Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a holiday focused on gathering friends and family members to remember loved ones who have died. In Austin, this has grown into a city-wide, party, procession and vigil, celebrating the city’s multi-ethnic heritage. There are several Día de los Muertos events happening in the Austin area over the next several weeks. Here’s a schedule of family friendly events to check out.
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Día de los Muertos Celebrations @ Austin Public Library
Enjoy an all-ages celebration of books and stories, arts and crafts, music and sugar skulls to honor the dead! Free at the following locations:
- Friday, October 23, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Terrazas Branch
- Monday, October 26, 6 – 7:30 p.m., University Hills Branch
- Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Southeast Branch
- Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Cepeda Branch
- Thursday, October 29, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Manchaca Road Branch
- Saturday, October 31, 2 – 3:30 p.m., Willie Mae Kirk Branch
- Monday, November 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Windsor Park Branch
- Tuesday, November 3, 10:15 – 11:15 a.m., Carver Branch
Sunday, October 18 & Sunday, October 25, 1-4 p.m.
Learn how to make sugar skull piñatas during a workshop held inside the museum. Free and open to the public. Materials will be provided.
— 2015 Día de los Muertos Festival @ Fiesta Gardens
Saturday, Oct. 17, noon – 10 p.m.
The festival, benefitting Easter Seals of Central Texas, will feature renowned recording artists in the Latin and Texas music industries, including headliner and Grammy Award winner Emilio Navaira. The festival will offer food and beverages, cultural performances, altar contest as well as Kids Zone activities for kids. Children ages 12 & under get in free with paid adults. Tickets are $15, which you can purchase online here.
— Just a Minute! A Dia de los Muertos Play @ Scottish Rite Theatre
Sunday, October 18 – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 25 – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 – 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Families can enjoy this stage version of Yuyi Morales’s award-winning books Just a Minute and Just in Case. You can catch a show of at 12:30 p.m. today. Tickets are $7 for children 12 & under and $13 for ages 13 and up. You can order your tickets online here or get them at the box office before the show.
— Día de los Muertos @ Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
Saturday, October 24, 2-7 p.m.
The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center will have a variety of activities associated the annual Día de los Muertos event including: sugar skull making, altar building and a car show! Click here for more information and registration forms to participate in the altar building and car show. The event is free, open to the public and great for families!
— Viva la Vida Festival 2015 @ Mexic-Arte Museum
Saturday, Oct. 31, 12 – 8 p.m.
This year, Austin’s largest and longest-running Day of the Dead event features a grand procession, a Day of the Dead mercado, live music, a Sugar Skull float by local piñata artisans Monica and Sergio Lejarazu from Jumpolin Piñatas, an exhibition with community altars highlighting the states of Mexico inside the Museum, and educational programs. Attendees can also taste traditional foods from Austin’s best food trucks, hands-on art activities, and artist demos. The grand procession begins at 6th Street between Chicon and Comal and travels an entire mile west on 6th Street to the festival location. People of all ages can take part in the parade. To participate, register here.
— Día de los Muertos Celebration @ Central Market North Lamar
Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m.
Central Market presents their 8th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration, partnering with Acadêmicos da Ópera (Austin Samba School) and Las Monas de San Antonio for a family-friendly parade and dance celebration. The program will also include a DJ for dancing. Central Market’s Día de los Muertos celebration is FREE and open to the public.
— Planet K Fireworks @ Krieg Field
Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 9:30 p.m.
Thousands of spectators will gather with Planet K to rejoice and celebrate the lives of loved ones passed. There will be a grand display of life affirming fireworks, celebrating Dia De Los Muertos.
— Round Rock Día de los Muertos @ Prete Main Street Plaza
Saturday, Nov. 7, 4-9 p.m.
Williamson County Hispanic Heritage Committee, Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, City of Round Rock, Round Rock Arts and Univision will be sponsoring a Día de los Muertos procession and festival in downtown Round Rock. Free! Click here for more information.
If you’re looking for more Día de los Muertos events, you can check out the website, Austin Days of the Dead.
Have fun!
