Translate

Día de los Muertos
Desfile & Festival

JOIN US!


Join us in Downtown El Paso the Saturday of

October 24th, 2026, 11am to 9pm
Parade at 4pm


Día de los Muertos Desfile & Festival: a celebration of life and those who have departed. DÍa de los Muertos is a holiday that has roots in Pre-Columbian Meso-American traditions and the observance of All Soul’s Day brought to Mexico by the Spanish in the early 1500's. It is celebrated on both November 1 and 2, with preparations happening on the days before as well. The holiday is centered on family remembrances where homes and cemeteries are decorated with altars and ofrendas (offerings) to the spirits of their loved ones who have passed away.

Día de los Muertos Desfile & Festival logo

Video shot and produced by Acavius Largo.

A signature event of the Mexican American Cultural Center in the heart of the Downtown Arts District

See Footprint
Map of Parade Route

Día De Los Muertos Parade

Begins at 4 pm

The parade begins at the corner of Campbell St and Mills Ave, and continues west through Mills Ave, turns north on Mesa St, and goes west on Franklin Ave until ending by going south on Santa Fe St.

View Map & Schedule

Parade Participants

General Guidelines
  1. Appropriate attire and icons: Parade participants are expected to align with the theme of Día de los Muertos and to respectfully highlight the symbols and elements associated with this cultural celebration. Some culturally relevant symbols include calaveras, marigolds, monarch butterflies, pan de muerto, altars, and so on.
  2. Any individuals participating, whether marching individually or accompanying a float, should be costumed appropriately and/or have their faces painted in a calavera style/be wearing a calavera mask.
  3. Absolutely NO Halloween themed floats and entries are allowed.
  4. Participants who violate the guidelines for appropriate attire/icons and instructions will be asked to leave parade lineup.
  5. Floats, mojigangas, alebrijes, well-behaved animals, and individuals are invited to participate.
  6. Each group is highly encouraged on providing a sustainable source of music during their procession in order to ensure engagement and liveliness. (Be aware that a large audience will make cell service signals spotty, so it is best to play music from a source that is already downloaded.)
  7. Every PARTICIPANT entering animals in the parade must provide sanitation services for their animals.
  8. Absolutely NO handing out candy, items, or giveaways as a parade participant, either from a float, horse, car, or walking.
  9. Small businesses interested in participating will be asked to enter the parade as sponsors for a fee. This fee is required to be paid by July 17th, 2026 to secure a spot in the parade. Logos and official business name will be asked for at this time so to be featured on parade programming. Reach out to [email protected] for more info!
  10. All parade participating groups and organizations must have a banner or sign identifying them at their time of procession for easy visibility.
  11. All parade participants are expected to behave in an appropriate manner, follow MCAD staff instructions, and be good neighbors to fellow parade participants.
  12. MCAD has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. Participants failing to follow parade guidelines will be dismissed from the parade and barred from future participation in MCAD events.

Walking Groups & Floats

Parade FAQs
  1. Are animals allowed in the parade?
    Yes, animals are allowed to be in the parade. All animals must be well-behaved and not a danger to the public.
  2. Parade participants must clean up any accidents made by participating animals.
    Failure to clean up after animals will result in cleaning fees assessed to the participant.
  3. Is there a minimum age for participating?
    There is no minimum age for participants, but minors must be accompanied by parents or guardians at all times.
  4. Can I pass out candy, flyers, giveaways, etc.?
    No candy or flyers are allowed to limit trash on the parade route, and no items are to be handed or thrown out to ensure participant and audience safety.
  5. Are there vehicle restrictions?
    Absolutely no revving of engines is allowed to help ensure safety. There are no vehicle restrictions, but all vehicles must be in working order and decorated for the event unless they are specialty vehicles like low riders. This also helps make your procession appearance more lively!
  6. Can scooters, roller skates, and skateboards participate?
    Riding on scooters, skateboards, and roller skates is permitted as long as participants are dressed according to the Día de los Muertos theme and wearing the appropriate safety gear.
  7. How long will the parade last?
    Depending on the number of participants, the parade can last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
  8. How long is the parade route?
    The parade route is approximately 1.4 miles long, with slight inclines. Please pace accordingly.
  9. What do we do if there’s an emergency during the parade among participants (i.e. injury)?
    In case of an emergency, find festival staff (wearing STAFF t-shirts) and police officers, if necessary.
  10. Are you still accepting parade participants?
    No, parade participation is limited to approved applicants. Applications closed in June 2026. All are welcome to watch the parade at 4pm!
The Market logo

The Market at Día de los Muertos

The Market at Día de los Muertos features artisan and cottage food vendors, as well as food trucks. Visitors can shop for culturally relevant vendors, including Día de los Muertos–inspired attire, Mexican regional items, and handmade artesanías that reflect the traditions and significance of the celebration. Vendors apply in the summer before the event and undergo a panel review process prior to acceptance.
Our 2026 artisan vendors will be located around San Jacinto Plaza and Cleveland Square Park. Food trucks can be found on Main by San Jacinto Plaza and between the El Paso Museum of Art and La Nube.

Artisan Vendors


Food Trucks


Parade presented by

Presenter

Festival Sponsors

Sponsors

Get Involved

We have multiple opportunities for you to get involved, whether its sponsoring a performance or learning activity. Please take a look at our Small Business & Sponsor Information Packet to see how to get involved as a small business, donor or sponsor!

 

Volunteer

Experience Día de los Muertos as a part of the team! We are in search of volunteers that can participate during set up on the days leading up to the event, one or multiple shifts, as well as break-down. If interested, please fill out the MACC Volunteer form.

Get the latest!

Stay in the loop of all things MACC! Get the latest buzz about our exhilarating exhibitions, events, and a whole lot more!

Part of the El Paso Museums & Cultural Affairs Family.

Museums and Cultural Affairs Department
El Paso Museum of Art
El Paso Museum of Archaeology
El Paso Museum of History