While Halloween and pumpkin picking season is quickly approaching, so is Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. The Mexican holiday is an important one in Mexican and Latin American cultures, but it’s so much more than sugar skulls and marigolds. Read below for a brief summary of the holiday’s meaning, children’s books on the topic, and local events the whole family can enjoy.
2025 Día de los Muertos Celebrations in Dallas-Fort Worth
McKinney Día de los Muertos
Where: Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Park, McKinney
When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 2–8pm
Why go? Here in Historic Downtown McKinney, festival-goers are welcome to bring photos of their passed loved ones to place on the community altar and also, at the butterfly memorial station, to paint butterflies with a name or message add it to the marigold-adorned memorial tree. At this fifth annual celebration, they’ve got a new, all-ages activity planned too: the Chancla Toss. Kids will have the chance to get their faces painted, and of course don’t see all the most amazing costumes on stage during the costume contests, awarding prizes for Catriń/Catrina, Los Bebes, Spirit Animal, and family.
Pricing: Free admission.
Learn more details here.
Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival
Where: Off the Denton Square on Hickory and surrounding streets
When: Friday–Sunday, October 24–26, 2025
Why go? OK, the top reason? By far the coffin races. Local teams hand-build and decorate the coffins/race cars and then let them loose down the sloped Hickory Street. Just be sure to get there early and secure a good spot so you can actually see them coming down. This weekend-long festival not only has a community altar, pumpkin patch an kids activities, but you also won’t want to miss the twilight lantern parade. Stepping off at 7pm on Saturday evening, this lighted parade also features the Procession of Little Angels, a group commemorating lost pregnancies and children who have passed away.
Pricing: Free admission, except to the Cirque du Horror shows, which start at $17.50 for kids.
Learn more details here.
Dallas Día de los Muertos
Where: Dallas City Hall
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025; 4–11pm
Why go? Head downtown for this fifth annual festival and parade with all sorts of floats and entrants—everything from low-rider cars to painted ponies. Note that they’re pushing back the times more into the evening this year, with the parade stepping off at 7pm. You’ll expect to see performers on the stage set up in front of City Hall and the most elaborate catrina and catrín costumes. I personally have never seen costumes more elaborate than at this festival.
Pricing: Free admission
Learn more details here.
Celebración del Día de los Muertos at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
When: Sunday, October 26, 2025; 8am–5pm
Why go? That already gorgeous view of the Rose Garden staircase? It’ll be covered in a stunning blanket of 150,000 marigold blooms on this day featuring a ceremonial procession with live Catrinas and a community ofrenda altar that visitors are welcome to contribute to.
Pricing: Half-price admission today: $6 adults; $3 children; under 6 free
Learn more details here.
Día de los Muertos Community Altar
Where: Farmers Branch Historical Park
When: Thursday, October 30, 2025; 6:30–9:30pm
Why go? Ever played lotería? Come play the card game and join more kids’ crafts at this Day of the Dead fest. Their community altar will be set up inside the historical park’s Old Church. You’re welcome to bring a family photo or offering of notecards, candles, and flowers to place on the altar.
Pricing: Free admission
Learn more details here.
DSO’s Día de los Muertos Concert
Where: Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas
When: Friday, October 31, 2025; 7:30pm
Why go? If it’s the music that makes your heart swell, and your kids can willingly sit through a performance (that’s key), you’ll get a load of this vibrant music performed by the professional Dallas Symphony Orchestra and more local groups on the grand Meyerson stage.
Pricing: Tickets from $37.
Learn more details here.
Día de los Muertos en Fort Worth
Where: Marine Park, Fort Worth
When: Saturday, November 1, 2025; 10am parade, 11:30am–5pm festival
Why go? Organized by the Artes de la Rosa, the 22nd party gets started at 10am with a parade, leading to a festival at Marine Park, on the northside of downtown. Families can expect food, visual artists, face painting, and live performances from mariachis, opera and ballet folklórico.
Pricing: Free admission
Learn more details here.
LCC’s Día de los Muertos Festival
Where: Latino Cultural Center, Dallas
When: Saturday, November 1, 2025; 11am–4pm
Why go? If you’ve never been to this colorful cultural center close to downtown, this festival is a lovely time to visit. out here to decorate your own sugar skull at craft stations, shop from local artisans, and watch live dance performances on the plaza.
Pricing: Free admission
Learn more details here.
