Dia de los muertos at Hemisfair 2024
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SAN ANTONIO -– The 12th annual Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair, a FREE two-day festival, will be held on Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27. San Antonio is recognized as the epicenter of Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States and there’s no better place than Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair, also known as Muertos Fest, to experience the sights, sounds, traditions and emotions of this beloved gathering that pays homage to those who have passed and are no longer with us. Attracting over 100,000 attendees from across South Texas and the U.S., this year’s event will be bigger than ever, including its largest procession and number of altars, performers, artists, and culinary delights.
The music lineup includes San Antonio favorites Girl in a Coma; Los Angeles-based, Grammy winner La Santa Cecilia; and hailing from Mexico City, Son Rompe Pera with their 21st-century marimba. The festival will include over fifty performances from bands, DJs, dancers and poets including Mariachi Campanas de América, Eddie & the Valiants, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Jesse Borrego y Tribú, Erick y su Grupo Massore, Piñata Protest, Chente Barrera y Taconazo, the Guadalupe Dance Company, Sun Day, Sexto Sol, Vanita Leo, Alicia C, Dj Despeinada, and dozens more who will perform throughout the Hemisfair footprint.
“San Antonio’s Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair bridges the gap of cultures, generations and unity among the many who embrace this event as an expression of love, respect and celebration for those who have left an indelible mark in our lives and in the world,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I am confident the 12th annual Día de los Muertos celebration will be the best yet.”
Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair includes over eighty-plus altars created by families, schools, and community organizations from throughout South Texas. These traditional and contemporary ofrendas vibrantly line the paths throughout the expansive grounds of Hemisfair, the site of the 1968 World’s Fair. The procession, a signature element of the event, is open to families, schools, and other organizations to pay homage to their loved ones and showcase their creativity in a meaningful way. Other festivities include a lineup of bands and DJs across five stages, dance and poetry performances, the Muertos Mercado – a curated arts market, workshops, children’s programming and much more.
“The traditions of Día de los Muertos have catapulted into a new era where our community, and in fact our country, have embraced the relevance, values and beauty of this spiritual celebration. We are proud that San Antonio’s Muertos Fest is recognized as one of the country’s most significant Day of the Dead events. It is an amazing, immersive experience.” said Jim Mendiola, Muertos Fest Artistic Director. “At the heart of our success are the families of south Texas who generation after generation have passed on the meaning and importance of displaying reverence for our loved ones who have passed.”
USA Today named Muertos Fest as one of the top 10 Fall Festivals in America featuring two days of vibrant events and entertainment celebrating the rich culture of the Mexican tradition, and in 2023 our event was featured in the U.K. JRNY Travel Magazine America Special Issue on Day of the Dead celebrations. In September, National Geographic mentioned Muertos Fest as a must-see experience.
For the third consecutive year, Muertos Fest is partnering with local ABC affiliate KSAT-12 to broadcast a two-hour, primetime special on October 30, 2024, reaching both local and national audiences via their online platform KSAT+.
About Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair (popularly known as Muertos Fest) Established in 2013, Día de los Muertos is held annually in downtown San Antonio at Hemisfair and touts the largest open altar exhibition and contest in the region. The annual festival celebrating the traditional Mexican holiday, is recognized as the largest and most well-known Day of the Dead Festivals in Texas and the U.S. The festival aims to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away while fostering cultural awareness, understanding, and appreciation. Named as one of the 10 Great Day of the Dead Celebrations in the world by USA Today, and as one of the “7 Best Fall Festivals in the United States” by National Geographic magazine. Muertos Fest was also named the second best Día de los Muertos Celebrations in the country by Tripping.com. Muertos Fest was recently featured in the Season 12 premiere episode of The Food Channel’s Carnival Eats. Visit muertosfest.com and follow @MuertosFest on social media for updates.
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