Honoring culture, community: Where to celebrate Day of the Dead in San Diego 2025

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Sherman Heights

The Sherman Heights Community Center is hosting a vibrant, weekslong festivity honoring the Day of the Dead tradition. Visitors can explore community and neighborhood altars, participate in craft workshops, student tours and watch movies.

Oceanside

Friends of Oceanside's 24th Annual Oceanside Día De Los Muertos Festival invites you to a jam-packed day of music, food, crafts and shopping. Downtown Oceanside will feature altars, a free chalk cemetery and a showcase of Por Siempre Car Club low-riders for all to enjoy and participate in. Enjoy dance performances, a "Catrina Contest" and more. You can find the entertainment schedule here.

Leslie Gonzalez

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KPBS

Encinitas

Day of the Dead is much more than a simple gathering. It's a time to cherish loved ones here or gone. Join Encinitas' Day of the Dead celebration where an appreciation and awareness of Latino cultural celebration will provide friendly programming that includes art-making workshops, artist demonstrations, student exhibitions, live Mariachi and other musical performances. There will be dancers, both Folklorico and Azteca, and food trucks to feed the jubilant masses.

Leslie Gonzalez

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KPBS

Chula Vista

Downtown Chula Vista will be immersed in vivid colors, scents and smells for its 5th Annual Día de Muertos celebration. The event will include an ofrenda competition, a Catrín & Catrina Ensemble contest, live music and dance performances at four different locations, a car show, kids crafts and more. You can even bring a copy of a photo of a lost loved one and pin it on the Community Altar at Davidson.

Barrio Logan

Barrio Logan celebrates it's third year honoring the dead through it's Day of the Dead festival. This year's theme, "From Mictlán We Rise; A Return To Humanity" is one of resurrection. Mictlán is a Nahuatl word for the underworld, and the primary focus is to "recover humanity's bones and return them as seeds of life." Join the Barrio Logan community by honoring the theme through remembrances, music, entertainment and free workshops. There will also be a low-rider showcase and Catrina contest.

Leslie Gonzalez

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KPBS

Old Town

Old Town will hold its celebration with a Mercado del Arte and Procesión to the cemetery. If you go between now and Nov. 2, you can visit museums and see altares de muertos, or altars of the dead, participate in art activities, and have the chance to sign-up for a sugar skull painting workshop. Other activities will be spread out throughout October leading up to the weekend where Day of the Dead resides.

City Heights

City Heights El Día de Muertos will be at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park. You can bring your family and friends for a jovial day that includes face painting, mask making and a chance to win prizes in a raffle drawing. Gather and celebrate to honor those lost and get to know the community.