Día de los Muertos Events in Orange County
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition honoring and remembering loved ones who have died. Orange County celebrations include community ofrendas, music, folklórico performances, art, food and family activities. Find Día de los Muertos events throughout Orange County below, along with information about the holiday and its traditions.
For more seasonal events, see our Halloween events and fairs and festivals guides.
When is Day of the Dead?
Día de los Muertos is traditionally observed on November 1 and 2. Orange County festivals, performances and community celebrations may take place on surrounding weekends or other nearby dates, so event dates do not always fall on the traditional observance days.
2026 Día de los Muertos Events in Orange County
Confirmed 2026 dates are listed where organizers have published them. Events marked 2026 date not yet announced have been held previously but have not announced a 2026 date. Always check the linked organizer before attending.
Anaheim
Disneyland Resort Día de los Muertos & Plaza de la Familia
Date: August 21 – November 2, 2026
Location: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Disneyland Resort celebrates Día de los Muertos at El Zócalo Park in Frontierland with calacas, flowers and traditional ofrenda-inspired displays. At Plaza de la Familia in Disney California Adventure, guests can experience Coco-inspired storytelling and music, festive décor, a Memory Wall and special seasonal food and beverage offerings. Valid park admission and applicable reservation requirements apply.
Day of the Dead: A Night of Community & Culture
Date & Time: Friday, October 30, 2026 | from 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Anaheim Community Center / Center Greens Park, 250 E. Center St., Anaheim
The City of Anaheim's free, all-ages Día de los Muertos celebration features altars, live performances, food and family activities.
Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim
Muzeo has hosted seasonal community programming in past years. Check the museum's current event calendar for a 2026 announcement before planning a visit.
Anaheim Town Square
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: State College Boulevard & Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim
Anaheim Town Square has previously hosted a free Día de los Muertos celebration with traditional dance and family activities. Check the Anaheim Town Square events calendar for current information.
Día de los Muertos Northgate Market 5K
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 8:00 AM 5K; Kids 1K for ages 3–7 (check RunSignup for the start time)
Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim
The annual Northgate Market 5K returns with a Día de los Muertos theme, a run through Angel Stadium, finisher medals, a post-race expo and themed activities. A Kids 1K is also offered. Registration is required.
Costa Mesa
Día de los Muertos at Hana Field
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: 427 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa
Hana Field has hosted Día de los Muertos programming in previous years. Tanaka Farms currently lists its 2026 Hana Field Pumpkin Patch season, but has not announced a separate 2026 Día de los Muertos event. Check Hana Field for updates.
Cypress
Forest Lawn – Cypress
Date & Time: Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 12:00–3:00 PM
Location: 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress
Forest Lawn hosts Día de los Muertos cultural programming at its Cypress memorial park on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 12:00–3:00 PM. The celebration features folklórico dance, mariachi music, Bob Baker Marionette performances, community ofrendas, face painting and food trucks. Check Forest Lawn events for details.
Dana Point
Dana Point Día de los Muertos Celebration
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 2-7 PM
Location: La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point
The City of Dana Point hosts its Día de los Muertos Celebration at La Plaza Park on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 2 to 7 PM. Plans include live entertainment with mariachi, face painting, street art, crafts and a display of ofrendas honoring departed loved ones. Read the event announcement on Patch for more details.
Fountain Valley
Día de los Muertos Community Remembrance Wall
Grand unveiling: October 30, 2026
Photo submissions: Begin October 1
Location: Fountain Valley Recreation Center, 16400 Brookhurst Street
Visit the city's recreation information for current details about the remembrance wall and related programming.
Fullerton
Muckenthaler Día de los Muertos Festival
Date & Time: Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 12:00–4:00 PM
Admission: Free
Location: The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton
The Día de los Muertos Festival features festive activities, stage performances and special ofrendas honoring deceased loved ones.
Noche de Muertos
Date & Time: Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 4:00–8:00 PM
Location: Fullerton Museum Center/Downtown Fullerton Plaza, 301 N. Pomona Ave.
Noche de Muertos is listed on the Fullerton Museum Center's 2026 calendar. Check the organizer as the event approaches for complete activity and vendor details.
