Photos are placed on ofrendas: colorful handmade altars that hold the favorite food or drink of a late loved one, alongside carefully detailed sugar skulls and plenty of marigolds.<\/p>\n
Jump straight to details of major events:<\/strong><\/p>\n Thanks to the Bay Area\u2019s large Latino diaspora, there are multiple community celebrations for D\u00eda de los Muertos held across the region that are family-friendly and open to all \u2014 including those who are just starting to learn more about this tradition.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that some events are high-energy celebrations with spaces for dancing and socializing, while others are more solemn occasions that include traditional blessings and spoken word.<\/p>\n Sunday, Nov. 2<\/strong><\/p>\n In terms of attendance \u2014 and sheer scale of production \u2014 this is by far the biggest celebration for D\u00eda de los Muertos in the Bay Area. On Sunday, Nov. 2, nine blocks along International Boulevard in the city\u2019s Fruitvale neighborhood will fill up with giant ofrendas created by local artists, lowriders<\/a>, live music stages and dozens of booths from community groups as well as local government agencies.<\/p>\n Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Oakland\u2019s D\u00eda de los Muertos Festival<\/a> is known to be a place to dance to live banda for hours and reunite with friends you haven\u2019t seen in years \u2014 as well as being an event that firmly defends public spaces for immigrant families. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cAqu\u00ed Estamos y No Nos Vamos\u201d: \u201cWe are here and we are not leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n Sunday, Nov. 2<\/strong><\/p>\n For more than 20 years, families have gathered in San Francisco\u2019s Potrero Del Sol Park to install intricately decorated large-scale ofrendas. While honoring loved ones, many of these also address larger political and social questions \u2014 like the federal government\u2019s immigration policy or Israel\u2019s invasion of Gaza.<\/p>\n Installations will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 2. You can enter the park through any entrance and walk through the space to observe the ofrendas.<\/p>\n At noon, there will be a ceremony, and at 5 p.m., musical performances and poetry readings will begin.<\/p>\n You can also sign up to make your own ofrenda.<\/a><\/p>\n Sunday, Nov. 2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Just a block away from the ofrendas in Potrero Del Sol Park, musicians, artists and culture keepers will march down 24th Street, with thousands of families gathering on the sidewalk to watch.<\/p>\n Organized by the community group El Collectivo del Rescate Cultural de La Mission \u2014 or Collective to Rescue the Mission\u2019s Culture \u2014ofrendas, cempas\u00fachil and vendors selling handmade crafts fill up almost every block at this event.<\/p>\n And while some parts of the procession are quieter and solemn, there will be live bands, dance groups and lowriders moving through too, with performances all over the Mission District through the night.<\/p>\n The procession begins at 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 on the corner of 22nd and Bryant Street, then moves to 24th Street, where marchers will stay until they reach Mission Street. At each main intersection, Aztec dancers leading the procession will pause to perform a ritual dance.<\/p>\n Saturday, Nov. 1<\/strong><\/p>\n On Nov. 1, the Children\u2019s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jos\u00e9 will host a family-friendly D\u00eda de los Muertos event from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n There will be storytelling for children, sand painting, performances by giant skeleton puppets and a procession that interacts with museum installations, including its mammoth skeleton.<\/p>\n Tickets are $18 for both adults and children.<\/a><\/p>\n Saturday, Nov. 1<\/strong><\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s Tenderloin district is throwing a free family street fair on Nov. 1 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. for D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/a>, which will offer ofrendas, face painting, Aztec dance, live music and local vendors,<\/p>\n There\u2019ll also be a\u00a0 \u201ckids zone\u201d with lucha libre matches, bounce houses and a petting zoo.<\/p>\n Tickets are free, but you can RSVP to receive a free screenprint from Evolved SF<\/a> when you arrive (while supplies last.)<\/p>\n Friday, Oct. 31<\/strong><\/p>\n Known for its annual exhibition of ofrendas that runs for most of November, MCCLA is also throwing a dance party<\/a> in San Francisco\u2019s Mission District, a block away from 24th Mission BART station, on Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.<\/p>\n This \u201cperreo fest\u201d will also include plenty of different contests, including competitions for best costume and catrina. Entrance is $5 for ages 16 and up.<\/p>\n MCCLA will be hosting other D\u00eda de los Muertos programming<\/a> throughout October and November.<\/p>\n Sunday, Nov. 2<\/strong><\/p>\n The biggest D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration in San Mateo County<\/a> takes place this year in Redwood City\u2019s Courthouse Square on Nov. 2 from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Dance and musical performances will fill the square, with a special emphasis placed this year on the traditions from the Mexican state of Puebla. Volunteers at the face-painting booth will be painting traditional skull designs on guests.<\/p>\n The San Mateo County History Museum will also be open at this time and families can step inside to decorate sugar skulls and make their own papel picado decorations.<\/p>\n Sunday, Oct. 26<\/strong><\/p>\n Community group Coraz\u00f3n Healdsburg will host a D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration<\/a> in the city\u2019s main plaza on Oct. 26 from noon to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Families are welcome to bring photos of loved ones to add to the communal ofrenda. There will be plenty of live music, dance performances and face painting throughout the day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nOakland D\u00eda de los Muertos Festival<\/h2>\n
Day of the Dead Festival of Altars in San Francisco<\/h2>\n
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Day of the Dead Ritual Procession in San Francisco<\/h2>\n
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D\u00eda de los Muertos at the Children\u2019s Discovery Museum of San Jos\u00e9<\/h2>\n
Tenderloin Street Fair\u2019s Dia de Muertos Celebration, San Francisco<\/h2>\n
Baile de los Muertos at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco<\/h2>\n
Redwood City\u2019s D\u00eda de los Muertos Celebration<\/h2>\n
Healdsburg\u2019s D\u00eda de los Muertos Celebration<\/h2>\n