Old Town San Diego’s Día de los Muertos celebration returns for its 16th year, with the main festival weekend on Saturday, October 31 (11am-9pm) and Sunday, November 1, 2026 (11am-6pm) at Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The Catrina Contest, inviting guests to show off Catrina-inspired attire, makeup, and costumes, takes place Sunday, November 1.
The celebration is part of a month-long transformation of Fiesta de Reyes: starting in September, the courtyard fills with colorfully decorated skulls, skeletons, catrinas, and larger-than-life vignettes, along with curated displays explaining the traditions and legends behind Día de los Muertos — and thousands of marigolds. This year’s decor experience runs September 1 through November 2.
Festival weekend brings live music, local bands, street performances, face painting, Day of the Dead merchandise, fine art, traditional ofrendas, and hands-on crafts for kids, with more than 100,000 participants over the two days. The Cosmopolitan Hotel again hosts Gallery in the Garden, featuring the work of local artist Robert Barros, whose art has been part of the Old Town celebration since it began in 2010, with the Cosmo Garden Restaurant open for food unique to the event.
Fiesta de Reyes is in the north corner of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, with free parking throughout Old Town and additional overflow parking across Taylor Street after 5pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
For additional information visit dayofthedeadsd.com
