If you’re looking for tips for spending Day of the Dead in San Antonio, here’s what you need to know. I was so excited to be included in the celebrations for Día de los Muertos by Visit San Antonio and had the best time.

Whether you pop down from Austin for the day or spend the entire weekend in San Antonio from farther afield, here are some of the best things to do in Alamo City during the Day of the Dead:

Tips for Spending Day of the Dead in San Antonio, Texas

In town for the festival? Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Day of the Dead?

The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a vibrant Mexican tradition that honors loved ones who have passed away. Unlike Halloween, it isn’t meant to be scary — which is a misconception I had before visiting San Antonio for the event. Instead, it’s a joyful celebration of memory, family, and the belief that the spirits of ancestors return for a brief visit during this time of year.

If you’ve seen the movie Coco, you’ve already gotten a feel for the heart of the holiday: colorful altars, glowing marigolds, music, and the idea that remembering someone keeps their spirit alive. I listened to the soundtrack a lot over the weekend to get into the mood. As well as Johnny Cash, because now that I’ve learned that the famous intro to “Ring of Fire” is actually inspired by Mariachi!

But overall, I love the overall sentiment and think it’s very helpful if you are bereaved: When someone you love goes, they aren’t actually gone until the last person that remembers them goes, too. So in your grief, really, it’s just your love enduring.

The History of Dia de los Muertos in San Antonio

In San Antonio, the festival holds significance due to the city’s rich Mexican and Indigenous heritage.

Families and communities create ofrendas — beautifully decorated altars filled with photos, candles, flowers, and favorite foods of the departed. These offerings are meant to welcome spirits back, reminding them that they’re still loved and celebrated.

You’ll also see traditional elements like sugar skulls, papel picado (colorful cut-paper banners), and copal incense drifting through the air. In fact, these colorful altars have been part of Mexican and Mesoamerican culture since the Spanish arrived and converted Mexico’s Indigenous tribes to Catholicism.

It’s such an interesting blend of cultures, and one that none of the participants or vendors seem to shy away from. In fact, this interesting look at Indigenous heritage and colonialism is something you can face head-on during the San Antonio UNESCO World Heritage Missions Tour.

I liked that a lot. You can ask hard questions to any of the guides and they’ll give you an honest, informed answer. Everyone really knows what they’re talking about and I feel like I learned a lot.

For visitors, spending Day of the Dead in San Antonio feels both festive and reflective. It’s a chance to experience a cultural tradition up close: live music, parades, art markets, and community gatherings. Even if you’re new to the holiday, you’ll find it’s a warm, inclusive celebration that invites everyone to honor life, memory, and connection.

Key things to be across when spending Day of the Dead in San Antonio: 

Ofrendas

An ofrenda is an altar decorated with offerings to honor deceased loved ones during the Day of the Dead celebration. You’ll find photos of the deceased, their favorite foods and drinks, candles to light their way, marigolds to attract spirits with their aroma, and salt to purify.

Marigolds

Marigolds guide spirits to ofrendas with their vibrant color and strong smell. They are used to decorate altars and gravesites.

Calaveras

Skull and skeleton representations used in the celebration of Day of the Dead, like sugar skulls, plus paper mâché and clay figures. They are decorated with bright colors and ornate designs.

Catrinas / Catrins

Catrinas and catrins are elegant skeleton figures dressed in formal clothing, symbolizing that death comes for everyone, rich or poor. Inspired by José Guadalupe Posada’s well-known picture of “La Catrina,” these figures show up everywhere during Day of the Dead celebrations. You’ll see them in parades, face paint, small statues, and decorations. The ones in San Antonio are the largest in the USA!

You can see them at La Vilita Historic Village, 418 Villita St, San Antonio, TX 78205

Incense

Copal incense (made from the resin of the copal tree) is traditionally used during Day of the Dead to cleanse the air and help guide visiting spirits. As it burns, the resin transforms into fragrant smoke that’s believed to lift prayers toward the heavens and clear a welcoming path for loved ones returning to the home or gravesite.

Pan de muerto 

A sweet, soft bread, baked and available during Día de los Muertos. It’s typically covered in sugar, making it extra sweet.

