When I booked my trip, I didn’t realize my travel dates coincided with the city’s legendary Día de los Muertos festivities, nor did I realize what a huge deal this Mexican holiday is in San Antonio.
I spotted ofrendas, altars designed to honor deceased loved ones, almost everywhere I looked throughout the city, from the hotel lobby where I was staying to the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
San Antonians go all out in celebrating this Mexican tradition, with lively processions, parades, and festivals.
The park at Pearl Brewery hosted an enormous celebration complete with stilt walkers, live music, face painting, art installations, and many ofrendas.
SpiritLandia featured a River Walk Day of the Dead parade, and people also attended Muertos Fest, a multiday cultural event, in downtown San Antonio.
This story was originally published on January 30, 2023, and most recently updated on June 10, 2026.
