(Updated October 2025) Día de los Muertos is a joyful tradition honoring loved ones who have passed—rooted in Mexican culture and celebrated across Orange County with family-friendly festivals, altars (ofrendas), music, dance, art, and food. Below you’ll find confirmed events, plus tips on what to bring and how to participate respectfully.
Here is a list of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) events happening in Orange County listed in order of date!
💀 Día de los Muertos Festival (Mission Viejo)
📅 Saturday, October 25, 2025
📍 Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center
24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA
💰 FREE
Join the Mission Viejo Activities Committee for an unforgettable day filled with lively entertainment, delicious food, and vibrant culture as we honor Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Enjoy live mariachi music, traditional folkloric dancing, face painting, crafts, classic car ofrendas, and a multi-cultural marketplace. Enjoy a fun-filled day the whole family will love!
💀 Día de los Muertos Festival at Mainplace Mall (Santa Ana)
📅 Saturday, October 25, 2025
📍 MainPlace Mall
2800 N Main St., Santa Ana, CA
💰 FREE
Join us for our beloved Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration — an annual tradition that honors culture, family, and remembrance. This vibrant festival brings the community together through authentic cultural performances, traditional altars, art displays, and interactive experiences. Celebrate the beauty of life and the rich heritage of this meaningful tradition.
💀 Anaheim Town Square's Spooktacular Halloween Celebration (Anaheim)
📅 Sunday, October 26, 2025
📍 Anaheim Town Square
2180 East Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA
💰 FREE
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Kids Fun Zone 2.0 with an afternoon of colorful festivities and family-friendly fun! Enjoy traditional dances, captivating storytelling, Día de los Muertos-inspired face painting, and marigold paper flower crafts. This event is free and open to everyone—join us in honoring this rich cultural heritage!
💀 HMOC Día de Los Muertos Celebration (Santa Ana)
📅 Sunday, October 26, 2025
📍 Heritage Museum of Orange County
3101 W Harvard St, Santa Ana, CA 92704
The FREE HMOC Día de Los Muertos celebration and community altar (ofrenda) returns with live entertainment, food, vendors, community altar, arts and crafts and more!
💀 Día de los Muertos Cookie Decorating Class (San Clemente)
📅 Tuesday, October 28, 2025
📍 Sugar Blossom Bake Shop
122 South El Camino Real San Clemente, CA 92672
Come join us for a fun and festive Cookie Decorating Class - Día de los Muertos event! Learn how to decorate SIX sugar cookies with colorful icing and traditional Day of the Dead designs. Don't miss out on this creative and delicious experience celebrating Mexican culture and traditions.
💀 Día de Los Muertos Tote Bags (Costa Mesa)
📅 Wednesday, October 29, 2025
📍 Costa Mesa - Donald Dungan Library
1855 Park Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
💰 FREE
Design your own Dia del los Muertos tote using our skull and flora stencils and fabric pens. Limited to the first 30 participants.
💀 Día de los Muertos Celebration (Orange)
📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025
📍 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
674 S Yorba Street, Orange, CA 92869
💰 FREE
Come join us for a beautiful evening as we honor our ancestors and celebrate Día de los Muertos together. Enjoy a colorful chalk walk, delicious authentic food, lively mariachi music, and a meaningful altar display filled with love and remembrance.
💀 Día de los Muertos Celebration (Garden Grove)
📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025
📍 Garden Grove Chapman Library
9182 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841
💰 FREE
Bring the whole family for a joyful celebration of life, memory, and culture. Kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy painting colorful skulls and sipping Mexican hot chocolate while they create starting at 11am. At 12pm, experience the energy and tradition of live Aztec dancers. This is a free, all-ages event. Supplies available while they last. Come early and celebrate with us!
💀 Día de los Muertos Celebration (San Clemente)
📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025
📍 San Clemente Library
1100 Calle Puente, San Clemente, CA 92672
💰 FREE
Join us at Max Berg Plaza Park for the city's 3rd Annual Dia de los Muertos celebration. Enjoy bilingual storytimes, crafts, and photo ops with our giant sugar skull. All ages welcome.
