Natalie Parra-Novosad - The Austinot

Dia de los Muertos Austin: Parades, Altars & Events

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Last Updated On – 25th October, 2025

Jump to: Parades | Family Events and Workshops

Dia de Los Muertos Austin is one of the most anticipated cultural events, deeply rooted in the city’s strong Mexican and Latin communities and embraced by its diverse, multicultural spirit.

In fact, Austin is home to one of the largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos celebrations in Texas, the Viva La Vida Festival, a lively expression of art, music, and remembrance that brings the community together in a way few other events can.

Across the city, you’ll also find parades filled with elaborate costumes, altars glowing with marigolds, and performances that pay homage to life’s enduring connections.

If you’re ready to experience Austin at its most colorful and heartfelt, here are the best Dia de los Muertos Austin events that bring tradition, creativity, and community pride to life.

Keep the festivities going all season long — discover more from our Austin guide for events, concerts, and local happenings.

Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the latest information. However, all information mentioned in this article is subject to change. As always, please confirm before heading out.

Additionally, a few links in this article may help The Austinot earn a small commission if you make a purchase using those links.

Also, check out our articles on Pumpkin Patches in Austin, Halloween Events in Austin , and Things to Do this Fall in Austin!

Parades & Large Celebrations — Día de los Muertos Austin

RESCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER 1: Viva La Vida Festival and Parade

Dia de los Muertos Austin - Viva La Vida Festival and Parade

Image credit: Mexic-Arte Museum kids

Immerse yourself in culture as the Mexic-Arte Museum presents the 42nd Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade, Austin’s largest and longest-running celebration of Día de los Muertos!

Spend the afternoon enjoying the incredible festival activities, which run until 6 pm. Explore the Education Pavilion with hands-on art activities and live artist demonstrations, discover unique retail from local vendors, check out a cool low-rider exhibition, and indulge in traditional foods while enjoying nonstop live performances.

Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
When: November 1, 2025 | 12 pm – 6 pm
How Much: Free

Día de los Muertos at Waterloo Park

Image credit: Waterloo Greenway

For two days, Waterloo Greenway will transform the Moody Amphitheater into a stunning ofrenda, a community altar glowing with photos, flowers, and cherished mementos contributed by visitors.

The event will also feature vibrant performances of music and dance that capture the soul of the holiday, while an artisan marketplace showcases local creatives and their handcrafted treasures. Families can join in the fun with hands-on activities, from colorful crafts to festive face painting.

Where: Moody Amphitheater, Waterloo Park, 500 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78701
When: November 1, 2025 | 6 pm
How Much: Free

Día de los Muertos Festival and Parade at Centennial Plaza (Round Rock)

Image credit: Round Rock Ballet Folklorico

Hosted by Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, in partnership with the Williamson County Hispanic Heritage Committee, the City of Round Rock, and Univision, this annual tradition returns for its 12th year on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from noon to 9 pm.

The day kicks off with a lively procession honoring ancestors, paying tribute to the ancient Mesoamerican roots of Día de los Muertos. Afterward, you can explore a festival filled with arts, crafts, and food vendors, offering everything from traditional treats to unique handmade goods.

Families and friends are encouraged to join in the fun with themed costumes, so don your best Calaca, Frida, Selena, or Prince-inspired look and take part in the vibrant celebration.

Where: Centennial Plaza, 301 W Bagdad Ave, Round Rock, TX 78664
When: November 1, 2025 | 12 pm – 9 pm
How Much: Free

Family & Hands-On Workshops — Día de los Muertos Austin

Día de los Huesos

Head to the Texas Science & Natural History Museum for Día de los Huesos, the “Day of the Bones.” This unique event blends science and culture in a playful, educational celebration perfect for guests of all ages.

You and the kids can uncover the secrets of animal skeletons and skulls, color your own paper dinosaur skulls, and even make butterfly crafts to contribute to a special museum art installation. For those curious about nature’s tiniest wonders, microscopes will be available to explore the delicate details of butterfly wings.

