Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday where families and friends gather to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. In Austin, Día de los Muertos festivities, parades, and even fireworks will be happening over the next several weeks, offering Austinites of all ages plenty of fun ways to celebrate.
A Sugar Skull Making Workshop – Saturday, October 10 at 10:30 a.m. Space is limited! Call 512-974-3785 to register. FREE! The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., Austin.
Free Face Painting Classes – Saturday, October 10 from 4-5:30 and Tuesday, October 13 from 6:30-8 p.m. Sponsored by Round Rock Ballet Folklorico and the Round Rock Public Library. FREE! Round Rock Public Library Conference Room, 216 East Main Street, Round Rock.
Just a Minute! A Día de los Meurtos Play – October 10 – November 1. Click here for show dates, times, and tickets. On October 10 and 11 you can purchase BOGO tickets by using the code BOGOJAM at checkout. Señor Calavera wants Grandma Beetle to leave with him right away, but she still has one house to sweep, two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas – and that’s just the start! Kids of all ages will love these bilingual counting and alphabet tales. Austin Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W 18th St., Austin.
Piñata-Making Workshops for Sugar Skull Float and Piñata Graveyard – Sundays, October 11, October 18, and October 25 from 1-4 p.m. . Mexic-Arte Museum is proud to host local piñata artisans Monica and Sergio Lejarazu for Sugar Skull Float Workshops for the general public. Using papier-mâché, Monica Lejarazu and Museum educators will guide the public in the creation of sugar skull piñatas, inspired by the tradition of Calaveras (“skulls”) in Día de los Muertos, which have been used in Mexico since the 17th Century. During the workshops, Lejarazu will build a grand sugar skull float to be featured in the Viva la Vida parade. All artwork can be used alongside the sculpture in the Viva la Vida parade, as exhibited in the Piñata Graveyard on festival grounds. Participation is FREE and open to the public. Materials will be provided. Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave, Austin.
Día de Los Muertos Festival – Saturday, October 17 from 12–10 p.m. The festival will feature renowned recording artists in the Latin and Texas music industries. The festival will offer food and beverages, cultural performances, altar contest as well as Kids Zone activities for kids. The highlight of the festival is a combination of vibrant, rhythmic Latin, rock, and pop music and cultural performances featuring headliner and Grammy Award winner Emilio Navaira. VIP tickets and $15 pre-sale general are available online at www.austindiadelosmuertos.com. Kids 12 and under get in FREE with a paid adult ticket. (Tickets will be $20 at the door.) The event benefits local nonprofit Easter Seals Central Texas which provides support and resources for children and adults with disabilities. Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St, Austin.
APL Events: Día De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Friday, October 23 at 3:30 p.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin.
Día de los Muertos! – Saturday, October 24 from 2-7 p.m. The annual Día de los Muertos event is FREE, open to the public, and great for families (feel free to bring chairs). The event will also include live music and entertainment, family art activities, a costume contest, a car and bike show, and more. Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., Austin.
APL Events: Dia De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Monday, October 26 at 6 p.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln., Austin.
Discovery! Dia De Los Meurtos – Wednesday, October 28 at 4:30 p.m. The Discovery hands-on program explores all sorts of different topics, including science, literature, technology, and more. Especially designed for elementary school aged kids, come back each week and learn something new! Why is Day of the Dead called a “Celebration of Life?” Come to Laura’s on Wednesday, October 28 at 4:30 p.m. to find out! Presented by Ann Benson of Somos Amigos (in English, “We’re Friends”), this program is best suited for lower elementary aged children (ages 6 – 8). FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
APL Events: Dia De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Wednesday, October 28 at 5:30 p.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. Cepeda Branch, 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd., Austin.
APL Events: Dia De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Thursday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd., Austin.
Viva la Vida Festival – Saturday, October 31, 2015 from 12–8:00 p.m. This year, Austin’s largest and longest-running Day of the Dead event features a grand procession, a Day of the Dead mercado, live music, a Sugar Skull float by local piñata artisans Monica and Sergio Lejarazu from Jumpolin Piñatas, an exhibition with community altars highlighting the states of Mexico inside the Museum, and educational programs. Attendees can also taste traditional foods from Austin’s best food trucks, hands-on art activities, and artist demos. The Grand Procession gathers on 6th street between Chicon and Comal in East Austin, bringing together a vibrant and varied mix of the traditional, contemporary, and Austin “weird”. The Procession – including costumes, props, live music, dancers, and floats – marches down historic 6th Street and culminates at 4th Street and Congress Avenue, marking the transition from the afternoon to the exciting evening portion of the street festival. Visit the official Viva la Vida Festival site at www.mexic-artemuseumevents.org. UPDATE: Due to the forecast of rain, the Viva la Vida festival grounds have moved to Brazos Hall, 204 E 4th Street, Austin. Check Facebook for updates on the grand procession (decision to be announced Friday morning).
APL Events: Dia De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Saturday, October 31 at 2 p.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr., Austin.
Central Market Día de los Muertos – Saturday, October 31 from 6-9 p.m. Central Market presents their 8th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration, partnering with Acadêmicos da Ópera (Austin Samba School) and Las Monas de San Antonio for a family-friendly parade and dance celebration. The program will also include a DJ for dancing. Central Market’s Día de los Muertos celebration is FREE and open to the public. Come hungry with your whole family to one of Austin’s cornerstone Día de los Muertos events. Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar., Austin.
Planet K’s Dia De Los Muertos Fireworks – Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 9:30 p.m. On Halloween, Saturday, October 31st, thousands of spectators will gather with Planet K to rejoice and celebrate the lives of loved ones passed. There will be a grand display of life affirming fireworks, celebrating Dia De Los Muertos, the traditional Mexican holiday, Planet K style. Krieg Baseball Field, 515 S Pleasant Valley Rd., Austin.
APL Events: Dia De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Monday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr., Austin.
University of Texas Día de los Muertos – Monday, November 2 from 6-9 p.m. The University of Texas at Austin is hosting its annual Día de los Muertos event featuring performances from local and student organizations, along with altars, an altar building contest, face painting, and free food as long as supplies last. This fun event is FREE and open to the public. 2400 Inner Campus Drive on the UT campus, Austin.
APL Events: Dia De Los Meurtos/ Day of the Dead – Tuesday, November 3 at 10:15 a.m. A FREE family celebration of books and stories, laughing skulls, dancing, music, arts and crafts, ‘midst fluttering butterflies. Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St., Austin.
Día de los Muertos Procession and Festival (Round Rock) – Saturday, November 7 from 4-9 p.m. Join the Williamson County Hispanic Heritage Committee, Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, City of Round Rock, Round Rock Arts and Univision for the third annual Día de los Muertos procession and festival. Día de los Muertos is a traditional Mesoamerican holiday dedicated to the ancestors; it honors both death and the cycle of life. There will be crafts and activities for kids and art, craft and food vendors. San Antonio-based Las Monas Performance Group, which includes giant, interactive puppets, will also be at the event. Performers include Singer Nicole Reyes, Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, ballet folklorico groups from Round Rock High School, Stony Point High School and Cedar Ridge High School, Hopewell Middle School Mariachis, Folkloric Dance Collaborative and Latin Band Son de Rey. More info here. Prete Main Street Plaza, 221 E. Main Street., Round Rock.
Dia de los Muertos Mariachi Extravaganza (Kyle) – This event features the over 300 students of the Hays CISD mariachi program comprised of musicians from Chapa Middle School, Simon Middle School, Wallace Middle School and Lehman High School. Kyle City Square Park, 101 S Burleson St, Kyle.
