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Things To Do to Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in San Francisco

Delight in Dia de Los Muertos events in San Jose. Photo courtesy of the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum
Delight in Dia de Los Muertos events in San Jose. Photo courtesy of the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum
10/5/25 - By Sandra Lee

Día de los Muertos—or Day of the Dead—is a vibrant tradition with roots in Mexico that’s all about honoring loved ones who have passed on. Families of all ages gather to celebrate life with colorful altars (called ofrendas), marigolds, music, and food, turning remembrance into something joyful and community-centered.

Here in the Bay Area, we have plenty of ways to introduce our kids to this beautiful tradition—whether that’s through hands-on art activities, family-friendly festivals, or visiting community ofrendas together. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate as a family, here are some of the best Día de los Muertos events and experiences happening around San Francisco and surrounding citites.

For more inspiring things to do, check out our Guide to Fall Activities in the Bay Area. 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Things To Do to Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in San Francisco

Dia de Los Muertos Celebration in San Mateo

San Mateo—FREE
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in San Mateo. Enjoy a free community event filled with activities for the whole family including games, altars, music, and more.  READ MORE

Dia de Los Muertos Celebration in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa—FREE
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Come together with the community as we honor and celebrate Día de los Muertos. Enjoy a vibrant evening filled with music, traditional altars, face painting, cultural performances, delicious food, and family-friendly activities. READ MORE

Halloween Carnival with Dia de Los Muertos Celebration

Rohnert Park—FREE
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Rohnert Park hosts a Halloween carnival and Dia de Los Muertos celebration for the whole family before trick-or-treating on the big day. Enjoy carnival games, a haunted house, live performances, community altars (ofrendas) and more.  READ MORE

Dia de Los Muertos Community Celebration in Newark

Newark—FREE
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Newark with music, Ballet Folklorico, arts and crafts, a resource fair, craft vendors, face painting, contest, and more.  READ MORE

Dia de Los Muertos in Cloverdale

Cloverdale—FREE
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Honor loved ones through the rich traditions of Latinoamérica, featuring stunning altars, live music, Ballet Folklórico, and the sweet aroma of pan de muerto and other traditional foods. Discover local vendors and handcrafted offerings that are perfect for your altar. Participate in our Catrín & Catrina Costume Contest. READ MORE

Dia de Los Muertos Celebration at the Museum of Art & History in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz—FREE
Saturday, October 25, 2025
The MAH (Museum of Art & History) is hosting a community celebration of traditional music, dance, and art for Dia de Los Muertos. Enjoy live performances by Senderos’ Centeotl Danza y Baile and Ensamble Musical de Senderos. Stroll through the museum in a self-guided presentation of community altars. READ MORE

Halloween Dia de los Muertos Family Fun Fest

Oakland—FREE
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Jack London Square is a hosting a Halloween Dia de los Muertos Family Fun Fest event in the plaza near Plank. Enjoy chalk artists, a mariachi band, crafts, a costume contest and Mexican Folklorico dancers. READ MORE

Día de Muertos in Healdsburg

Healdsburg—FREE
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Join Museum-on-the-Go for Día de Muertos hosted by Corazón Healdsburg and the City of Healdsburg. This annual celebration touches the heart and connects the community with music, food, a car and truck show, activities for kids, and more! Día de Muertos features live music from various artists and traditional dance performances from Aztec dancers, folkloric dancers, and more throughout the day. READ MORE

31st Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration at OMCA

Oakland
Sunday, October 26, 2025
OMCA celebrates Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with all the festivities and cultural traditions of the day. A beautiful procession opens the day of celebration, followed by hands-on activities food, dance performances, live music, and more.  READ MORE

Film with Live Orchestra: Coco

San Francisco
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Lights, Camera, Music! Watch favorite films on the big screen at Davies Symphony Hall as the scores are performed live by the SF Symphony. The Academy Award-winning smash hit Coco (Best Original Song, Best Animated Feature Film) stars a music-loving boy who makes a dazzling journey to the Land of the Dead to reunite with his great-great-grandfather. Rated PG READ MORE

Dia de los Muertos Community Ofrenda in Western Addition

San Francisco—FREE
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Colorful and overflowing with offerings, the Día de los Muertos ofrenda (altar) is a celebration of those who have passed on. Bring a special item or photo to contribute to the altar or create a drawing of a loved one using materials provided. READ MORE

Día de los Muertos and Halloween at Mission Community Market

San Francisco—FREE
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Stock up on fall produce, support local farms, and celebrate Halloween and Día de Los Muertos at Mission Community Market. Pick up some beautiful marigolds, ofrenda food items, contribute to the community ofrenda with photos and mementos, and enjoy live music at the Little Mission Studio Stage.  Bring the kids in costumes for some fun family activities.  READ MORE

Las Cafeteras present Hasta La Muerte

Rohnert Park
Thursday, October 30, 2025
From the imagination of the great band Las Cafeteras, Hasta La Muerte is an enthralling celebration in the spirit of the Indigenous/Mexican practice known as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).  READ MORE

Dia de los Muertos Concert

San Francisco
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Davies Symphony Hall hosts a celebration in honor of Dia de los Muertos with lobby installations by local artists. Head over to the performance hall for a traditional music concert conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya with vocalist Edna Vazquez and Casa Circulo Cultural.  READ MORE

Dia de Los Muertos in Antioch

Antioch—FREE
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Join the City of Antioch Recreation Department for the third annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration happening Saturday, November 1st at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center. Display your own personal altar while enjoying live dance and musical performances, youth crafts, food options from local markets and businesses, face painting, a Catrina contest, and more. READ MORE

Day of the Dead Celebration in Morgan Hill

Morgan Hill—FREE
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Magical Bridge Playground in Morgan Hill celebrates the Day of the Dead with face painting, balloon animals, art projects, performances, and a parade. READ MORE

Dia de Los Muertos in San Rafael

San Rafael—FREE
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos at the Albert J. Boro Community Center at Pickleweed Park. Activities include a car procession through San Rafael, altars in downtown San Rafael storefronts, and cultural performances.  READ MORE

Día de los Muertos at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

San Jose
Sunday, November 2, 2025
The Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose is transformed to honor the beloved Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos with a daylong celebration. Highlights include bigger-than-life skeleton puppets, a Calaveras procession led by Teatro Familia Aztlan, and Lupe, the 14,000-year-old "muerto" mammoth.  READ MORE

Oakland Dia de Los Muertos

Oakland—FREE
Sunday, November 2, 2025
The Oakland Día de los Muertos Festival is a FREE, outdoor festival that brings more than 100,000 people to the vibrant, culturally rich Fruitvale neighborhood. Enjoy world-class live music, family-friendly games, rides and activities, traditional Latin American artisans, and the stunning altar artistic installations created by community members paying homage to los Muertos.  READ MORE

Día de los Muertos in Redwood City

Redwood City—FREE
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Honor and celebrate the Día de los Muertos tradition with beautifully crafted altars, catrinas, live performances, and a thoughtful procession, paying tribute to our ancestors and enriching our community. Kids activities include chalk art, a sugar skull workshop, Catrina face painting, and more. READ MORE

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About the Author

Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee is the community publisher and social media manager for Mommy Poppins Bay Area. With nearly a decade of writing in the parenting space, she’s passionate about helping parents create unforgettable memories with their kids. Her work has appeared in Tiny Beans, Zulily, and more. When she's not exploring or creating content, you’ll find her baking or practicing her hip-hop moves.
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