Kids can also take part in a scavenger hunt, enjoy vibrant face painting on the back patio, and soak in a festive performance by Texas Folklórico at 2 pm.

Where: Texas Science and Natural History Museum, 2400 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78712
When: November 2, 2025 | 1 pm – 5 pm
How Much: Free – $10

Día de los Muertos Celebrations at Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Image credit: Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Expect vibrant Day of the Dead altars, interactive art installations, and hands-on activities at the Dia de los Muertos Celebrations at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. You can even contribute to the collective outdoor ofrenda, a growing altar adorned with photos and notes from the community.

Aside from that, the festivities include live performances from local Austin talent such as Gary Hobbs, Marca Especial, The Tiarras, Nova Band, and Danza Azteca Guadalupana.

You and the kids can also enjoy free face painting, sugar skull decorating workshops, and a MexAmeriCon showcase featuring artist panels, games, and pop culture inspired by Latino storytelling traditions.

Last but not least, there will be an artisan vendor market, piñata-inspired art installations by Las Piñatas/Latinos in Architecture, and a community resource fair supporting local nonprofits.

Where: Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St, Austin, TX 78701
When: November 1, 2025 | 2 pm – 6 pm
How Much: Free

Dia De Los Muertos Loteria Train

All aboard for one of the most unique Día de los Muertos Austin experiences, the Día de los Muertos Lotería Train!

Hosted in beautifully restored vintage lounge cars, the event celebrates this 3,000-year-old tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed with a joyful twist. Guests will enjoy five rounds of Lotería, Mexico’s beloved bingo-style game, with exciting prizes for every winner and a chance to score the grand prize, a $300 gift card toward any future train ride!

Between rounds, you can sip on classic margaritas available from the Cedar Park concession car and mingle with fellow riders as the train rolls through the evening. Don your best Calavera-inspired outfit for the costume contest in each car. There are prizes for those who bring the most festive flair!

Where: Austin Steam Train Association Museum, 401 E Whitestone Blvd C-100, Cedar Park, TX 78613
When: November 1, 2025 | 6 pm – 10 pm
How Much: $50 – $65

Keep the festivities going all season long — discover more from our Austin guide for events, concerts, and local happenings.

8 Austin Cocktails Full of Holiday Spirits

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Cooler temperatures are finally here. If, like me, you’re not a fan of 100-degree temperatures and castigating sun rays, you’re probably celebrating.

What better way to celebrate the cold and welcome the holidays than to partake in a couple of wintry craft cocktails from some of Austin’s best locally-owned establishments? Here are eight to get you started. Cheers! [Read more…]

Sushi and Sports at North Austin’s Pacific Rim

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Pacific Rim’s Escolar Yakitori (Credit: Victor Parra)

Editor’s Note: Pacific Rim has closed.

If you live or work near North Central Austin and are looking for a place to hang out and watch the game on Sunday, or just hang out and have drinks after work, Pacific Rim is the place to be. In fact, it’s one of the best places I’ve found in town for a large group outing.

Pacific Rim also have the largest variety of food I’ve seen on a menu in a while, so everyone will find something to like. The portions are substantial, so go hungry. [Read more…]

Texas Keeper Offers Complete Austin Cider Experience

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Entering Texas Keeper’s cidery in south Austin (Credit: Victor Parra)

Fall is the time for apple harvesting, and cideries are hard at work preparing batches of freshly-pressed apple juice for aging and fermenting. Nothing makes me crave a glass of cider quite like dropping temperatures, crackling fires and turning leaves. Luckily, Austin has a few locally-made ciders to oblige my craving.

