6 Día De Los Muertos events happening in Tucson this weekend 🧡

Tucson residents have several ways to honor loved ones, share family traditions and take part in community celebrations for Día de los Muertos this weekend. Local events include public ofrendas, marigold activities, mariachi music, folklórico performances, face painting, food, art and hands-on crafts. Día de los Muertos is traditionally observed Nov. 1 and 2, when families remember and honor relatives and friends who have died.

At La Milpitas de Cottonwood, 2405 S. Cottonwood Lane, participants can learn about the importance of marigolds during a workshop hosted by Las Milpitas Community Farm. The flower’s bright golden color is closely associated with Día de los Muertos, and attendees will be able to take home marigold blooms. The workshop is scheduled for 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Residents interested in attending should check the event page for additional information.

The Monica is also hosting its annual Día de los Muertos party. The free event will feature local vendors, a live mariachi band, face painting and treats. Admission does not cost anything, although attendees should bring money if they plan to buy food or shop with vendors. The event listing does not provide a time or address, so visitors should consult the event page before heading out.

Carino Coffee, at 3305 N. Cardi Boulevard, will host an evening Día de Muertos service from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. The coffee shop plans to light its ofrenda, or altar honoring people who have died. Visitors can take Polaroid pictures, get their faces painted and try a special vegan champurrado. Admission is free, but guests should bring money for drinks. The event offers a smaller gathering centered on an altar, seasonal food and an evening community atmosphere.

For a larger festival, Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, is holding its annual Chiles, Chocolate and Day of the Dead Festival. The program includes local vendors, mariachi music, ballet folklórico performances and face painting, along with food built around the festival’s namesake flavors. Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 2 through 17. The listing does not include the festival hours, so attendees should review the event page for scheduling details before making plans.

South Tucson’s Corazon Del Barrio, at 30 W. 28th Street, will display six ofrendas in its gallery. The venue will also feature a photography exhibition from the South Tucson Photo Club, local vendors and a free mini nicho crafting activity. A nicho is a small devotional display, and the craft gives visitors a chance to make their own artistic tribute while learning through participation. The event listing does not specify an admission charge, date or hours, making the online event page the best place to confirm the details.

Día de Muertos Celebración en Nuestro Jardín at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, will combine traditional imagery with activities for visitors of different ages. The gardens will offer festive floral displays, a community ofrenda, face painting, sugar skull crafts, puppets and a mariachi performance. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for people ages 62 and older, and $10 for children ages 3 through 17. The listing does not state the event hours, so visitors should check before arriving.

The All Souls Procession will also create a community altar at the MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento. Members of the public can bring photographs and other offerings to add to the altar. The gathering will include a blessing by Grupo Coatlicue and Danza Azteca. The event connects the individual act of remembering someone who has died with Tucson’s broader public tradition of honoring the dead together. As with several of the listings, the event page has additional information about timing and participation.

Across these gatherings, the central tradition remains the ofrenda, an altar created to remember people who have passed away. A Tucson ofrenda may include photographs, flowers and other meaningful offerings, allowing families and neighbors to make memory visible in a shared space. Whether residents choose a farm workshop, a coffee shop service, a gallery, a botanical garden, a festival or the community altar at the MSA Annex, the weekend’s events offer different ways to participate in Día de los Muertos while keeping remembrance at the center.