, the performance will be full of stories of love, family, resilience, joy, grief, forgiveness and strength. In this showcase, an altar comes to life as told through the eyes of CUENTOS characters “La Catrina,” “El Catrin,” “Alebrije,” and “Calacas.” Attendees can experience a night of movement, music, and poetry that honors Día de Muertos traditions and cultural practices.
Cost: $23 – $29, including special ticket prices for Boyle Heights residents, students/seniors, and group ticket purchases.
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Casa 0101, 2102 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
More information: Visit their webpage to purchase tickets.
Nov. 7 : Cafecito + Little Piñata Workshop
Join this community collaboration between Healing in Spanglish and Little Piñata Guy for a mini piñata workshop to dedicate and honor loved ones. Each attendee ticket includes coffee from Anhelo Coffee, Pan de Muerto by Repostería Aguilar, and materials to create your own mini piñata. Spend your morning remembering your loved ones and crafting with community. Tickets are limited.
Cost: $15
When: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Anhelo Coffee, 3609 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90063
More information: Purchase tickets here.
Nov. 7: Día de los Muertos at Self Help Graphics & Art
To round out their monthlong community art workshops and events, Self Help Graphics and Art will host its 53rd Annual Día de los Muertos celebration. This year’s celebration is in partnership with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino. The communal gathering will begin with a procession at 2 p.m. at Mariachi Plaza led by Danza Azteca Chicomecoatl and will end on the corner of 1st Street and Anderson Street, outside Self Help Graphics, for the festivities. Attendees can shop through the “Muertos Market,” featuring local artists and artisans, local food vendors, Self Help Graphics prints for sale, face painting, and arts activities for all ages. The celebration will also include a main stage for live musical performances from Extra Ancestral, Chulita Vinyl Club LA, Jimetta Rose and the Voices of Creation, La Santa Cecilia, The Red Alibi, Mendez High School Mariachi, and headliners, Los Lobos.
Cost: Free
When: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Self Help Graphics & Art, 1300 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
* Event will take place outside on the Anderson Street side
More information: To register and reserve your spot, visit the webpage here.
Nov. 7 – 8: Floricanto’s Fiesta de Día de los Muertos
The Floricanto Center for Performing Arts and Danza Floricanto will host a Día de los Muertos-themed showcase for its 24th annual program. For one weekend only, the Center will be transformed into a cemetery, and a series of characters, including the show’s guide “La Catrina,” will lead audiences through an evening of storytelling and dance. The showcase will feature themes of love, death, mental illness, teen pregnancy and immigration. Show doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Cost: General admission pre-sale: $15, $20 at the door
VIP seating presale only: Children ages 5 to 10 years old $10 *child tickets only sold at box office
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Floricanto Center for the Performing Arts, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, Los Angeles, CA 90063
More information: To purchase tickets, visit here or call (213)-466-2611
