Grand Park Día de los Muertos Opening Day, Oct. 24

Saturday, October 24 is the first day of Downtown LA's annual Día de los Muertos installation at Gloria Molina Grand Park, and it is the day with the most going on. The park for everyone fills with altars made by seasoned and emerging artists and local community organizations, and the opening day adds a daytime celebration on top of the viewing. If you are sorting through things to do in Los Angeles this weekend, this is an easy one to put on the list.

When: Saturday, October 24, 2026 Where: Grand Park, 200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Altar viewing: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Community celebration: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

What to expect on opening day

The altars themselves are on view along Blocks 1 and 2 of the park, from Grand Avenue to Hill Street. They are open to the public all day, so you can arrive early and walk them while the park is quiet, or come later and fold the visit into the rest of the afternoon.

The Opening Day Community Celebration runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Block 1, between Grand Avenue and Olive Court. It is part of Grand Ave Arts: All Access, an event that takes over Grand Avenue in DTLA, and the program includes dance and music performances and a spiritual cleanse. The organizers describe the installation as a healing space, and the opening day tone follows that: communal, personal and unhurried.

Altars are made to remember specific people, so expect photographs, marigolds, candles and offerings. Take your time reading them, and treat them as you would any memorial.

Planning your visit

Grand Park sits in the Civic Center area of Downtown, a short walk from the Music Center and City Hall. The source listing does not give a price or any ticketing, so check the Discover Los Angeles page linked below for the latest details before you go. Parking in the area fills up on busy Saturdays, so plan on transit or a rideshare if you can.

This installation is not a one-day event. The altars stay up through Monday, November 2, and a Noche de los Muertos closing ceremony takes place on Sunday, November 1 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the park's Performance Lawn in Block 2. We cover the full run in our separate post on the Grand Park Día de los Muertos altars. Opening day suits you best if you want the celebration; a weekday visit suits you if you would rather read each altar slowly.

Looking for more upcoming events in Los Angeles around the holiday? Browse our festivals listings or the Downtown page for other things happening nearby.