Where to See Day of the Dead Flowers in San Antonio

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is the best place to see Day of the Dead Flowers in San Antonio.

During our tour, the staff expressed that the gardens want marigolds to be “their thing,” and they are well on their way to making this happen.

The bright, vibrant flowers were everywhere, including a new display in the shape of a monarch butterfly— a species whose annual migrations take them right over the city of San Antonio.

The Day of the Dead Flowers in San Antonio display was also sponsored by Whataburger, which gave me a chuckle because that is oh so Texan. It’s also orange, which was very on theme.

There is also so much more to do there, like visiting Frida Kahlo Oasis to view Kahlo’s ofrenda, made with assistance by Frida’s living relatives, and visit seven altars constructed by San Antonio school groups and local artists.

The gardens also host events surrounding the festival, including opportunities to craft paper flowers, create Día de los Muertos-inspired rock art, and explore the Garden on an altar scavenger hunt.

Day of the Dead Texas Celebrations to Enjoy in San Antonio

These are my favorite things from my time in town. Feel free to mix and match to make your own itinerary. 

Calaverita Run 5k & Family Walk

Participants can lace up and dress out for a spirited remembrance 5K run and walk on the San Antonio River Walk. The Calaverita Run 5k and Family Walk takes off at La Gloria at Pearl and is a long loop. So, you can easily grab dinner at La Gloria after, or anywhere else in the Pearl Precinct. I ate at Burgers by the Butcher in Pullman Market, which is about a five-minute walk from the finish line.

2025 was the inaugural run! It was a fun course along the River Walk, but it does get a bit dark down there! The race organizers provided light-up bracelets, which helped a lot, but if you aren’t sure-footed or are walking with kids, I might bring along more sources, like a flashlight or a headlamp.

I would also recommend something like the FreSound Open Ear headphones because you are sharing the path with pedestrians and you need to have your wits about you!

It was also a very sentimental event, which I thought was very on-brand for spending Day of the Dead in San Antonio. Instead of your own name, your race bib leaves space for you to paste a photo of the loved one you are running in remembrance of.

One of the race organizers was walking around before the event, speaking to participants about their bibs and offering them an opportunity to share a memory of their loved one. She really seemed to care when I shared the story of how I lost my best friend, which I thought was very special.

You’re also welcome to write the name of your loved one(s) on the “For Whom Do You Run” wall and add a photo on the community altar as a part of this shared remembrance.

Day of the Dead River Parade

Picture this: floats decked out with colorful altars, stunning catrinas, and riders in full-on costumes, all celebrating life and remembering loved ones in the most beautiful way. I personally loved the Maricachi bands, as well as the drumming from the Indigenous people participating.

Lots of local companies participate, like H-E-B, La Gloria, and even Community Health Choice (which is funny cause that’s my health insurance. I was like … cool, can I chat to y’all about getting some claims approved?).

You can grab tickets for the Day of the Dead River Parade almost a year in advance. The sooner you nab them, the better, as they tend to sell out. There are different price points available, depending on where along the route you’d like to sit.

Buy tickets Day of the Dead River Parade in San Antonio here.

You can also try your luck at standing room only across on one of the many bridges across the San Antonio River Walk, but because thousands of people come downtown for the event, a good view is not guaranteed.

Spa Day at La Cantera Resort

If you’re visiting San Antonio for Day of the Dead, staying at Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort lets you experience the holiday right outside your door. The entire property transforms for the celebration, with art installations, cultural displays, and festive touches woven throughout the grounds — and you can unwind at the spa between events!

For example:

For the celebration in 2025, you could start by wandering through the Plaza San Saba, where the resort showcases its breathtaking Monumental Botanical Fridas. These larger-than-life Frida Kahlo–inspired sculptures, designed by Mexican architect and artist Paul Zarkin, are crafted from fiberglass, resin, and acrylic paint in brilliant colors and bold patterns.

Next, take in the installation by visual artist Margo Bosch elevates the collection even further by transforming each figure into an elegant Catrina. She hand-paints nine custom masks, adorning them with satin ribbons, elaborate floral headdresses, and delicate butterflies.

