Día de los Muertos in Old Town San Diego 2024

Every year, I eagerly await the Día de los Muertos celebrations in Old Town San Diego, especially the procession to the El Campo Santo Cemetery. It's an event I absolutely love and never miss!

This huge parade begins on Nov. 2, 2024, after sunset at the Immaculate Church on San Diego Ave. in Old Town San Diego, and continues all the way to the El Santos Campo Cemetery. You can take part in this candlelight procession with your family, or simply watch from the sidelines and admire the intricate costumes of revelers.

The parade is accompanied by a traditional Mariachi band playing live music and culminates at a public altar in the El Campo Santo Cemetery. It’s one of the biggest events of Old Town’s Día de los Muertos festivities and a standout attraction in our Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego, so you won’t want to miss it!

Why I Think This is Special

Watching the procession is enjoyable, but walking as part of it is even better and a surefire way to make a timeless memory.

My family and I join the walk to El Campo Santo Cemetery every year, so this is a sentimental celebration for me and one I would highly recommend.

The Fiesta de Reyes Main Stage is an arena for live performances located in Old Town San Diego. The venue hosts live musical entertainment on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Throughout the year, these performances are some of the Best Things to Do in Old Town San Diego for visitors and locals alike.

As Día de los Muertos draws near, the venue hosts themed music performed by top-notch Mexican bands. These shows are free to attend, so you can pop by and listen to the music at your leisure.

Past years have included performances by Mariachi bands, dancers, and local singers. The dedicated entertainment schedule for the Día de los Muertos celebration in 2024 takes place on Saturday 10/28, Sunday 10/29, Wednesday 11/1 and Thursday 11/2.

The 2024 performance times for those days is as follows -

• Folklorico Dancers 12pm - 3pm
• Rios Mariachi Fusion 3:30pm - 5:30pm
• Luis Max & Blue Moon 6pm - 9pm

There will also be themed performances leading up to the holiday, starting on October 1st, 2024.

• Thursdays: Los Rios 5pm - 7:45pm
• Fridays: Los Rios 5pm - 8:45pm
• Saturdays: Los Rios 12:30pm - 4:15pm; Luis Max 5:30pm - 9:30pm
• Sundays: Los Rios 12:30pm - 4:15pm; Luis Max 5:30pm - 8:30pm

If you’re in the mood for some authentic Mexican food, be sure to dine at the nearby Casa De Reyes Mexican restaurant. You can see and hear the stage performances from your seat. Dig into traditional ceviche, tacos, guacamole, and fajitas as you enjoy the live music.

Around Fiesta de Reyes, you’ll also find shops selling a variety of goods, many of which are handmade and totally unique local items you won’t find anywhere else in San Diego. A good number of these businesses are themed for Día de los Muertos. Goods sold around the pavilion include kids toys and books, clothing, novelty items, wines, and artisan chocolates.

Like many of the activities featured in the Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego, the performances at the Fiesta de Reyes stage are fun for kids and adults alike.

Why I Think This is Special

Fiesta de Reyes is a fun spot to walk around any weekend during the year to see the performances and eat delicious food, but they really go all out during Día de los Muertos which makes it feel extra special.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday all about honoring the spirits of ancestors.

Mexicans often create lavishly decorated altars, known as ofrendas, that are dedicated to their loved ones, who are believed to come back to walk among them on the Day of the Dead. Ofrendas usually feature pictures of loved ones along with Aztec marigolds known as cempazúchitl, as well as food and drinks the person enjoyed.

During Old Town’s Día de los Muertos celebrations, many local businesses put out their own ofrendas which you can visit. Dozens of stores, museums, and historic sites practice this tradition each year, so you’re guaranteed to see many of these decorated ofrendas as you traverse the streets.

During past celebrations, ofrendas lined Taylor Street, Twiggs Street, Harney Street, and San Diego Avenue, plus the El Santos Campo Cemetery. They transformed the area beautifully, especially knowing the meaning of these altars.

Though this is an unofficial part of the town’s holiday festivities, it’s fun to walk around and discover the Ofrenda locations for yourself! Many are near historic points of interest such as Whaley House, the Immaculate Conception Church, State Historic Park, and the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.

