Note: Confirmed for Sunday, November 1, 2026 (the Center’s 30th annual edition); exact hours for this year’s festival hadn’t been posted on artcenter.org as of our last check, so times below are carried over from prior years — confirm before visiting.
The Annual Día de Muertos Festival returns to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE) campus for its 30th year, bringing together traditional and contemporary expressions of the holiday for a free, family-friendly celebration.
Community altars fill a dedicated space where guests can honor and remember loved ones, alongside artist activations from local and regional artists throughout the CCAE campus. A Catrina Contest invites attendees to showcase their best Catrina or Catrín attire, and family-friendly arts and crafts activities run throughout the day. Live music, dance, and cultural performances — from Ballet Folklórico to live musicians — bring the campus to life, and food from local vendors is available for purchase alongside beverages and refreshments.
The Museum at CCAE offers free admission during the festival, with exhibitions featuring artists and perspectives from the region and beyond, and the CCAE Conference Center joins the campus-wide celebration with its own special activities.
The Center is located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025.
For additional information visit artcenter.org/dia-de-los-muertos