There’s no doubt that a craft cider movement is brewing in Austin, and Texas Keeper is at the forefront with a new (and amazing) tasting room due to open its doors on Dec. 5, 2015. [Read more…]

Guide to Austin’s Changing Neighborhoods

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Austin is the fourth fastest growing city in the U.S. and second fastest growing in the south. As any Austinite will tell you, things have definitely changed since the days when you could rent an apartment for $600 a month, and that wasn’t even 10 years ago. Now the average rent is up to $1,455!

Besides the skyrocketing housing prices, it’s not all bad. Austin has always been more culturally open-minded and, as a result, we have a growing variety of restaurants, bars and entertainment options. In spite of its growth, Austin has held to its traditions and newcomers are happy to participate.

I’ve compiled an Austin neighborhood guide for life in the city today, including insight on rent and home prices, entertainment and atmosphere to help you navigate rising costs and changing neighborhoods. [Read more…]

Austin’s laV Earns National Recognition for Food and Wine

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

laV wine bar

Editor’s Note: laV has permanently closed, as of January 1, 2016.

LaV was recently named among U.S. Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 list of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants, and for good reason. Their wine selection is exceptional and they employ two advanced sommeliers. The two-story wine cellar at laV houses over 1,200 different selections, and the wine menu is a book with a much-needed table of contents.

To put laV’s accomplishments into perspective, it is one of only 19 restaurants on Wine Enthusiast’s list in the south. It’s the only one of eight in Texas, and the sole representative in Austin. [Read more…]

Experience Texas Wine and Food at Tour de Vin 2015

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Tour de Vin 2015 is right around the corner

Twin Liquors at Hancock Center hosted a sneak peek wine tasting event last week for the upcoming Tour de Vin, an annual festival from the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. Vendors and wineries gave a preview of some of the wines they’ll be presenting during Tour de Vin at the Fair Market on September 17th. The pre-tasting event featured mostly California wines, but Tour de Vin will include several wines from Texas and around the world. [Read more…]

5 Best Ethnic Grocery Stores in Austin for Kitchen Inspiration

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Jackfruit at MT Supermarket

Getting bored cooking the same old dinners week after week? It’s time to spice up your life with exotic food. These five ethnic grocery stores in Austin make it easy for you to try something new, no matter your background or cooking skill level. Nothing can transport you elsewhere quite like the smell of toasting exotic spices filling up your kitchen.

You can buy all the ingredients it takes to make your own curries, sushi, dumplings and mole from scratch at these grocery stores, or you can get products that are mostly already made to enjoy an easy weeknight meal. [Read more…]

Barlata Brings Spain’s Regional Tastes to Austin

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Spanish Olives at Barlata

Austin doesn’t have enough Spanish food. Sure, there are a couple of tapas restaurants, but even though Austin is known as a foodie city, authentic Spanish cuisine seems to be a needle in the haystack of Tex-Mex, BBQ and kimchi fries. If there are any restaurateurs reading this post, heed my cry! Please make Spanish tapas the new ramen. [Read more…]

New to Northwest Austin, Galaxy Cafe Expands Selection

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Galaxy Cafe’s new Northwest Hills location

During a recent tasting at the newest Galaxy Cafe on Mesa Drive in Northwest Austin, the food and service exceeded all expectations — not that Galaxy Cafe wasn’t great to begin with. I’ve visited many times, so I know they’ve been serving delicious, health conscious and environmentally friendly food to Austinites for years.

For those of you who haven’t been in a while, I highly recommend a return visit for any meal of the day. Their bread and produce is delivered daily, most of the ingredients used are organic or all natural and they have some of the best gluten free options in the city.

Galaxy Cafe is a great place to get a fairly quick, guilt free, homestyle meal with quality ingredients and options that cater to any diet. The Northwest Hills location is the largest yet. But it’s not only unique in its size and interstellar décor, but in the craft beer, coffee and wine selection it offers. Take a look at what you can expect when you visit. [Read more…]

Parades & Large Celebrations — Día de los Muertos Austin

Family & Hands-On Workshops — Día de los Muertos Austin

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