Other notable locations include Fiesta de Reyes, Casa Guadalajara, the Cygnet Theater, and the Old Town Saloon.

Why I Think This is Special

Finding ofrendas has no set schedule, which is great if you’re more laid back and looking to explore Old Town San Diego at your own pace.

It’s a fun, family activity to see if you can locate them as you do some shopping and dine at authentic Mexican restaurants.

During Día de los Muertos celebrations, Catrinas face paint is a tradition nearly as old as the holiday itself!

Every year, my family and I get our faces painted as Catrinas to join in this beautiful tradition. We see it as a way to pay homage to the holiday’s roots by turning our faces into decorative skulls and celebrating the holiday in the authentic Mexican way.

The face paint derives from the character of La Catrina. In Mexican folklore, she is depicted as a skeleton wearing a feathered hat. The original satiric drawing by political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada has been embraced and turned into a beloved icon by renowned artists like Diego Rivera.

Today, statues and paintings of La Catrina can be found in many Mexican owned businesses throughout San Diego, especially near the end of October. Getting your face painted is a great opportunity to learn about Mexican culture and Día de los Muertos celebrations.

You can find face paint artists in front of Cafe Coyote in Old Town leading up to the holiday and also on Día de los Muertos itself, Nov. 2. The cost starts at $25 per person for a full face Catrina.

Previously mentioned Fiesta de Reyes also has face painters on the weekends leading up to the holiday (Oct.13-15,20-22,27) in the afternoon and evenings as well as all day from October 28th until November 2nd.

Why I Think This is Special

My family and I never skip this tradition when Día de los Muertos rolls around. It’s great for getting that perfect family photo, but it’s also an amazing way to feel more connected to the holiday and to take part in a tradition connected to Old Town’s history and culture.

Check out our pictures! I can say that getting our face’s painted is also just good old fashion fun!

San Diego’s Old Town Market is among the Best Farmers Markets in San Diego and a must-see stop for lovers of fresh food and handmade goods.

During the lead up to Día de los Muertos, the space is transformed into an Art Market known as the Mercado de Arte. Walking through the market and shopping at the dozens of vendors here is a great way to celebrate the holiday while also picking up some souvenirs.

Vendors of all kinds set up shop, many of which sell goods tailored to Día de los Muertos. In between traditional taco trucks, try holiday favorites like decorated sugar skulls, pan de muerto, oaxaca hot chocolate, and chicken served with mole negro sauce. Purchase bouquets of Aztec marigolds and locally made tequila to decorate your own Ofrenda, or shop for handcrafted decorative items that let you commemorate your trip and take home some of that Day of the Dead spirit.

In past years, the Mercado de Arte was held a few days before Día de los Muertos, but for 2024 it will be open on the weekend of the Day of the Dead - November 2nd and November 3rd. Consider picking up some decorations, dresses, sugar skulls, and other local items for celebrating!

Why I Think This is Special

There are many places to shop in Old Town San Diego, but the Mercado de Arte is among the most unique. The vendors sell everything you need to throw a Day of the Dead party of your own or to bring a little memento of the holiday back with you.

Though Old Town San Diego has the biggest Día de los Muertos celebrations of anywhere in San Diego, it’s not the only neighborhood where you can find Catrinas and Ofrendas as November 2nd draws near. In fact, there are lots of other places commemorating Día de los Muertos, including in the Gaslamp Quarter!

It’s common for people to attend in costume, either with a simple marigold headband or a full-fledged outfit inspired by the Catrinas. Past years have seen over 100,000 attendees all enjoying the party by getting their faces painted, admiring fine art, shopping, and paying respects at the Ofrendas.

Live entertainment is provided by bands and other performers who don’t just capture the attention of the crowds but also share the important cultural connections of this holiday in Mexican culture. The 2024 lineup includes appearances by Santana Pa Ti, Grupo Folklorico Herencia, Bobby Detroit, and Omar Moreno.

The Gaslamp Quarter event spans two days. In 2024, it will run from 10:30am - 8:00pm on Nov 2nd and 10:30am - 7:00pm on Nov 3rd.

Why I Think This is Special

The Gaslamp Quarter is filled with historic landmarks and restored buildings dating back to the mid-1850s, making for a backdrop like no other when the bright colors and festivities of Día de los Muertos transform its streets.