Where to celebrate Día de Los Muertos in Phoenix

The dead will soon visit the living in the Valley of the Sun, but don’t be afraid. This isn’t a ghost story; it’s a celebration of life.

Día de Los Muertos means Day of the Dead, but don’t let the name scare you. The traditional Mexican holiday stems from the belief that death is not the end of existence. During the holiday, the divide that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead opens up, and the deceased can come back to visit loved ones. Día de Los Muertos celebrations typically include ofrendas, candlelit altars that are often decorated with marigolds, adorned with offerings for the dead and filled with photos of departed friends and family. The popular calavera, or skull, iconography associated with the holiday isn’t meant to be morbid; they symbolize the cycle of life and encourage remembrance.   

Arizona’s proximity to Mexico and the Valley’s large Latino community means that we have many Día de Los Muertos celebrations to choose from. These community events, most of them free to attend, include large ofrendas, people dressing up as calaveras, music, food, dancing and more. 

Though the holiday officially takes place on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 1 and 2, local celebrations begin more than a week before.

Día de Muertos Opening Reception
Wednesday, Oct. 21
Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
The Tempe History Museum invites the public to a special opening reception celebrating its annual Día de los Muertos altar exhibition. This year’s display honors Mexican writer Juan Rulfo, whose literary works explored the relationships between the living and the dead. This is a family-friendly gathering and features light refreshments and a traditional dance performance by Las Damas del Folklor. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Scottsdale Día de los Muertos Art Installation Experience
Oct. 22-25
Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale
You probably haven’t seen Old Town Scottsdale like this before. It’s transformed into an outdoor celebration of remembrance with large-scale Día de los Muertos art installations and traditional ofrendas. You can explore elaborate displays inspired by Mexican culture, including colorful artwork that reflects the celebrated connection between life and death. The installation experience is part of Scottsdale’s 10th annual Día de los Muertos festivities. Displays are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and admission is free.

Scottsdale Fiesta de Muertos Festival
Saturday, Oct. 24
Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale
Scottsdale really gets into the Día de los Muertos holiday. This year, it celebrates a decade of Día de los Muertos festivities with an afternoon and evening of Mexican music, dance, art and cultural traditions. The 10th annual festival features large-scale installations, traditional altars, a Catrina fashion contest and fashion show and the Desfile de los Muertos procession. Guests can also enjoy a special appearance by Grammy-nominated Mexican American singer Lupita Infante. Hours are 1 to 10 p.m.

MIKIZTLI Día de los Muertos PHX Festival
Saturday, Oct. 24
Arizona Center, 455 N. Third St.
You’re invited to a quinceañera: The 15th annual MIKIZTLI Día de los Muertos PHX Festival returns to downtown Phoenix with an exciting night of music, dance, art and remembrance. Presented by Cultural Coalition, the celebration features mariachi performances, ballet folklórico, food trucks, face painting, artisan vendors and interactive activities. Visitors can explore a large community ofrenda honoring departed loved ones. There’s also a Danza Mexica ceremony, and the public can participate in a procession led by Las Flacas, and its towering 8-foot-tall, animated skeleton puppets. The festival runs 4 to 9 p.m., and admission is free.

Mesa Arts Center Día de los Muertos Festival
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25
Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
It’s another anniversary: The Mesa Arts Center is hosting its 20th annual Día de los Muertos Festival with two days of music, dance, art and cultural activities celebrating the lives of the deceased. The festivities feature mariachi performances, traditional folklórico dancing, hands-on art activities and community celebrations. Saturday’s entertainment includes a performance by acclaimed Mexican singer Lila Downs from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., while Sunday’s festivities conclude with a ceremonial procession. The festival runs from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. A special reduced sensory stimuli hour is being offered from 11 a.m. to noon both days. Admission is free.

Entre Dos Mundos: A Día de Muertos Celebration
Sunday, Nov. 1
Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
Chandler Center for the Arts is celebrating the connection between two worlds with an afternoon of music, storytelling, dance and traditional Mexican activities. Bring the family and browse artisan vendors at El Mercado and fill up at the food court. The celebration runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the center’s terrace. Admission is free, with reservations encouraged.

27th Annual Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival
Sunday, Nov. 1
Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
It’s a musical celebration at The Chandler Center for the Arts with a lively Día de los Muertos event showcasing Arizona’s mariachi and folklórico traditions. Presented in partnership with C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona, the 27th annual festival features performances by Mariachi Pueblo Viejo, Mariachi Nueva Fusion, Evelyn Ozuna and traditional folklórico dancers. The production combines what are sure to be vibrant costumes, lots of live music and Mexican cultural traditions in a big celebration of life and remembrance. The performance begins at 4 p.m. on the Steena Murray Mainstage, with tickets ranging from $49 to $79.

Día de Muertos Festival at Desert Botanical Garden
Friday, Nov. 6, through Monday, Nov. 9
Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway
If you’re looking for a beautiful introduction to fall, the Desert Botanical Garden celebrates Día de Muertos with four days of traditional altars, music, art and cultural flair surrounded by the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Explore a community ofrenda honoring departed loved ones, then get your eardrums ready for live entertainment.  The main festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8, from noon to 6 p.m., with traditional activities, a special professional wrestling showcase by Lucha Voz and a remembrance procession at 5 p.m. The altar exhibition continues throughout the four-day celebration. Festival activities are included with regular garden admission or membership. Cost is $40 per day for adults and $19 for children.

18th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival
Saturday, Nov. 7
Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery
3720 N. Santa Fe Trail, Avondale
It’s going to be a graveyard smash, literally, as Ballet Folklórico Esperanza presents its 18th annual Día de los Muertos Festival. Held at the historic Goodyear Farms Cemetery, this family-friendly event features live entertainment, a community ofrenda, arts and crafts, food vendors and activities celebrating Mexican culture and traditions. The festival brings the community together for an evening of remembrance, cultural expression and celebration. Festivities run from 5 to 9 p.m., and admission is free.