The Best Día de Muertos Celebrations in the United States

Don't get it confused with Halloween – the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is an opportunity for families across Mexico, and people of Mexican heritage around the world, to celebrate the lives of departed loved ones with costumed parades, cemetery visits, food and music.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the US is one of the best places in the world to join in the festivities. During this colorful, multi-day holiday, families create ofrendas (altars) in their homes, with photos of the deceased, plates of their favorite foods and other treasured objects to guide their souls home on the night when the boundaries between the spirit world and the living world are said to dissolve.

Many cities across the US host colorful, costumed parades, with many participants dressed as the elegant skeleton known as La Catrina. Families of Mexican heritage come together and head to cemeteries to clean up family grave sites and leave offerings for lost friends and relatives.

According to tradition, the gates dividing the living and the dead open at midnight on October 31, allowing the spirits of children to cross the divide to rejoin their families for 24 hours. On November 1 and 2, families honor the rest of their dearly departed.

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If you can't make it to the famous celebrations in Mexico City or Oaxaca, you may be able to find a Día de Muertos parade or block party much closer to home. Here is our pick of the largest, most authentic Día de Muertos celebrations in the US.

1. Los Angeles

Best for sheer spectacle

As you might expect for a city where almost half the population is of Latino heritage, Los Angeles hosts some of the country's biggest Día de Muertos events, with a focus on the districts that the city's proud Mexican community call home.

In downtown Los Angeles, shopkeepers on Olvera Street celebrate Día de Muertos with community altars, face painting and costumed performances. Events run from October 25 to November 2, and the activities vary from day to day. Expect a vibrant taste of Día de Muertos as it is celebrated across the border, just 140 miles south.

On the last Saturday before November 2, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa Monica Blvd hosts one of the largest Día de Muertos celebrations in the US. Hollywood Forever is famous as the final resting place of countless Hollywood stars, from Rudolph Valentino to Judy Garland, and the celebration here features Aztec dancers, live music, art exhibitions and more than 100 altars.

Planning tip: If you want to dress up, follow the lead of Latino participants when it comes to attire. Dressing as a skeleton or La Catrina is fine; coming as a character from a slasher horror movie is not.

2. Chicago

Best artistic celebration

The National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsen area of Chicago is one of the top Latino museums in the country, so it's little wonder that it also hosts one of the largest Día de Muertos celebrations. Known as Día de los Muertos Xicágo, this lively annual event takes place in the museum and surrounding outdoor areas, including Harrison Park. Come for folklore, performances, live music and illuminations.

On November 8, the museum also hosts its annual Día de Muertos Love Never Dies Ball. At this event, there's live music, a silent auction and food from some of Chicago's best restaurants. Tickets cost from $100 to $150 and sell out fast; proceeds support the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Planning tip: Another good place to immerse yourself in Latino culture in Chicago is the Little Village district, where shops are full of Mexican essentials, and street art and enticing food smells set the scene.

3. San Antonio, Texas

Best celebration for community spirit

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Another city with a strong Mexican influence is San Antonio in Texas, a state that was part of Mexico from 1821 to 1836. Nearly a million residents of the Alamo City are of Hispanic heritage, and the Mexican food here is blisteringly authentic – head to Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia, open since 1941, for a taste.

During Día de Muertos, the city hosts the annual Muertos Fest, usually taking place downtown from October 23 to 25. This grand celebration features altars, live music, cultural workshops, and dance performances. With dozens of Mexican art and food vendors, it's a giant celebration that gets the whole community involved.

Planning tip: Learn more about San Antonio's Mexican heritage at the Guadalupe Cultural Art Center in the city's West Side neighborhood, and admire the colorful murals dotted all over this strongly Latino district.

4. San Francisco

Best celebration for visitors with an artistic leaning

To celebrate Día de Muertos in San Francisco, head to the Mission District, a key hub for the city's Mexican population. The free annual Festival of Altars event, hosted by the Marigold Project, takes place on November 2 in Potrero Del Sol Park. There's a big procession, and attendees bring candles, flowers and photos to leave at the communal altar. Participants are invited to create their own altars, but contact the organizers in advance if you plan on doing so.

Other noteworthy Día de Muertos events include a vibrant evening street procession starting near the corner of 22nd and Bryant Sts on November 2, special exhibitions at the SOMArts cultural center, and a themed concert by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Planning tip: Previously, Día de Muertos events were also run by the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts – check locally to see if the organization has overcome its financial difficulties.

5. San Diego

Best celebration to make you feel close to Mexico

Literally yards from Mexico across the border, San Diego hosts numerous Día de Muertos events in October and November, including Sherman Heights Community Center Día de Los Muertos. This celebration began over 30 years ago when local resident Sr Domingo Sandoval approached the center to create an altar for his loved ones. It has since grown to include community altars, craft workshops, food tastings and a fun-filled procession.

An even larger celebration is held in Old Town San Diego. The festivities are centered on the town’s mercado (marketplace), where folks can tour more than 40 altars, take part in costume contests, walk in a candlelight procession, enjoy giant skeleton puppets, and of course, eat, drink, dance and honor the departed. Drop into the visitor center for a map of the altars around Old Town; events are usually held on November 1 and 2.

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Planning tip: If you feel inclined to sample Día de Muertos celebrations in Mexico, you could cross the border to Tijuana. Sticking to safe areas such as the Zona Rio, you can see vivid celebrations at locations such as the Mercado Hidalgo.

6. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Best celebration for flower enthusiasts

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is another vibrant hub for Mexican culture, and the Muertos y Marigolds Parade in the area's South Valley is a celebration of life, memories, tradition and the orange and yellow cempasúchil (marigold) flowers that play a key role in Mexico's Día de los Muertos celebrations.

One of the most distinctive features of the Muertos y Marigolds celebration is the Marigold Mile, the local nickname for the thousands of marigolds that decorate historic structures throughout the Old Town district. You can see the marigolds throughout the celebrations, from October 24 to November 2.

Planning tip: Visiting will also provide a chance to sample Indigenous New Mexican cooking at Indian Pueblo Kitchen – drawing on the area's famous chilis and blue corn.

7. New York City

Best East Coast celebration

Mexico may lie far to the south, but New York City doesn't shirk on Día de Muertos celebrations. Mano a Mano, a local nonprofit celebrating Mexican culture, hosts large, multi-day events all around Manhattan. Venues include the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, St Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, Flatiron North Plaza and the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. Check out the full calendar on the Mano a Mano website.

More celebrations are held at locations such as Staten Island and Governors Island, as well as at parks and cemeteries around the city. Be sure to check what is on at El Museo del Barrio – the city's most important center for Latino culture, which usually hosts special Día de Muertos events and workshops.

Planning tip: You can experience more Mexican culture in New York City in Latino neighborhoods such as East Harlem, Corona in Queens and Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

8. Austin, Texas

Best celebration for foodies

A third of Austin residents are of Hispanic heritage, and Mexican food looms large on the city's menus. Sample the tacos from food trucks such as Cuantos Tacos, and you'll see what we mean! The city's Mexic-Arte Museum is another great reason to visit, particularly during Día de Muertos, when it stages the energetic Viva La Vida Festival.

Usually taking place on October 24 or 25 (check the calendar), this animated celebration features a grand procession, an education pavilion with hands-on activities for people of all ages, artists' booths and more. The festivities typically run from noon to 6pm, with plenty of opportunities to be creative and sample the city's excellent Mexican food.

Planning tip: For award-winning Mexican cooking, try Suerte in East Austin, or sample the tacos at Nixta Taqueria – rated as some of the best in the US.