Dia de los Muertos Comes Alive in Downtown El Paso This Weekend – What to Know If You Plan to Go

The City of El Paso Dia de los Muertos Festival returns to downtown El Paso this Saturday, Oct. 23.

The event will include Day of the Dead themed performances, a special Downtown Art & Farmers Market, free streetcar rides, and a parade in the Downtown Arts District featuring a cavalcade of catrinas, catrins, calaveras and 10-foot Mojigangas.

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A variety of free hands-on activities and live performances hosted by the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Museum of History and the El Paso Museum of Archaeology will also be part of the day-long celebration to honor our dearly departed.

What to Know If You Plan to Go

• Activities will take place in the Downtown Arts District (where Chalk the Block just happened) from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, October 23. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in Día de Los Muertos costumes and calavera face paint.

• Downtown Art and Farmers Market is moving from its usual location and taking place later in the day. Find it at the Convention Center Plaza from noon to 7 p.m. with an additional location of artisanal vendors at Cleveland Square Park. Numerous food trucks will be lined up along the way between the Convention Center and the ballpark.

• A Community Alter will be set up at the El Paso Museum of History. Anyone who has lost a loved one is invited to honor them by leaving artificial flowers and personal remembrances such as photos and placing them on the community altar where they will remain on display throughout the day.

Dia del los Muertos Parade

The Dia del los Muertos Parade will get underway at 4 p.m. The route it will take will be San Antonio Street and Santa Fe Street, moving north on Santa Fe Street, turning right on N. Oregon Avenue, right on N. Mesa Street, right on W. Mills Avenue, and ending at El Paso Museum of Art.

Streetcar service and Streetcar programming

If you don’t want to deal with parking downtown, you can park for free at the Glory Road Transfer Center by UTEP and ride the Streetcar downtown to enjoy the festivities. Streetcar service will be offered from noon to 11 p.m.

Meet and Greet La Calaca Maldonado on the Streetcar from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Convention Center Streetcar Stop, followed by a Ride and Legends on the Streetcar from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Masks are required on the streetcar per Federal Transit Administration policy. Masks are strongly recommended inside City of El Paso facilities including the museums.

Schedule of Events