You can also visit the resort’s honorary ofrenda, curated by Gabriela Gamez and featuring Day of the Dead on My Mind by artist Kathy Sosa. This striking 60-by-40-inch piece portrays a woman in a richly embroidered huipil, a tribute to strength, heritage, and the resilience passed down through generations.

And in a special collaboration with the Mexican Consulate and the Mexican Cultural Institute, the resort welcomes three monumental alebrijes. These colorful, fantastical creatures — first imagined by Pedro Linares in the 1930s — are celebrated as spiritual guides and protectors. They appear throughout Day of the Dead festivities as symbols of imagination, magic, and the cultural heart of Mexico.

Each year, Signia outdoes itself — making it an ideal place to stay!

Muertos Fest

This is one of San Antonio’s most beloved Día de los Muertos celebrations – and it’s free to attend! There are more than 80 altars, 5 stages, and 2 processions. You can shop, eat, weep — everything, really.

Because I am bereaved, it was beautiful to see the ofrendas put together by the families for the loved ones they are remembering. But, it was still hard. The Day of the Dead in San Antonio is beautiful, but it can also be very powerful for those struggling with loss. Grief can be so isolating. It tricks you, telling you that you are the only one who has ever been this sad. This lost.

Yet, seeing thousands of people around me, all feeling the same way, all sad about losing a loved one, but still carrying that person with them every day, was healing. There was such a sense of community. If you feel alone, overwhelmed by your loss, or are really struggling, I would encourage you not to avoid spending the Day of the Dead in San Antonio for fear of triggering yourself.

Instead, consider going to be a big part of your healing process. Somewhere you can talk about your loved one and honor them. And be around thousands of people who want to listen — and are feeling the same way as you.

Shopping at Market Square + Day of the Dead Procession

Market Square is one of the largest Mexican markets outside of Mexico City. You can browse dozens of shops with beautiful, authentic goods, all hecho en Mexico, before having lunch nearby.

Be sure to time your visit to enjoy the lively celebration features live performances, face painting, and traditional altars. Be sure to catch the Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession that starts at 1:00pm, where dancers bring stories to life through costume and movement. If you’re eating on the La Margarita patio, it comes right past you!

Day of the Dead in San Antonio Dining

While you can walk into any restaurant in San Antonio and have the meal of your life, these are a few of the best places to eat during the Day of the Dead festival:

A small aside, San Antonio was designated as a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2017, becoming only the 2nd city in the United States to receive this designation.

It’s kind of a big deal.

📍La Panaderia (Multiple locations throughout San Antonio) 

If you want to grab some pan de muertro, this is a good place to stop in! Founded by brothers José and David Cáceres, La Panadería celebrates the art of Mexican breadmaking.  Known for its handmade conchas, croissants, and tortas, this bakery-café combines tradition with modern flavor.

📍Casa Catrina (La Villita Historic Arts Village)

515 Villita St., San Antonio, TX 78205

It’s Day of the Dead all year round at Casa Catrina.  The murals (even in the bathroom!) are gorgeous, as are the River Walk views. If you have tickets to the Day of the Dead river parade, this is a great place to start your evening.

📍La Margarita +Mi Tierra (Historic Market Square)

120 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207

Located in the heart of Historic Market Square, La Margarita has been a San Antonio staple for decades—and for good reason. The place is buzzing with color, music, and the smell of sizzling fajitas drifting through the courtyard. Their margaritas are basically local legends. With an open-air patio and live mariachi adding to the energy, it’s one of those spots that is authentic without even trying.

And the fun doesn’t stop there—it’s family-owned and has been for generations. After you eat, you can wander right next door to Mi Tierra (yes, same family!), where it’s Christmas all year long.

📍Pullman Market (Pearl District of the RiverWalk)

221 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215

Pullman Market is a big culinary destination in San Antonio’s Pearl District. It’s part grocery store, part food hall, and part full-service restaurant. The store has gorgeous ofrendas on display, as well as the opportunity to purchase foods specific to the holiday.

San Antonio Attractions: Things to do in San Antonio, Texas

There are so many things to do in San Antonio outside the Day of the Dead festival! It’s the Alamo city after all and there is lots of Texas history all around. Click through that link, or check out an activity below.

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