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Día de los Muertos

Traditional and Authentic Celebrations

Honor lost loved ones and immerse yourself in traditional and authentic Mexican Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations throughout San Diego.

Discover San Diego’s citywide Día de los Muertos festivities

San Diego's cross-border connections are on full and vibrant display during this annual Mexican tradition. The city's neighborhoods come alive with music, dancing, colorful altars, sugar skulls, and beautifully painted faces. Join in this celebration of the dearly departed in this episode of San Diego's "One Bright Idea" series.

Dia de los Muertos - Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Day of the Dead Celebrations

Sherman Heights Día de los Muertos

When: October 13 - November 2, 2022
Embrace Mexican culture during Sherman Heights' Dia de los Muertos with a traditional celebration, official altar blessing, live performances, food and more. 

Oceanside Día de los Muertos Festival

When: October 23, 2022
21st Annual Dia de los Muertos in Downtown Oceanside will have altars, arts & crafts, por siempre car show, a chalk cemetery and more!

Chula Vista Third Avenue Village's Día de los Muertos

When: October 29, 2022
Stroll along Third Avenue and take in the ofrendas (offerings), tastes and music as we celebrate our inaugural Día de los Muertos Celebration in the heart of Chula Vista. 

Old Town Día de los Muertos

When: October 29-30, 2022 & November 2, 2022
It's the time of the year where we reunite the living and the dead. The tradition of Día de los Muertos continues in Old Town this year, with a Mercado del arte and Procesión to the Cemetery.

City Heights Día de los Muertos

When: October 29, 2022
Celebrate the lives of friends and relatives who have passed away at the City Heights Dia de Los Muertos. People of all cultures will come together for community altars, face painting, mask making, and prizes for the best catrina and catrin contest, plus dancing, singing and music.

Encinitas Día de los Muertos

When: October 29, 2022
This annual family-friendly "Day of the Dead" festival will include continuous performances by some of the best Latin talent in San Diego, plus art-making workshops, artist demonstrations, student exhibitions, live Mariachi and other musical performances, as well as food trucks, opportunity drawings, vendors and giveaways.

“El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego)”

When: October 29 - November 6, 2022
San Diego Opera opens its season with this world-premiere opera that revolves around the Day of the Dead. In the piece by Grammy Award-winning composer Gabriela Lena Frank, the great muralist Diego Rivera — surrounded by candles and the fragrance of marigolds on Dia de Los Muertos — longs to see his deceased wife, the beloved painter Frida Kahlo, once more. With help from Catrina, the keeper of the souls, Frida and Diego will spend 24 hours reliving their tumultuous love through their paintings and embracing the passion they shared. (San Diego Opera is also hosting numerous community events in conjunction with "The Last Dream" through the run of the production.)

A Día de los Muertos Celebration

When: October 30, 2022
For our second Día de los Muertos Celebration at The Rady Shell, the San Diego Symphony will present an evening honoring Latinx music and culture, and memorializing those who have passed on.

Día de los Muertos Festival

When: November 1, 2022
The California Center for the arts will stay true to tradition and have altars, dance performances by the Aztec dance group Xinachtli and Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts, craft tables, an outdoor DJ and an artisan craft market.

*Please note, events are subject to change and cancellation. Please confirm the event information by visiting the event website.

Look for Lively Celebrations — No Bones About It

Fall in San Diego brings the distinctive and colorful traditions of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. A multi-day commemoration of those who have passed on, Día de los Muertos originated in Mexico, and San Diego's strong cross-border connections mean the occasion is honored far and wide here.

Each year, in late October and early November, Día de los Muertos events around the county invite visitors to honor the deceased by creating ofrendas (offerings), decorating altars to the dead with photos and flowers. Día de los Muertos commemorations are also known for such signature sights as colorful Catrina makeup and the small sugar skulls called Calaveras; many of the local events also offer face-painting, music and more.

One of the biggest annual Día de los Muertos celebrations here takes place in San Diego's Old Town, a centerpiece of the region's Hispanic heritage; a candlelit procession is a highlight of the commemoration. Downtown Chula Vista in San Diego's South Bay and Downtown Oceanside in coastal North County likewise stage popular Day of the Dead events.

Check back here in September for specific dates and details on Día de los Muertos commemorations all around San Diego County.

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Fall Fun and Excitement in San Diego

When autumn arrives, a crisp soothing breeze sweeps over San Diego complementing the region's warm temperatures and welcoming vibe.

Make San Diego your awesome autumn escape and activate smile mode with a variety of festivals, haunting Halloween celebrations, plenty of outdoor activities, and diverse cultural entertainment.

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What's On|

San Diego International Auto Show

Dec 28, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025

Where the cars are the stars! The San Diego International Auto Show features the widest variety of new vehicles under one roof.

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Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Nov 6 - Dec 31, 2024

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a wonderful, whimsical musical based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book. Back for another incredible year, the family favorite features the songs “Santa for a Day,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Welcome, Christmas (Fah Who Doraze),” the delightful carol from the popular animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into the snow-covered Who-ville, right down to the last can of Who-hash.

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BOARDED! Staged aboard a 16th-century ship!

Dec 28, 2024

Waterfront Playground Experience with Pirates. The perfect treat for out-of-town visitors and locals alike! These popular 90-minute performances are staged aboard the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s 16th-century Spanish galleon San Salvador. Guests will be fully engaged in pirate theatrics at the dock and underway on San Diego Bay. This hilarious interactive show puts visitors right in the middle of the pirate action. Participants will be sworn in as part of the ship crew, trained how to navigate, sword fight, bail water from a sinking ship, escape from the King’s Jail, swab the deck and other pirate skills. 

General admission included, making the experience an excellent value and opportunity to explore the waterfront museum fleet and exhibits before or after your Boarded experience. Choose from two shows at 10:30 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. 

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Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Dec 14, 2024

The three-time GRAMMY®-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of the finest music ensembles around. Salsa Navidad is a show dedicated to classic Latino/Spanish music as well as select American Christmas classics done in a Latin/Salsa style. Part of the show features the Puerto Rican Christmas style known as “Aguinaldo,” which reflects the spirit and cultural essence of the Caribbean.

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What's On

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San Diego International Auto Show

Dec 28, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025
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Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Nov 6 - Dec 31, 2024
Discover

BOARDED! Staged aboard a 16th-century ship!

Dec 28, 2024
Discover

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Dec 14, 2024
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