Walking along 24th Street, marigolds, sugar skulls and altars are beginning to fill shop windows in San Francisco’s Mission District as businesses prepare for Día de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2.
Rooted in Indigenous and Catholic traditions, the two-day holiday has endured for centuries as a time of remembrance and celebration. Nov. 1 is typically dedicated to children who have passed, while Nov. 2 honors all loved ones who are gone.
For Louie Gutierrez, co-owner of La Reyna Bakery, Día de Muertos holds special meaning. His father died in a car accident on the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1990s, and since then the holiday has become a time to reflect and reconnect. “It’s a way for those who used to live in the Mission, both the living and the dead, to come back home,” he said.
Every year, Latino communities across San Francisco mark Día de Muertos in their own ways: through processions, altar exhibits, art, music and food. For some, it’s a festive time to gather in the streets. For others, it’s a moment to stay connected to their roots and honor those who came before them.
Here are seven ways San Francisco communities are keeping the spirit alive this year.
Saturday, Oct. 4 – Thursday, Nov. 6
Spirits of Our Culture Altar Exhibit
Precita Eyes Muralists is hosting its annual altar exhibit, dedicated this year to muralists who have passed away. Each artist created an altar honoring someone who inspired them. The date also carries special meaning for Precita Eyes: co-founder Luis Cervantes was born on Día de los Muertos, said Patricia Rose, tour coordinator and artist at Precita Eyes.
When: 6-9 PM
Where: 2981 24th St., San Francisco
Admission: Free
Friday, Oct. 10 – Friday, Nov. 7
We Love You: SOMArts’ Dia de los Muertos exhibition
This year’s 26th-annual SOMArts exhibit, We Love You, features personal and political altars that respond to ongoing struggles around immigration, health care, and LGBTQ+ rights. The show centers women, trans, and queer artists, highlighting the resilience of community through creativity.
“This year’s theme is a response to what’s happening in the world through honoring the dead,” said co-curator Rio Yañez, a Mission District native and son of the late artist René Yañez, who co-founded SOMArts’ Día de Muertos tradition. “We opened up the show specifically to self-identified women, trans and gender-nonconforming artists as a way to amplify those voices and give them a platform in direct response to the policies and actions of the Trump administration.”
Co-creator Bridgett Rex added that the exhibit reflects the full spectrum of emotion the season evokes. “This show is so unique in that it’s directly responsive to what is happening in the world,” Rex said. “You can be tearful, and you can be happy at the same time. Keep a couple tissues in your pocket but also be ready to laugh, have fun, and make memories with your community.”
When: 6-9 PM
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St., San Francisco
Admission: Suggested donation $15
Wednesday, Oct. 29
“Coco” in Concert with Live Orchestra
Watch the Academy Award–winning film “Coco” on the big screen with live orchestral accompaniment by the San Francisco Symphony. The family-friendly event will feature art installations, tamales, skull cookies, hot chocolate and more.
When: 7 PM
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tickets: Starting at $62.50 | Kids 50% off
Saturday, Nov. 1
Día de Muertos Market at Yerba Buena Gardens
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Américas (CANA) present a free, family-friendly Día de Muertos market honoring Maestro Eddie Palmieri and his musical legacy. The celebration begins with an Indigenous blessing and procession, followed by a community altar, food vendors and artisan booths, live mural painting and performances from Indigenous dance groups.
When: 4-9 PM
Where: Mission St. between 3rd & 4th Sts., San Francisco
Admission: Free
San Francisco Symphony Día de Muertos Concert
Conducted by Lina González-Granados and curated by Martha Rodríguez-Salazar in collaboration with Casa Círculo Cultural, this year’s concert highlights Latin American composers including Gabriela Ortiz, Arturo Márquez, and Gabriela Lena Frank. The celebration also includes art installations and family-friendly activities such as sugar-skull decorating, tissue-flower making, face painting, and even a Mariachi instrument petting zoo.
When: Event begin 1:30 PM; concert 3 PM (installations on view through Nov. 12)
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tickets: Adults $62.50 and up | 18 and under 50% off
Sunday, Nov. 2
Festival of Altars at Potrero del Sol Park
The Marigold Project’s 33rd annual Festival of Altars invites the entire community to build personal altars, enjoy live performances and take part in cultural ceremonies throughout the day. “What makes this event special is that we not only create a celebration of life, but we also create a sanctuary,” said Deni Slehiman, education director for the Marigold Project. “It feels like an intimate space we craft through love and intention. Rather than doing a big procession in the streets, we allow people to enter this sanctuary and create their own space.”
Slehiman added that the event carries particular meaning for those far from their homelands. “When we grieve, it’s hard to express ourselves,” said Deni Slehiman, education director for the Marigold Project. “Especially as immigrants, far from our culture and our families. But no matter where we are, we can continue the legacy of those who came before us and pass that knowledge to younger generations.” Visitors are encouraged to bring offerings such as photos, flowers or candles.
When: 8 AM-9 PM (installation begins at 8 AM; ceremony at noon; performances 5 PM-9 PM)
Where: 2827 Cesar Chavez St, San Francisco
Mission District Community Procession
Aztec dancers will once again lead hundreds through the Mission District during the 44th annual procession organized by El Colectivo del Rescate Cultural. Louie Gutierrez of La Reyna Bakery and co-director of El Colectivo said the gathering is intentionally grassroots. “It’s organic, you don’t need a lot of money to do this,” he said. “It’s just, ‘See you there on 24th and Bryant.’”
When: 7 PM.
Where: Start at 22nd & Bryant St.; route continues south to 24th St., west to Mission St., then returns to 22nd & Bryant St.
