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Autumn is here and in San Diego that means Dia de Los Muertos celebrations. Neighborhoods in the city come alive with music, dancing, sugar skulls, colorful altars and painted faces. Visitors are invited to join in the celebrations of the dearly departed.
Dia de Los Muertos is a festival for the senses with the traditional flavors of Mexican cuisine, live music, street performances, face painting, traditional ofrendas (altars), stalls of colorful Dia de Los Muertos merchandise, fine art and arts and crafts for children.
Old Town’s Fiesta de Reyes is the site of the Dia de Los Muertos celebration. You’ll see colorful sugar skulls and skeletons, many of them will be huge. And there will be marigolds. And more marigolds. And even more marigolds.
You’ll see traditional folkloric dancing and hear lively music from mariachi bands. This is a free, family friendly immersive experience, happening on November 1 and 2, 2025.
This celebration is to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members and to honor their memories. There will be a Mercado de arte and Procession to the Cemetery.
Other Day of the Dead Celebrations in San Diego include
- Sherman Heights Dia de Los Muertos celebration will be from October 9 through November 2. This will include official altar blessings, live performances, Mexican food and more.
- Oceanside Dia de los Muertos Festival on October 26 is in downtown Oceanside. It will have altars, arts and crafts, por siempre car show, a chalk ceremony and more.
- Barrio Logan Dia de los Muertos on October 27, 2025. There will be interesting altar displays, Dia inspired art, live performances and ethnic food.
- Chula Vista Third Avenue Village’s Dia de Los Muertos will be held on Saturday, November1. See the ofrendas, tastes and music.
- Encinitas Dia de Los Muertos is an annual family friendly with festival continuous performances by local Latin talent. There will be art making workshops, artist demonstrations, student exhibitions and live musical bands. Food trucks and vendors will be there and there will also be giveaways.
- SeaWorld has a celebration of life, love and remembrance on November 1 and 2. Indulge in authentic treats like Tostilocos, Pan de Muerto, Esquites, Micheladas and Margaritas. To attend this celebration, you’d need tickets for SeaWorld on those dates. You can purchase the tickets here with a 60% discount.
Mexican Cooking
If you enjoyed the food from the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations and want to learn more about Mexican cooking, these cookbooks should be helpful. Use the links to see how you can save money on each book.
- Mexican Family Favorites Cook Book by Maria Teresa Bermudez
- Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless
- 365 Easy Mexican Recipes by Marge Poore
Visiting San Diego
If you’d like to visit San Diego for the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations, you should consider one of these hotels. They are offering discounted rates that can save you money on your stay.
If you’re going to be flying to San Diego, save money on your flight by clicking here and using the promo code “HW40”.
Sources
- Lonely Planet
- Day of the Dead Holiday
- sandiego.org
- Day of the Dead