Hundreds of El Paso families are preparing for Día de los Muertos, a tradition centered on remembering and celebrating the lives of loved ones who have died.
Día de los Muertos is celebrated from Friday, Nov. 1, through Saturday, Nov. 2. The first day of November is Día de los Inocentes, or Day of the Innocent, which honors children who have passed. Nov. 2 is dedicated to remembering adults who have passed.
One of the city's biggest events will be the annual Día de los Muertos Desfile and Festival on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in Downtown El Paso sponsors the event.
“Whether you attend every year or are experiencing the festival for the first time, we invite you to discover something new and meaningful,” said
Mexican American Cultural Center Director Rebecca Muñoz in a release. “It’s wonderful to see our community and visitors come together to honor loved ones, celebrate our culture and experience this deeply meaningful tradition.”
Here is what to know about Día de los Muertos this year.
Día de los Muertos festival and parade
The annual Día de los Muertos Desfile and Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 24. The Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in Downtown El Paso sponsors the event. The festivities include cultural activities, live performances, food trucks and more. The event is from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Downtown Arts District.
The parade begins at 4 p.m. and travels from City Hall to Santa Fe Street.
Highlights include:
- Live entertainment: Performances on the Perches Main Stage at San Jacinto Plaza
- Artisan mercaditos: Local vendors, handmade goods and original art at San Jacinto Plaza and Cleveland Square Park
- Food trucks: Serving up local flavors along Main Street near San Jacinto Plaza and behind the El Paso Museum of Art
- Movie screenings: "Macario" at noon in the MACC auditorium and "The Book of Life" at 6 p.m. at Cleveland Square Park, alongside DJ entertainment.
- Traditional ofrendas: Community- and artist-created altars at the MACC, along with cultural décor throughout the festival.
Destination El Paso continues Día de los Muertos weekend celebrations
Destination El Paso continues with two more weekends of Día de los Muertos events Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Downtown Visitor Center along the pedestrian pathway.
Free Día de los Muertos programming, with live music and entertainment, food, local vendors, and Día de los Muertos-inspired activities, will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. This weekend, the theme is Stars Remembered.
The final weekend, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 and 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. The theme will be Always with Us.
Evergreen Cemetery East to have Día de los Muertos celebration
Evergreen Cemetery East, 12400 Montana Ave., will host its annual Día de los Muertos celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, continuing a community tradition that began in 2017 and welcomes approximately 2,000 to 3,000 attendees each year.
The celebration will feature live music, Danza Guadalupana, folklórico, lotería, face painting, raffles, a vendor market and food trucks. An open-air Mass with Father Mark Salas and Mariachi Alba de Mexico will begin at 7 p.m.
La Fe to celebrate Día de los Muertos
La Fe's 2026 Día de los Muertos celebration begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, at the La Fe Culture and Technology Center, 721 S. Ochoa (Rear Building). The evening will include a live ballet folklorico, music, and cultural arts. Admission and parking are free.
Performers include the Canek Pre-Hispanic Dance Group and the Ballet Folklorico Paso Del Norte! Traditional Día de los Muertos foods, refreshments, and snacks will be available for sale. All proceeds benefit the La Fe Culture and Technology Center's education, cultural arts, and community programming.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso honors traditions with Día de los Muertos festival, parade