Huntington Beach
Bella Terra Día de los Muertos Maker Market
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach
Bella Terra has previously hosted a Día de los Muertos maker market with artisans, entertainment and family activities. Check Bella Terra events for a current announcement.
Irvine
UC Irvine Día de los Muertos
Date & Time: Monday, November 2, 2026 | 3:30–7:30 PM
Location: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., UC Irvine
UC Irvine's School of Social Ecology will host its fourth annual Día de los Muertos celebration. The free event is headlined by two-time Grammy winners Mariachi Divas, with Xipe Totec Danzantes Aztecas, Ballet Folklórico de UCI and Mariachi Orgullo de UCI. RSVP is requested.
La Habra
Día de los Muertos at Portola Park
Date & Time: Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 1:00–5:00 PM
Admission: Free outdoor event
Location: Portola Park, 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra
The City of La Habra and the Children's Museum at La Habra host a Día de los Muertos celebration with a community ofrenda, cultural dance, live music, crafts, games and Mexican food for purchase. Sugar-skull decorating costs extra, and entry to the museum's hands-on exhibits is $12 per person (ages 2 and up).
Los Alamitos
St. Isidore Historical Plaza
Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 2:00–9:00 PM
Location: 10961 Reagan St., Los Alamitos
St. Isidore Historical Plaza's Día de los Muertos celebration includes an altar display contest, face painting, folklórico dancing, live music, food and drinks. Check the organizer's website for event-day details.
Mission Viejo
Día de los Muertos Fiesta
Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 2:00–7:00 PM
Admission: Free
Location: Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo
The Mission Viejo Activities Committee's Día de los Muertos Fiesta brings entertainment, food and a new live butterfly exhibit. At dusk, a procession leads into a display of illuminated classic-car ofrendas. Guests can bring a photo of a loved one for the community altar, and there are ofrenda and Catrina contests.
San Clemente
San Clemente Día de los Muertos Celebration
Date & Time: Monday, November 2, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM
Location: Max Berg Plaza Park, 1100 Calle Puente, San Clemente
The City of San Clemente's Día de los Muertos event is free (food trucks charge) and includes Ballet Folklórico and Danza Azteca performances, sugar-skull crafts, face painting, vendors and a plein air art contest with youth, teen and adult categories. The community altar is up October 30–November 3, and residents can email photos for it through October 29.
San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Dates: Through Sunday, November 1, 2026, during museum hours (Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM)
Location: 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano's Día de los Muertos altar stands along the Resurgam walkway, where visitors can add the name of a loved one to the ofrenda.
Santa Ana
Noche de Altares
Date & Time: Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 12:00–9:00 PM
Location: 4th Street between Ross and Broadway, Santa Ana
Noche de Altares, presented by El Centro Cultural de México, brings the community together through altars, art and cultural remembrance. The organizer has published the November 7 date; check the official site for the complete 2026 schedule.
Bowers Museum Mexican Day of the Dead
Date & Time: Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Bowers Museum lists its Mexican Day of the Dead free family festival for November 1, with live performances, art making, face painting and complimentary treats.
Heritage Museum of Orange County
Date & Time: Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 5:00–9:00 PM
Location: 3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana
The HMOC free community Día de los Muertos celebration returns with live entertainment, food, vendors, arts and crafts and a community ofrenda. Families can also submit photos of loved ones and pets who have passed for inclusion in the community altar.
Día de los Muertos To Go - Santa Ana Cemetery
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Afternoon; exact time TBA
Location: Santa Ana Cemetery
The Orange County Cemetery District will offer free children's Día de los Muertos craft kits, small marigold bouquets and pan de muerto outside the cemetery office. Families may also create personal ofrendas at loved ones' gravesites. Día de los Muertos decorations may be placed beginning October 22 and must be removed by November 17.
MainPlace Mall Día de Muertos Festival
Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM
Location: MainPlace Mall, Levels 1 and 2, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Expect live performances on the Macy's main stage, live painters and a cartoonist, art workshops (plush alebrije butterflies, ceramic cantaritos and wooden frames), face painting, a Lotería art contest, an interactive Aztec Zone ofrenda and a mural photo booth.
City of Santa Ana: Día de los Muertos – Magic of the Altars
Date & Time: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: Roosevelt-Walker Community Center, 816 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana
A free community gathering hosted by the City of Santa Ana.
