San Antonio Celebrates Halloween & DIa de los Muertos

San Antonio celebrates not only Halloween but Day of the Dead in a big way with events planned throughout the town. Day of the Dead, a Mexican pre-Hispanic festival, is the day when the dead are said to join the living for a day of celebration.

San Antonio Zoo – Zoo Boo
Date: October 30
Zoo Boo is full of fun for all ages; an exciting, safe and non-scary event for families with trick-or-treating, face painting and games. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes, and children can participate in the costume contest.

The Institute of Texan Cultures – Halloween Howl’r
Date: October 28
Wander through the haunted rooms and lairs of the Institute’s campus. Young goblins can come in costume and trick-or-treat at various booths featuring spine-tingling storytellers, not-so-petrifying puppet shows and frightening face painters. Or, they can try their hands at the dark arts and crafts booths and see what they conjure up. Older goblins will enjoy the haunted barn or graveyard and dragon roping.

The Institute of Texan Cultures – The changing identity of Día de los Muertos revealed in photography and muralism
Dates: through November 12, 2007
Join in the festivities of el Día de los Muertos, and examine how time, intersecting cultural celebrations and mass media have changed the face of this tradition.

Mission San José – Día de los Muertos Exhibit and Altar
Dates: through November 30
An altar and exhibit will be on display.

Market Square – Los Altares Del Mercado
Date: October 28
Over 30 altars created by tenants, merchants and junior high and high school students will be on display.

La Villita – A celebration of the art of the day of the dead
Dates: October 28 – November 4
Festivities will include performances by Las Monas Drum & Dance Group as well as exhibits from La Villita tenants and artists Chris Braswell and Ladi Loera.

Southwest School of Art & Craft – Día de los Muertos: La Ofrenda
Dates: October 30 – November 2
A Día De Los Muertos altar created by students, staff, faculty, board members and volunteers of the Southwest School of Art & Craft.

Say Sí Central – Family Extravaganza
Dates: November 1-3
Enjoy family festivities, live music and food booths. To complete the experience, break bread (pan de muerto) with the dearly departed and savor sugar skulls prepared in one of San Antonio’s authentic Mexican bakeries.

Centro Cultural Aztlán – The 30th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration Altares Y Ofrendas Exhibit
Dates: November 2 – 9
Centro Cultural Aztlan has made a tradition of Día de los Muertos by bringing together artists and community people to install traditional and artistic altars that express their personal point of view on this universal subject.

SouthTown – URBAN 15’S Carnival de los Muertos
Date: November 2
Carnival de San Anto presents its annual performance ritual as part of Día de los Muertos. The procession parade of dancing and drumming Calaveras can be seen at SouthTown starting at 7:00 pm. It will then travel to Centro Cultural Aztlan to perform at their Altar Ofrenda at 8:00 pm. URBAN-15 celebrates the joyful memories of our departed friends and family in this ceremony.