Día de los Muertos Festival
Celebrate the 21st Annual Día de los Muertos Festival with community altars in the museum. Free and open to the public!
Join us at the Tacoma Art Museum for our annual Día de los Muertos Festival in partnership with Mi Centro, with several events planned through October and culminating in our celebration on Sunday, November 2.
Celebrate life, memory, and culture at our free, family-friendly Día de los Muertos event! Join us for a day of vibrant traditions, including guided art workshops, hands-on crafts, take-home kits, and a stunning community-created tapete (sand painting).
Add to our community ofrendas (altars) to honor loved ones, explore cultural displays, and enjoy music, performances, and more throughout the day.
This is a joyful and welcoming celebration for all ages.
Safety Note: This is a celebration of life and community. Harassment or hateful speech will not be tolerated.
Event Schedule
Día De Los Muertos Educator Night
October 2 | 5 – 8 pm
Join fellow educators from across Pierce County for an evening of connection and celebration at Tacoma Art Museum, in partnership with Mi Centro.
Teen Open Studio: Día de los Muertos Nichos workshop with Raquel Garcia
October 16 | 5 – 7 pm
In this free workshop, participants will create their own nichos—small, decorative shadow boxes rooted in Mexican folk art traditions. These vibrant pieces can be used to honor a loved one, highlight a favorite quote, or showcase a meaningful image or artwork.
Embodied Altars Movement Meditation Class
October 23 | 5:30 – 7:30
Embodied Altars is an all-levels movement-meditation class created by El Sueño. Participants will utilize Indigenous principles within dance, meditation, song, and journaling as a way to practice gratitude, honor the land, and recognize their ancestors.
Día de los Muertos Main Celebration
November 2 | 10 am – 5 pm
Join us for a day of vibrant traditions, including guided art workshops, hands-on crafts, take-home kits, and a stunning community-created tapete (sand painting).
About Día de los Muertos: Known in English as Day of the Dead, this life-affirming celebration of the eternal cycle of life has been observed for centuries. Day of the Dead combines ancient and colonial traditions, folk customs, and spiritual beliefs. Celebrated in Mexican and Latin American communities on November 1 and 2, Dia de los Muertos is a powerful, symbolic way to honor relatives and friends who have died.
Traditionally, families assemble altars or ofrendas, in their homes laden with offerings of food and drink to nourish the spirits on their long journey back home. Flowers, candles, clay figurines, sugar skeletons with the names of the deceased, and personal messages to the spirits are placed on the altars.
Tacoma Art Museum’s annual Dia de los Muertos Festival has grown over the years, bringing together community organizations, schools, families, and individuals to create altars, celebrate, and share.
Tacoma Art Museum’s Día de los Muertos festival is generously supported by Tacoma Creates, ArtsFund, Tacoma Events and Venues and our wonderful Tacoma Art Museum Members.