Día de los Muertos Festivities to be Celebrated at Mission Marquee
Published on October 22, 2026
Annual event recognizes San Antonio Mission descendants and community.
SAN ANTONIO (October 22, 2026) — The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office will celebrate the Day of the Dead with its ninth annual “Día de los Muertos: Celebrando las Misiones,” on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 4 to 10 p.m. at Mission Marquee Plaza. This community event is free and open to the public.
The celebration begins by welcoming a drum and dance procession from Mission San José Granary to the Mission Marquee Plaza to honor the legacy of the descendants of San Antonio’s historic Missions and nearby community.
“This community event comes from honoring our strongly rooted traditions and provides the community an opportunity to celebrate and honor our loved ones who have passed,” said District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran. “It’s wonderful to see the support, not only from those within the district, but city-wide as well.”
Following the procession, the event continues at Mission Marquee Plaza with live music, food, dance performances, art and poetry workshops, free face painting, emceed by Anthony “The Poet” Flores. The event concludes with a film screening of "Frankenweenie.”
A photo remembrance slideshow, titled “Memoria del Corazón,” is also a featured part of the event’s programming. The community was invited to contribute photos to honor past loved ones, family, and friends. The heartfelt slideshow will be displayed on the original 1948 Mission Marquee Plaza movie screen during the event.
“The World Heritage Office is proud to host Dia de los Muertos at Mission Marquee Plaza, said Colleen Swain, Director of the City’s World Heritage Office. “The community’s heritage is the foundation of this celebration. Their stories and traditions are woven into the heart of this annual event. It is a reminder of the vital role the descendants of the San Antonio Mission, and our community play in preserving our city’s history.”
Schedule of Events
3:30 p.m. Venue Opens – DJ Novasoul
The public is invited to contribute mementos to the Community Altars
3:50 p.m. Introduction to Día de los Muertos by Master of Ceremonies, Anthony “The Poet” Flores
3:55 p.m. Welcome Remarks
4 - 7:30 p.m.Día de los Muertos Interactive Workshops
- Free Sugar Skull Face Painting by Color Instinct
- Make and Take Art Activity by Terry Ybanez & Mission Branch Library
- Calaveras Poetry Writing Workshop by Jessica Tilton
4 - 4:30 p.m. Procession arrives at Mission Marquee Plaza
Native American Inter-Tribal Group and Danza Yanaguana
4:30 - 5:15 p.m. Mariachi Festival de Óscar Garza
5:15 p.m. Recuerdos del Corazón Poems by Tomás Julián
5:20 - 5:45p.m. DJ Novasoul
5:45 - 6:25 p.m. Ballet Folklórico Sol de San Antonio
6 - 6:30 p.m. La Carpa Ortiz
6:30 - 6:40 p.m. The Payaya At Yanaguana by Destiny Hernandez
6:40 - 6:50 p.m. DJ Novasoul
6:50 - 7:05 p.m. Zombie Bazaar Panza Fusión
7:05-7:50 p.m. Ballet Folklórico Sol de San Antonio
7:15 p.m. MEMORIA DEL CORAZÓN PRESENTATION
7:45 - 8:45 p.m. Mariachi Las Alteñas
8 - 8:30 p.m. La Carpa Ortiz
8:45 - 10:15 p.m. “Frankenweenie” movie screening
More information on the 2026 Día de los Muertos: Celebrando las Misiones event is available at MissionMarquee.com.