Downey Día de Los Muertos Art Festival 2026

The Downey Theatre turns into a neighborhood-sized celebration of the dead on Sunday, November 1, when the 13th Annual Downey Día de Los Muertos Art Festival takes over the theatre and its surrounding grounds. If you are sorting through things to do in Los Angeles this season, this is one of the larger community versions of the holiday, and organizers say it draws more than 20,000 visitors from across Southern California.

When: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 11 AM to 8 PM Where: Downey Theatre, Downey Admission: Free, with free parking, according to the Downey Patriot

What to expect

The official festival site promotes traditional folklórico dances, a Día de Los Muertos art gallery, live performances, face painting and a long list of hands-on activities. Local coverage adds fine art exhibitions, ballet folklórico and mariachi performances, community altars, artisan vendors, food trucks and family programming. Ofrendas and papel picado sit alongside the music and workshops, so the visual side of the holiday is as much a draw as the stages.

The festival site lists a Main Stage, a Community Stage and a Zócalo Stage, plus a festival map and a how-to-get-here page. Check those before you go so you know which stage has the performance you want.

Two returning pieces are worth planning around. The Dodger Altar by Alec Esparza is back this year, and Rubicelia "Rubi" Prieto, the artist behind La Calaca Blanca, is bringing a new Catrina sculpture and community altar.

Planning your visit

Eleven to eight is a long day, so there is no need to arrive at opening. Midday is the easiest time for families with small kids, while the late afternoon is a good moment for the performances and for the altars as the light drops. Bring comfortable shoes, since the grounds are spread out, and expect to wander between the gallery, vendors and stages.

If you are building a list of LA events this weekend, this one pairs well with other Día de Los Muertos gatherings around the region on the same dates. Hollywood Forever, Grand Park and Self Help Graphics all have their own versions, each with a different feel. Downey's is the one that leans hardest into the art-festival side.

Dates, hours and details can change, so confirm on the official festival site before heading out. For more ideas, browse our festivals page.