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 did not have a current date we could verify at the time of this update. 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 entertainment, mariachi music, a Memory Wall and seasonal food. Valid park admission and applicable reservation requirements apply.
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.
Costa Mesa
SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure
Date: September 19–20, 2026
Location: Samueli Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
SUGAR SKULL! is a family-oriented musical adventure inspired by Día de Muertos traditions. Check Segerstrom Center for performance times and ticket information.
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 a separate 2026 Día de los Muertos event was not yet posted when this guide was updated. Check Hana Field for updates.
Cypress
Forest Lawn – Cypress
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress
Forest Lawn has hosted Día de los Muertos cultural programming at its memorial parks. We could verify the Cypress location but not a 2026 Día de los Muertos date. Check Forest Lawn events for an announcement.
Dana Point
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point
Dana Point has previously celebrated Día de los Muertos at La Plaza Park with ofrendas, music, dancing, art, food and community organizations. Check Visit Dana Point for the current schedule.
Fountain Valley
Día de los Muertos Community Remembrance Wall
Date: October 30, 2026 unveiling
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: Sunday, November 1, 2026
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 | 4:00–8:00 PM
Location: Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine
UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology will host its fourth annual Día de los Muertos celebration. The event is free and includes community and cultural programming; check UCI for the complete 2026 schedule as it is finalized.
Los Alamitos
St. Isidore Historical Plaza
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Location: 10961 Reagan St., Los Alamitos
St. Isidore Historical Plaza’s Día de los Muertos celebration traditionally centers on altars, music, dance, food and community remembrance. Check the organizer’s website for current event-day details.
Mission Viejo
Día de los Muertos Fiesta
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Location: Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo
The Día de los Muertos Fiesta celebrates the holiday’s traditions with entertainment, dance, art and community activities. Check the city’s event page for current hours and program details.
Orange
Moreno’s Restaurant
2026 date not yet announced.
Location: 4328 E. Chapman Ave., Orange
Moreno’s Restaurant has held annual Día de los Muertos celebrations with music, dance and family activities. The 2026 schedule was not yet confirmed, so check directly with the restaurant before planning around previous-year dates.
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 confirmed for 2026 and lists an altar, entertainment, activities, food, beer garden and vendors, with additional details to come.
San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano
2026 schedule: Check the Mission for current dates.
Location: 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano has displayed a Día de los Muertos altar where visitors can remember loved ones. Check the Mission events calendar for the confirmed 2026 display period and participation details.
Note: The Ecology Center’s previously listed “Night of Dead” is a Grateful Dead-inspired music event rather than a traditional Día de los Muertos celebration, so it is not included as a Día de los Muertos event here.
Santa Ana
Noche de Altares
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
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.
Other Santa Ana Events
Viva La Vida, MainPlace Mall, Fairhaven Memorial Park and the Yost have hosted Día de los Muertos programming in previous years. Their 2026 details were not confirmed in the sources reviewed for this update, so check each organizer’s current calendar rather than relying on prior-year dates.
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 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, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Irvine, Mission Viejo, San Clemente 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.
Jenifer Wines
Sunday 2nd of November 2025
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.
Hali Ducote
Thursday 24th of October 2024
This is a spectacular list, thank you so much for putting it together!