Dia de Los Muertos San Diego Celebrations
My kids attend a Spanish immersion school where they receive instruction in Spanish every day and learn about the Mexican culture. Because of this, they have always had a big appreciation for Dia de los Muertos and the traditions that come with this holiday. We’re lucky to live in such a diverse city, and whether you live in San Diego or are just visiting, you can find amazing, family-friendly Dia de Los Muertos San Diego celebrations to enjoy throughout the county.
Fiesta de Reyes, Old Town, Oct. 1 – Nov. 2
Old Town is one of my favorite San Diego destinations, especially this time of year. The Dia de Los Muertos celebration in Old Town is second to none. From Oct. 1 through Nov. 2, you can visit the Dia de Los Muertos La Experiencia at Fiesta de Reyes and enjoy the amazing decor (skulls and skeletons everywhere!), beautiful altars, live performances, face painting, and specials on food and drinks. This is a free event that the whole family will love.
If you plan to visit Dia de Los Muertos San Diego events in Old Town, be sure to plan a meal at Casa de Reyes Mexican Restaurant, where you can enjoy delicious Mexican food and margaritas right in the heart of the celebration. When we visited, we were seated outside and could enjoy the decorations and live entertainment from our table. Not to mention the beautiful San Diego sunshine.
You can also check out some of the other amazing Old Town restaurants–there’s something for everybody.
Dia de Los Muertos San Diego, Old Town, Oct. 13-28 & Nov. 3
In addition to the month-long celebration at Fiesta de Reyes, there are even more events in Old Town scheduled from Oct. 13-28 to celebrate the holiday.
From Oct. 13- Nov. 2, you can schedule a free guided Dia de Los Muertos Historic Altar Tour. This tour will take you on a 45-minute guided tour through Old Town and will feature multiple altars.
On the weekend of Oct. 28 and 29, you can shop the arts and crafts at the Weekend Mercado, set up along San Diego Avenue and Harney Street. At this mercado, you’ll find many Dia de Los Muertos crafts and artwork, and this event will include activities for the entire family.
Hours: Sat. from 10am-5:30pm & Sun from 10am-4:30pm.
On Sat., Oct. 28 at 7pm, you can enjoy a free viewing of Disney Pixar’s “Coco” under the stars in the Plaza de Armas in Old Town.
Finally, at 6:00pm on Thursday, Nov. 2, you can experience the candlelit procession that starts at Immaculate Conception Church and travels down San Diego Ave. to El Campo Santo Cemetery. The procession will consist of blessings and traditional dances by Danza Azteca Atlachinolli.
Dia de Los Muertos San Diego Sea World, Nov. 3-5
The Halloween events at Sea World get a lot of attention, but not nearly as many people know that Sea World also puts on a Dia de los Muertos celebration. From Nov. 3-5, you’ll find large, beautifully decorated Catrina statues welcoming guests as they enjoy the flavors, sounds and decor from this Mexican tradition.
Of course kids can still enjoy the animals and rides at Sea World as well.
Old Globe, Balboa Park, Oct. 29
The Old Globe is excited to announce the return of their Day of the Dead celebration on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. From 11:00am to 1:30pm, visitors can enjoy a lineup of cultural offerings inspired by the Dia de Los Muertos holiday. This is free for anyone who would like to attend.
After dessert, stop on by one of these awesome San Diego dessert places.
If you’re planning a trip to visit San Diego, check out these kid-friendly restaurants the whole family will love. And take a look at my favorite San Diego hotels with waterslides.
Looking for more fall-season fun? Check out these top things to do in Salem, Ma in October.
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Jaime
Thanks for reading my post. My name is Jaime and I am a mom to three busy children. When we're not at the soccer and football fields, we try to get away as often as possible. I'm a teacher and my husband is a firefighter, so we mostly get away for long weekends or over the school breaks. I hope to inspire busy families to take time to recoup and relax while making memories on camping trips or cruise ships, or at the fancy resort pool--we love it all! Follow me on Instagram for real-time inspiration.
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