💀 Día de los Muertos Festival (Santa Ana)
📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025
📍 Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary
1702 Fairhaven Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92705
💰 FREE
Honor those who came before us at a special Día de los Muertos festival. Live Music, Folkloric Dancers, Face Painting, and More! Features Fairhaven’s first “Chalk Cemetery,” where families can create temporary chalk memorials to remember loved ones
💀 Coco Movie Showing (Newport Beach)
📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025
📍 The Lido Theater
3459 Via Lido Newport Beach, CA 92663
Music, memory, and family—celebrate Día de los Muertos with Pixar’s heartwarming masterpiece. Reserve your tickets now! Doors open 30 minutes prior to film start. There are no trailers and the film begins promptly at 7 pm. Coco is a vibrant celebration of culture, tradition, and the enduring power of memory—bursting with color, emotion, and unforgettable songs. A perfect film to honor November 1.
💀 Día de los Muertos Festival (Westminster)
📅 November 1–2, 2025
📍 The Pumpkin Factory Westminster Mall
1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster, CA
Celebrate tradition and community with live bands, festive decorations, and fun photo opps at The Pumpkin Factory!
💀 Día de los Muertos Festival (Westminster)
📅 November 1–2, 2025
📍 Huntington Beach Harley-Davidson
15080 Goldenwest Cir, Westminster, CA 92683
Celebrate life, color, and culture at a Día de los Muertos festival featuring vibrant art, live mariachi, Aztec dancers, and a curated lowrider, motorcycle, and art show by Antonio Pelayo. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, roaring engines, and a full day of community celebration.
💀 Día de los Muertos Festival (Cypress)
📅 Sunday, November 2, 2025
📍 Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cypress
4471 Lincoln Ave, Cypress, CA 90630
Meet fellow sketchers for a relaxed draw + picnic day at Forest Lawn Cypress Memorial Park. Enjoy graceful views, towering trees, and striking architecture (including the Early Federal–style Heritage Mausoleum). All skill levels welcome—bring a pencil and sketchbook or your full kit.
💀 Día de los Muertos Soundbath (Costa Mesa)
📅 Sunday, November 2, 2025
📍 Fairview Park
2525 Placentia Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Connect with and honor your loved ones in a peaceful location with a sound meditation. Immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of a soundbath while celebrating Día De Los Muertos. Let the vibrations wash over you as you honor your loved ones in a peaceful setting
💀 Día de los Muertos Celebration (Costa Mesa)
📅 Sunday, November 2, 2025
📍 Harbor Lawn-Mt Olive Memorial Park
1625 Gisler Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
💰 FREE
Experience an authentic Día de los Muertos celebration with live mariachi, traditional folk dancers, a community memorial service, and food. This family-friendly event welcomes everyone to honor loved ones and celebrate life. The program features two mariachi performances bookending a 45-minute memorial service, followed by dancers showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the tradition.
💀 Día de los Muertos Celebration (Irvine)
📅 Monday, November 3, 2025
📍 Irvine Barclay Theatre
4242 Campus Drive Irvine, CA 92612
💰 FREE
UC Irvine’s third annual Día de los Muertos with the Mariachi Divas, folklórico and Aztec dance, free food (tamales, pan de muerto, champurrado), face painting, sugar-skull decorating, and crafts. Contribute to the community altar by emailing secomm@uci.edu (subject “altar”) with a photo and dedication.
Día de los Muertos FAQ (Family Tips)
Family Tips for Attending
- What to bring: small flowers (cempasúchil), a photo for community ofrendas (if invited), cash for vendors, layers for evening temps.
- Photography: always ask before photographing ofrendas or people in prayer; some altars are private memorials.
- Parking & timing: arrive 30–45 minutes early; bring strollers with all-terrain wheels for plazas/parks.
- Accessibility: many events are on level surfaces; check venue maps for accessible parking and restrooms.
- Vocabulary: ofrenda (altar), calaveras (skulls), calacas (skeletons), cempasúchil (marigold), pan de muerto (bread).
Is Día de los Muertos the same as Halloween?
No. It’s a separate cultural tradition focused on remembrance and celebration of life, typically Nov 1–2, with altars, music, and food.
What should we bring for a community ofrenda?
A small printed photo and a brief dedication, plus a flower or token. Always follow the host’s instructions.
Are the events appropriate for young kids?
Yes—most OC events include crafts, music, and food. Some imagery includes skeletons, which are celebratory rather than scary.
How should we dress?
Comfortable shoes and layers. Face painting is common and welcomed; be respectful around altars and prayer areas.
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