Community Celebration | Saturday, November 1 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sunday, November 2nd - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrate Día de Los Muertos at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2, 2025. Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the museums to see altares de muertos (altars of the dead) celebrating influential Old Town citizens, participate in hands-on art activities, and sign-up for a sugar skull painting workshop (additional material fee). Visitors are encouraged to honor lost loved one's by contributing their name to the hanging wooden butterfly feature next to the Community Altar located in the Plaza de Armas in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Movie in the Park | Saturday, November 1st at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bring a chair and enjoy the animated Disney film Coco in the Plaza de Armas. Enjoy hands-on art stations, visit historic altars, or create your own sugar skull before the movie begins at 6 p.m.
Activities
Community Altar | Plaza de Armas
Wooden butterflies will be provided to honor lost loved ones by contributing their name to the hanging butterfly feature next to the community altar in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This traditional seven-tiered altar will be open from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2rd. Suggested donation of $5.00.
Historic Altars | La Casa de Estudillo, La Casa de Machado y Stewart, & Seeley Stable
Visit our historic museums to see the ofrendas, or altars dedicated to the individuals who lived within these historic structures. See Día de Los Muertos Historic Altar Tours, to learn about tours through the month of October.
Entertainment | Plaza de Armas
Join the Old Town Chamber of Commerce as they present music, dancing, and the 3nd Annual Catrina Contest. This year's contest will be held on both days and be split between children and adults. On Saturday, Novemebr 1st, all children are welcome to participate in the children's Catrina contest, followed by the adult's Catrina contest on November 2nd. Dress to impress and bring your pets in costume for a chance to win prizes!
Bilingual Story Time | Mason St. Schoolhouse
Join the San Diego Public Library for a bilingual story hour at the Mason Street Schoolhouse on Saturday November 1st.
19th Century Magic Lantern Shows | Seeley Stable Theatre
Travel back in time with Matt Schnittker for a fantastical Halloween 19th century magic lantern show. Shows are 15-20 minutes.
Hands-On Art | Plaza de Armas
Altares de muertos (altars of the dead) are works of art that incorporate statuary, flowers, sugar skulls, hand-cut papel picado, and more. Learn from California State Park Interpreters how to create traditional hands-on art like paper flowers found on altares de muertos and cut your own brightly colored papel picado to hang at your altare at home.
Sugar Skull Workshops with Sugar Skull Artist Carolina Celaya | Plaza de Armas
Making sugar skulls is an indigenous Día de Los Muertos tradition of Mexico. Decorate a hand-made sugar skull in honor of a loved one who has passed. This workshop is appropriate for all ages. Skulls are for decoration purposes and not for consumption. This workshop is a $10 material fee.
Parking
Parking is free in all Old Town San Diego State Historic Park parking Lots.
Please note that Lot "F" will be closed.
Overflow parking is available at the CalTrans Parking Lot located at:
4300 Taylor Street
San Diego, CA 92110
Also check out other Arts events in San Diego, Contests in San Diego.