Viva La Vida Día de Muertos Festival
Date & Time: Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 3:00–10:00 PM
Location: 325 E. 4th St., Downtown Santa Ana
The 12th annual Viva La Vida festival returns to Downtown Santa Ana. Date and time per Travel Santa Ana.
Fairhaven Memorial Park
Date: Monday, November 2, 2026 (check Fairhaven for the time)
Location: 1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana
Fairhaven's Día de los Muertos observance includes folklórico, prayers, face painting and mariachi.
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda Día de los Muertos
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center, 4802 Lakeview Ave.
The city has previously hosted a free event with music, food trucks, crafts, face painting and a community ofrenda. Check the Yorba Linda calendar for a 2026 announcement.
Churches, Cemeteries, Libraries & Parks
Churches and cemeteries throughout Orange County may offer Día de los Muertos observances or allow memorial decorations and ofrendas. Policies, permitted items and decoration periods vary by location and year, so confirm directly with the cemetery or church before bringing an ofrenda.
Orange County Cemetery District locations include Anaheim Cemetery, Santa Ana Cemetery and El Toro Memorial Park. Because holiday decoration periods and special activities can change, use the OC Cemetery District for current 2026 policies and dates.
Orange County Catholic Cemeteries also observes All Souls' Day and Día de los Muertos. For 2026, its special flower-placement period begins October 29 at 3:00 PM, with removal beginning November 12 at 6:00 AM. Check Orange County Catholic Cemeteries for cemetery-specific rules.
Orange County libraries and OC Parks also offer seasonal crafts, educational programs and community events from year to year. Check the OC Public Libraries calendar and OC Parks calendar for current programs.
About Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos is a tradition of remembrance with deep roots in Mexico. Modern observances reflect Indigenous Mexican traditions alongside Catholic observances associated with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Customs vary by region, family and community.
November 1 and 2 are the principal observance days. In many traditions, November 1 is especially associated with remembering children who have died and November 2 with adults, but practices are not identical everywhere.
Celebrations may include family gatherings, cemetery visits, music, food, marigolds, photographs, candles, pan de muerto, decorative calaveras and ofrendas created to remember and welcome loved ones.
What is an ofrenda?
An ofrenda is an altar or offering created in memory of someone who has died. It may include photographs, candles, marigolds, favorite foods and drinks, personal objects, religious or cultural symbols and other meaningful items. There is no single required layout; designs and traditions vary among families and communities.
Day of the Dead vs. Halloween
Día de los Muertos and Halloween occur close together on the calendar, but they are distinct traditions. Halloween is observed on October 31, while Día de los Muertos is traditionally observed November 1 and 2. Día de los Muertos centers on remembering and honoring deceased family members and loved ones.
Día de los Muertos FAQs
When is Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos is traditionally observed November 1 and 2, although public festivals and community events may be scheduled on nearby dates.
Where are Día de los Muertos events in Orange County?
Orange County celebrations are held in cities including Anaheim, Cypress, Dana Point, Fullerton, Irvine, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Santa Ana. Confirmed events and locations are listed above as organizers announce their schedules.
Is Día de los Muertos the same as Halloween?
No. The holidays occur close together, but Día de los Muertos is a distinct Mexican tradition centered on remembrance of deceased loved ones.
Are Día de los Muertos events family-friendly?
Many Orange County celebrations are designed for families and include art, music, crafts and community ofrendas. Individual event rules, admission requirements and activities vary, so check the organizer before attending.
This is a spectacular list, thank you so much for putting it together!
I attended the festivities at Forest Lawn Mortuary today. It was really beautiful to see families seated in beach chairs, on picnic blankets and in the amphitheater watching the dancers. I parked and walked quite a way to get to where the main event was taking place, noting the number of family members gathered around headstones, placing bright orange bouquets on the grave sites. There was an altar, cultural expressions (paintings and pottery), a lively dance group, a mariachi band and marionettes. There were skeletons that were dressed very differently, as well as groups of similarly dressed skeletons. The information that I read, along with insight from several of my Latino clients shared that they represent humanity and that death is a part of the life cycle for everyone, regardless of social status, and that the dead are still part of the community.
I enjoy learning more about different cultures and am learning Spanish, as I travel to Mexico several time a year with Here for Kids to visit our partners.