Elizabeth Thompson
Audio By Carbonatix
No, Día de los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween. Although it became widely popular after the release of the Disney film “Coco” in 2017, the tradition dates back to pre-Columbian times.
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a tradition rooted in Aztec culture and widely observed in Mexico as a time to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. Celebrated on November 1 and 2, families often visit cemeteries, decorating graves with flowers (cempasúchil/marigolds) and candles, and sometimes spending the night beside their relatives’ tombs. While these intimate gatherings remain central to the holiday, the tradition has also grown into larger festivals and community events, including many held across metro Phoenix for years, that celebrate this Indigenous tradition.
Festivities in Phoenix include art, face painting, music, fiestas, procesiones (marches to burial sites) and altares de muertos (altars for the dead). Altars are created to welcome the spirits back to Earth for one day, often decorated with photos, candles, incense, crucifixes, sugar skulls and ofrendas — offerings of food and drinks once enjoyed by the departed.
Here’s your guide to celebrating this vibrant tradition throughout the Valley.
Las Cafeteras: ‘Hasta la Muerte‘
Friday, Oct. 17
Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
“Hasta La Muerte” is a musical and theatrical celebration of life and death that blends song, dance and folklore to honor Día de los Muertos. Guided by La Catrina and joined by figures such as La Llorona and La Bruja, the performance combines original and traditional music with striking visuals to celebrate life and reimagine the afterlife. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on the Steena Murray Mainstage, with tickets starting at $44.
Ninth Annual Scottsdale Día de los Muertos Fiestas
Oct. 23 to 26
Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale
Scottsdale has planned several days of festivities, beginning with art installations and altars throughout the Civic Center. On October 24, the grupo folklórico Huey Colhuacán, a Mexican folk ballet company, will perform. On October 25, from 1 to 10 p.m., the area will be filled with live music and a Catrina fashion contest. At 7 p.m., there will be a procession, or desfile de los muertos, for free.
17th Annual Día De Los Muertos Festival
Saturday, Oct. 25
Avondale Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery, 3720 N. Santa Fe Trail, Avondale
This family-friendly festival is unique in that it takes place in a cemetery, as it traditionally does in Mexico. Music, live entertainment food, vendors and a community ofrenda will keep the festivities alive. The Ballet Folklórico Esperanza and the city of Avondale are involved in organizing the event. The free festival will run from 5 to 9 p.m.
Lynn Trimble
Día de los Muertos Festival
Oct. 25 and 26
Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
Mesa Arts Center is proud to present its annual Día de los Muertos: Spirits Connect celebration, created in collaboration with the community. This free event honors the Mexican holiday with vibrant performances, art and cultural traditions that commemorate the memories of loved ones who have passed. The free festival, which includes an altar competition, will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Día de Muertos at the Garden
Oct. 31 to Nov. 2
Desert Botanical Garden. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway
The Desert Botanical Garden will feature an altar with an ofrenda on display starting October 31 from noon to 6 p.m. The altar will showcase the work of artisans from Oaxaca, México. Patrons can enjoy face painting, crafts and food. On November 1 and 2, there will be a procession from 5 to 6 p.m. The festivities will highlight the sacred monarch butterfly, symbolizing the migration of spirits from the departed world.
Los Muertos de Montelucia
Friday, Oct. 31
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale
On Halloween, the resort will open the doors of Cortijo Plaza for a Día de los Muertos extravaganza. This 21-and-over celebration will honor the lives of the departed with performances and dancing. Guests are encouraged to embrace the Día de los Muertos theme with care and creativity: think calavera makeup, floral crowns and embellished suits and gowns. Prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed. Tickets start at $80 and include welcome champagne, complimentary tapas, live music and immersive experiences.
Cultural Coalition
MIKIZTLI: Día de Los Muertos Festival
Saturday, Nov. 1
Arizona Center, 455 N. Third St.
Cultural Coalition returns to celebrate the 14th year of the Día de los Muertos PHX Festival with a free, family-friendly event from 5 to 9 p.m. Audiences can enjoy cultural dance performances, mariachi music, food, face painting, art vendors and interactive art activities, as well as a community altar. The celebration will kick off with a community procession led by “Las Flacas,” 8-foot-tall animated skeleton puppets.
For the first time, the festival will offer an additional celebration for guests 21 and over at Calaca Cantina. Guests can enjoy premium views of the main stage, tequila tastings and VIP access to the festivities.
Día de los Muertos at the Zoo
Nov. 1 and 2
455 N. Galvin Parkway
The Phoenix Zoo will also keep tradition alive during Día de los Muertos weekend with altars, art and dance performances. This family-friendly event is the first of its kind at the zoo, and there will be no shortage of joyful remembrances. Guests can create lanterns, paper marigolds and sugar skull coloring pages. The festivities will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are included with admission.
Día de los Muertos with the Phoenix Symphony
Nov. 1 to 3
75 N. Second St.
The Phoenix Symphony will celebrate the holiday with Mexican folk tunes, Juan Pablo Contreras’ Alma Monarca, the Coco suite, Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2, and a tribute to life and the departed. The event will feature the ASU Mariachi Ensemble, guest conductor Jeff Tyzik, vocalist and emcee Camille Zamora and Grammy Award winner Juan Pablo Contreras.
12th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival
Sunday, Nov 2
231 N. Third St.
Honor life, tradition and remembrance at the annual Día de los Muertos Festival at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the celebration will feature mariachi, ballet folklórico, live music by Rhythm Nation, local artisans, food trucks, family activities, a car show with trunk altars and a vibrant community ofrenda. Admission is free, and guests are invited to bring nonperishable food donations for St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank.
