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Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated Nov. 1-2, but festivities have already begun in Silicon Valley. The Mexican holiday to honor and celebrate the dead includes live music and dancing, crafts like sugar skull decorating, food and ofrendas, altars decorated with candles, photos and mementos of loved ones who have died. On the Peninsula, it also includes Día de los Muertos-inspired ballet, a remembrance walk and lotería (a game similar to bingo). Read on for The Six Fifty’s guide to Day of the Dead celebrations in San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County.
San Mateo County Library Activities: Cultural events for Day of the Dead include Mexican sugar skull painting and decorating, mini ofrendas (altars), traditional folk art and more. At select libraries, Cascada de Flores is also presenting La Ofrenda Musical, a bilingual performance with song, dance, personal stories and a wide variety of musical instruments.
Dates and locations vary. Free; preregistration may be required. smcl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events.
Día de los Muertos Performances at SFO: Watch Mariachi Mexicanisimo Oct. 23 and 30, youth dance company Cuicacalli Oct. 28 and Marina Couse Quartet Oct. 29.
Oct. 23 and 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Oct. 28, 0 a.m.-2 p.m., Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Harvey Milk Terminal 2. All performances are at San Francisco International Airport. Free. instagram.com/flysfo.
Day of the Dead at Friendship Park: Take part in arts and crafts and dine on champurrado and pan de muerto at this midday celebration.
Oct. 23, 3-5 p.m., Friendship Park, 290 Huntington Ave., Redwood City. Free. instagram.com/smcpfoundation.
Catrinas, Calabazas y Cumbia: Coastside nonprofit Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS) is hosting its annual event with sugar skull decorating, face painting, artists, vendors, Aztec dancers and a Cumbiatron dance party.
Oct. 24, noon-6 p.m., ALAS, 507 Purissima St., Half Moon Bay. Free. alasdreams.com/events-1/alas-dia-de-los-muertos-catrinas-calabazas-y-cumbia-1.
CSMA Día de los Muertos Celebration: Community School of Music and Arts is hosting a family-friendly celebration featuring a community ofrenda, catrina face painting, tamales and pan de muerto, live music from Quinteto Latino Fellows and hands-on art activities for all ages.
Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Community School of Music and Arts Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. Free. instagram.com/csma_mv.
Día de los Muertos Social Crafting: Join a Calaverita postcard-making workshop with multimedia artist and designer Mariana Acosta Burns at Fireside Books & More. Pan de muerto and other seasonal pastries will be served.
Oct. 25, 2-4 p.m., Fireside Books & More, 2421 Broadway, Redwood City. Free. instagram.com/fireside.rwc.
College of San Mateo Community Celebration: The event will include Danza Azteca, Baile Folklorico, music, light snacks, and ofrendas by the CSM community.
Oct. 29, 5-7:30 p.m., College of San Mateo lower quad (by Building 1), 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo. Free. instagram.com/csm_mcc.
Millbrae Día de los Muertos Celebration: Millbrae Community Enhancement and Cultural Arts Advisory Committee hosts an evening of music, art, dancing and children’s activities. Bring photographs and mementos to the community altar in the recreation center lobby for display through Nov. 7.
Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m., Millbrae Recreation Center, 477 Lincoln Circle, Millbrae. Free. ci.millbrae.ca.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=1974&month=10&year=2026&day=30&calType=0.
Skylawn Memorial Park Día de los Muertos Celebration: The Half Moon Bay cemetery and funeral home is hosting a weekend of activities, including a remembrance walk and prayer service, mariachi music, Aztec dancing and ballet folklórico. There’s also a 5K Run for your Life and costume contest Oct. 31. Families are encouraged to bring homemade altars.
Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (5K is at 8 a.m. Oct. 31 followed by the costume contest), Skylawn Memorial Park, 888 Lifemark Road, Half Moon Bay. Free. skylawnmemorialpark.com/about-us/news-and-events/event-detail/60196-dia-de-los-muertos-2026.
Viva La Vida with Excerpts from P1N0CCH10 & Carmilla: Oceánica Ballet hosts an evening of family-friendly story ballets inspired by Halloween and Día de los Muertos. Act One includes previews of upcoming story ballets: “P1N0CCH10,” a retelling of “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” and “Carmilla,” an adaptation of the sapphic vampire novella. Act Two features “Viva La Vida,” a multicultural ballet inspired by Día de los Muertos.
Nov. 1, 1 and 4 p.m., College of San Mateo Theatre, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo. $29-$46. oceanicaballet.org.
Noche de Lotería: In lieu of Colma’s annual festival, the city is hosting a weeklong community altar and Noche de Lotería with lotería games, hot cocoa, pan dulce and more.
Community altar is Nov. 2-6, Noche de Lotería is Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m., Colma Community Center, 1520 Hillside Blvd., Colma. Free, registration required for Noche de Lotería; 5 and up. colma.ca.gov/event/noche-de-loteria-mexican-bingo.
Día de los Muertos at CuriOdyssey: The evening will include crafts, a themed story time, a coloring activity inspired by the “Alebrijes Adventure” exhibit and an ofrenda honoring late animal residents. Drinks available for purchase (21 and up).
Nov. 6, 5-8 p.m., CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. General admission tickets are $19.95-$24.95, free for children 17 months and under. curiodyssey.org/exhibits-events/first-friday-nights.
Mountain View Día de Muertos: Activities include catrina face painting, flower-making, sugar skull and flower headband design workshops, plus live music, dancing, a community altar and exhibits.
Nov. 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Civic Center Plaza, Mountain View. Free. mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/city-manager-s-office/multicultural-engagement-program/dia-de-muertos.
Redwood City Día de Muertos: Hosted by Casa Círculo Cultural and the San Mateo County History Museum in collaboration with the Redwood City Parks & Arts Foundation, this is one of the biggest celebrations on the Peninsula. It includes live performances, food vendors, catrina face painting, a sugar skull workshop, art installations, a procession and altar competitions. This year’s theme is inspired by the region of Tlaxcala.
Nov. 8, 3-8:30 p.m., Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. Free. casacirculocultural.org/adult-initiative/dia-de-los-muertos.
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