For 11 years, L.A. TACO has been bringing our readers the most extensive and complete Day of the Dead event guides for Los Angeles County . Seeing communities come together to celebrate this tradition throughout Los Angeles, the Valley, and Orange County over the years has been a privilege. While movies and other pop culture events have lifted the profile of Día de Los Muertos, community-based celebrations have always held it down and honored the spirit of this tradition.
However you celebrate, know that as long as you honor and remember your ancestors and loved ones, there’s no wrong way to do it.
Artist and renowned altarista Ofelia Esparza shares how we all experience three deaths in our lives. The first is the day we take our last breath. The second is when we are buried, never to be seen again. The third, and the worst death anyone can go through, is when we are forgotten. “We’re only here for a short time, and just like a flower that wilts, all things are temporary, but we live on in the memory and hearts of our ancestors because we are all here for a purpose.”
Hollywood Forever x L.A. TACO Presents: 22nd Annual Día de Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Featuring our 2nd Annual TACOLAND Mini-Taco Event ~ Saturday 10/29
The 22nd Annual Día de Los Muertos festival at Hollywood Forever returns on Saturday, October 20th, 2022, featuring unique daytime and evening events. Visit their website for event details on programming, musical performances, exhibition details, and parking instructions. General admission and VIP tickets for the day and night events are still available, but both are likely to sell out soon as they do every year. For the second year in a row, Hollywood Forever has invited L.A. TACO to curate food vendors that will be selling tacos in a specially designated TACOLAND area behind the main stage, available to all attendees.
L.A. TACO CULINARY VENDORS
Carnitas El Artista
Los Dorados LA
Tacos Don Cuco
Bee Taquería
Calavera LGBTQ Day of the Dead Festival ~ Saturday 10/22
The 7th Annual Calavera LGBTQ Festival will be held in-person on Saturday, October 22nd at Mi Centro, LGBTQ community center, in Boyle Heights. The Calavera LGBTQ Festival is a Day of the Dead intergenerational event that celebrates the community by honoring departed loved ones. Over 300 community members gather to celebrate our culture and enjoy traditional altars, queer Latinx artists, folklorico dancers, Aztec dancing, and a Mx. Calavera drag competition. Proceeds from the event benefit programs offered through LEA that create safe spaces, promote youth leadership development and increase family acceptance. For tickets, head to the event's website.
10th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Festival in San Pedro ~ Sunday 10/23
The Festival will feature the Amazing Altars Contest & Exhibition, which is open to all. Altar Entries are now being accepted at: (include info for Entrants) for the Festival’s “Amazing Altars Contest.” Grand Prize is $1,000 for First Place winners. Additionally, there will be the Community Altar and the expanded Tree of Life where attendees are encouraged to place an item to remember a loved one. Rounding out the event, there will be over 30 authentic and creative food and craft vendors. Highlights include San Pedro Brewing Company’s beer garden with cocktails and the famous Birrieria San Marcos, and KOGI BBQ. For tickets, go here.
Día de los Muertos Festival at Olvera Street ~ 10/25 to 11/2
Olvera Street Merchants Association and El Pueblo Historical Monument are celebrating Día de Los Muertos with a few different events and family-friendly activities. From now through November 2nd, Olvera Street will have altars on display, street theater, a nightly procession, and a 5k race. For full details on event times, visit their website.
Downey Día de Los Muertos Art Festival ~ 10/29
Downey's day of the dead festival, being held at Downey Theater is seemingly the spot to be to celebrate day of the dead in southeast Los Angeles. There will be art, mariachi, a workshop on Latina publishers featuring Naibe Reynoso, and a car show. For all the details, go to the event's website.
Día de Los Muertos at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes ~ Sunday 10/30
Shake your bones! Join L.A.'s premiere Mexican American museum in a celebration of life and death. Explore the historical and cultural significance of Day of the Dead traditions. ¡A mover el esqueleto! Acompáñenos en una celebración a la vida y la muerte. Explore el significado histórico y cultural de las tradiciones del día de los muertos. Also, don't miss their pan de muerto baking workshop happening on October 22nd. For more information, check out their website here.
Dia de Los Muertos at Forest Lawn in Glendale ~ Sunday, 10/30
There aren't many festivals on top of cemeteries in Los Angeles, even though that is the traditional way that Day of the Dead is celebrated in Oaxaca and Michoacán, where Día de Muertos originated. In Los Angeles, this festival is one of them, and Hollywood Forever is the other one. If you haven't experienced this, going to this festival where they will have altars, mariachi, and folklórico is definitely a bucket list item. It is absolutely mystical and intangible. For more details, check out Forest Lawn's website.
Self Help Graphics & Art 49th Annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration ~ Saturday 11/5
Self Help has been credited as being one of the various community organizations that have contributed to the growth of Día de Los Muertos as a celebration throughout the United States. Every Day of the Dead celebration is unique, and for almost 50 years, they have created their own traditions as part of their arts-based celebrations. Self Help will be hosting multiple events leading up to their community celebration on Saturday, November 5thth, in Boyle Heights, including workshops on building altars and other arts and crafts-based Muertos events. Like every other year, the event will be free to the public. For more information, check out their website.
View this post on Instagram
Día de Muertos at Semillitas Learning Academy in Rancho Dominguez ~ Saturday 11/5
As part of Semillitas bilingual Camino de Ofrendas Exhibition, they will be honoring Long Beach native Nectalí —Sumohair—Díaz's family in honor of his life. Family, friends, and fans of his music are invited to bring a candle or flowers to add to Nectali’s altar and help the bilingual academy light his way back as we end our Día de Muertos traditions. There will be Aztec dancing, MesoAmerican Indigenous Ball Games, the Michemobil, and more. The event will be held at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum at 18127 South Alameda Street, Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220. For more details, check out their website.
Día de Los Muertos Independent Art Show in City Terrace ~ Sunday 11/6
Local artist Oscar "Vomit" Cano will be curating an independent art market in City Terrace that will also feature food by chef Lance Thomas and live musical performances. The event will be from 2 to 8 pm and free. It will be held at 3952 City Terrace Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Canoga Park's 22nd Día de Los Muertos Family Festival ~ Sunday 11/6
This family-friendly Day of the Dead Community Festival in on Canoga Park's Main Street. There will be community-built altars live music, vendors (food and artisan), face painting, and more. The community celebration will be held at Sherman Way and Canoga Avenue, Canoga Park 91303. The festival is from 10 am to 4 pm—full event details are on the event page.
