Día de los Muertos 2025: what’s happening now, key traditions, and how to take part with respect

With Día de los Muertos approaching on November 1–2, communities across the U.S. and Mexico are finalizing altars, parades, and family gatherings honoring loved ones who have passed. In the past 24 hours, city calendars have filled with festival announcements, altar walks, and school and museum programs, while a few organizers have adjusted plans and security footprints to accommodate large crowds and a tense policy backdrop. Here’s the latest snapshot plus an evergreen guide to participating meaningfully.

What’s new this week for Día de los Muertos

• Festivals across major metros: Fresh schedules posted in cities from the Bay Area and Long Beach to Austin, North Jersey, Boston, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Atlanta and beyond highlight ofrenda contests, community processions, mariachi and ballet folklórico performances, film screenings, craft workshops, and kids’ activities.

• Parades and processions: Large-scale events are set through the weekend, with some cities staging pre-Parade art nights and family walks; others are concentrating everything on Nov. 1–2 with plaza concerts and altar gardens.

• Operational updates: A handful of organizers in California have quietly revised routes or event scopes amid crowd-control and immigration-enforcement rhetoric. Most events remain on, with heightened coordination between cultural groups and city agencies.

• Campus and museum programming: Universities and cultural centers have expanded exhibitions and altar-building sessions, including spaces to honor pets and community figures alongside family members.

Día de los Muertos: meaning and symbols

Día de los Muertos is not “Mexican Halloween.” Rooted in pre-Columbian traditions that later intersected with Catholic observances, it’s a time to welcome the memory of the dead back among the living through color, food, and storytelling.

• Ofrenda (altar): Built at home or in public spaces with photos, candles, favorite foods, water, salt, and mementos.

• Cempasúchil (marigolds): Bright petals and garlands guide spirits with color and scent.

• Papel picado: Cut-paper banners representing the fragility and beauty of life.

• Calaveras (skulls): Sugar or chocolate skulls and face paint symbolize the acceptance of mortality with humor and love.

• Pan de muerto: A fragrant bread, often shared with family at gravesites or altars.

How to build an ofrenda at home

1. Choose a safe, quiet spot with room for candles (or LED alternatives).

2. Levels: Many families use two or three tiers to signify earth, sky, and the path between.

3. Center the photos of loved ones you’re honoring; add their favorite drinks or dishes.

4. Add marigolds, copal or incense, and papel picado to bring scent and color.

5. Include water and salt to refresh travelers on their journey.

6. Tell their stories: Share memories aloud; it’s as essential as any object on the altar.

Event etiquette: celebrating Día de los Muertos with respect

• Ask before photographing individual altars or face-painted participants; many displays are deeply personal.

• Support artisans and culture-bearers: Buy crafts and food from local makers sustaining long-standing traditions.

• Avoid costume mashups that caricature Indigenous or Mexican symbols; opt for learning and listening instead.

• Mind the space: Do not touch ofrendas unless invited; keep walkways clear during processions.

• Honor the spirit of the day: Joy is welcome—music, dancing, and laughter coexist with remembrance.

Planning your weekend: quick guide

• Dates: Most community events peak Friday–Sunday, Oct. 31–Nov. 2, with some cities extending into early next week.

• What to bring: Cash/card for vendors, layers for evening chill, reusable water bottle, and flowers or a small memento if community altars accept offerings.

• Transit & parking: Expect street closures around parades and plazas; public transit and rideshare drop-offs are often recommended.

• Family-friendly: Nearly all festivals welcome kids; many host sugar-skull decorating, papel picado workshops, and “remembering circles.”

• Accessibility: Larger sites list ASL interpretation windows, wheelchair routes, and quiet zones; check event pages or posts from organizers for specifics.

In Mexico: parades, plazas, and hometown rituals

In Mexico City and state capitals, grand parades thread past historic avenues into central squares, while neighborhoods host candlelit walks to cemeteries and local ofrendas. Smaller towns keep the focus on gravesite gatherings, music, and all-night vigils. Visitors should remember: cemetery spaces are first and foremost for families—be unobtrusive, ask permission for photos, and follow local guidance.

Why Día de los Muertos matters now

At a time of loss and displacement for many communities, Día de los Muertos offers a public language for grief that is communal, artful, and resilient. The gatherings double as living classrooms: elders pass on recipes and songs; children learn names and stories; migrants recreate home through scent, color, and ritual. Even as logistics evolve—from security plans to parade routes—the core remains unchanged: love survives, and memory has a place to live.

Final notes

• Best viewing windows: Sunset into evening for illuminated altars; mornings for quieter cemetery visits.

• Weather watch: Outdoor events run rain or shine—bring covers for flowers and paper crafts.

• After November 2: Many exhibitions and community ofrendas stay up for a few extra days; volunteers are usually welcome for respectful takedown and flower composting.

Wherever you celebrate Día de los Muertos this weekend, go with patience, curiosity, and care—and bring a story to share.