Grandscape’s Día de los Muertos
Where: Grandscape, The Colony
When: Sunday, November 2, 2025; 5–8pm
Why go? Make your way to Grandscape outdoor stage and lawn, where they’ll have face painters and a community altar set up. They welcome guests to bring photos of their loved ones to display while the party unfolds. Stay all evening to see both performances groups, including Garland’s own Mexico 2000 Ballet Folklórico.
Pricing: Free admission
Learn more details here.
Crown Hill’s Día de los Muertos Celebración
Where: Crown Hill Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Dallas
When: Sunday, November 2, 2025; 10am–8pm art on view; 5:30pm performances begin; 7:45pm Catrina Contest judging
Why go? For those around Dallas, how’d you like to party in a cemetery? The Hughes Family Tribute Center, located in the Bachman Lake area, hosts its 11th annual celebration at its historic, Art Deco-era mausoleum. Stay until the early evening for the Mayan dancing by Grupo Pakal, as well as folklórico dancing and mariachi music. And don’t miss a special art installation: Alebrijes: Spirit Animals by artist Ricardo Alarcón, which will be on view starting October 18.
Pricing: Free admission
Learn more details here.
8 Children’s Books about Day of the Dead
Whether or not you already celebrate Day of the Dead, these books will help educate your little ones on the holiday’s importance. Here’s a few of our favorites:
Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book
By: Jeanette Winter
Best for: ages 3–6
Each celebratory skeleton acts out a letter of the alphabet to help introduce your little ones to the Spanish alphabet and folk art. Show me
Celebrate Halloween & the Day of the Dead With Cristina & Her Blue Bunny
By: F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada
Best for: ages 3–6
If you celebrate (or plan to celebrate) both Halloween and Day of the Dead, this one’s for you! While Cristina gets ready to trick-or-treat, she explains how her family celebrates the Day of the Dead. Show me
I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story
By: Janice Levy
Best for: ages 3–6
While her family prepares for Day of the Dead, a young girl recalls some of her favorite memories of her grandfather. Show me
Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration
By: Richard Keep
Best for: ages 3–6
The beautifully illustrated skeletons are ready to sing, dance and eat as they celebrate the Day of the Dead. Plus, this book is written in English but incorporates Spanish words and expressions as well. Show me
A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead
By: Nancy Luenn
Best for: ages 6–9
This cute story follows Rosita after her Abuelita dies. Her father urges her to make a gift to leave at the altar on Day of the Dead—but what will she make? Show me
The Day of the Dead: A Bilingual Celebration
By: Bob Barner
Best for: ages 6–9
This book illustrates Day of the Dead celebrations along with a Spanish and English text. Show me
The Festival of Bones
By: Luis San Vicente
Best for: ages 6–9
With easy rhymes and beautiful illustrations, the humor and celebrations of the Day of the Dead come to life. Show me
Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead
By: Judy Goldman
Best for: ages 6–9
Lupita and her Tío watch the Monarch butterflies. When her uncle passes, Lupita is sad until she sees the Monarchs and remembers him. Show me
What is Día de los Muertos?
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a two-day holiday—celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2—where families come together to celebrate, pray for and honor their loved ones that have died. Originating in Mexico, the holiday is now celebrated all over Latin America. And even though this holiday and Halloween overlap, it is by no means “Mexican Halloween.” But both holidays did originate with similar afterlife beliefs from All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, but are celebrated differently today.
How is Día de los Muertos Traditionally Celebrated?
Starting midnight on November 1, Dia de los Angelitos (or Day of the Little Angels, honoring children who have passed away) begins. Families construct an altar (known as an ofrenda) with the departed child’s favorite items—such as snacks, toys and photographs.
As soon as the clock strikes midnight November 2, the celebrations shift to honor adult spirits on Día de los Difuntos (or Day of the Deceased). While families also construct altars for departed adults, the ofrendas feature more adult themes—like tequila, pan de muerto and jars of Atole.
By noon on November 2, Día de los Muertos begins. People typically come together and have parades in their city—complete with skull-painted faces and traditional Mexican dress. Families visit cemeteries and decorate grave sites with marigolds, gifts and sugar skulls with the departed’s name inscribed. It’s also common to clean the gravestone to restore its color.
If you plan on celebrating, be mindful of the deeply rooted customs and traditions. The preparations that lead up to the holiday are extremely important in Mexican culture as it’s a deeply spiritual and family-bonding experience.
