Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, the lively cultural tradition widely celebrated in Mexico, remembers loved ones who have died through festive gatherings, music, costumes, special treats and decorated altars or ofrendas. Day of the Dead is celebrated Nov. 1-2, and we’ve rounded up 16 kid-friendly Día de los Muertos events in L.A. for the whole family.
1. Plaza West Covina Dia De Los Muertos Celebration
12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Through Nov. 3 | Plaza West Covina
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Día de los Muertos with a series of events and art installations that honor culture, tradition and unity. This year’s events include include the Community Ofrenda (Sept. 3-Nov. 3), Bingo Besties: Loteria edition (Sept. 6), Para La Cultura: A Hispanic Heritage Celebration (Sept. 19) and more. More info.
2. Día de los Muertos Festival
Through Nov. 2 | El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument
Olvera Street Merchants and El Pueblo Historical Monument hosts their annual Día de los Muertos festival from Oct. 25-Nov. 2. The free, community events include daytime and evening performances, nightly processions, an outdoor altar display, and face painting on Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2 and Carrera de Los Muertos 5K on Nov. 1. More info.
3. LHYAC 8th Annual Día de Los Muertos Days of Remembrance
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Oct. 29 – Nov. 1 | Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center
LHYAC will have various ways for families to engage in this important cultural tradition, including coming to visit LHYAC’s annual indigenous ofrenda created with local ancestral healer, Georgina Cuatencos, in our front courtyard.
Come and add your own photos, recuerdos, treats and other items in honor of your loved ones who have passed on, or join LHYAC as a visitor to come and take in everyone’s beautiful offerings! The community altar is open to the public and free to visit.
On Nov. 1, 4-8:30 p.m., join LHYAC for the final event and movie night. Celebrate this ancient indigenous tradition of the Mesoamerican people dating back more than 3,000 years that connects the living and the departed. Festivities include Danza Mexica, a platica on the tradition of altar making with Maestra Georgina Cuatencos, art workshops, face painting and more! The evening ends with a screening of the film, “The Book of Life” at 7 p.m. More info.
4. Hollywood Forever’s Día de los Muertos Celebration
1:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m., Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 | Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Join Hollywood Forever for the 26th annual Día de los Muertos celebration, an intimate gathering honoring memory, culture and community. This beloved Los Angeles tradition will feature dozens of artist-created altars, Aztec dancers, artisan and culinary vendors, and outdoor screenings of Disney Pixar’s “Coco” presented by Disney+ and Hulu. A dazzling drone show will follow the 6:45 p.m. screening. With moments of remembrance, music and shared joy, the event invites families to celebrate life and honor ancestors together. More info.
5. Día de los Muertos at Kidspace
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nov. 1 – 2 | Kidspace Children’s Museum
Join Kidspace’s Día de los Muertos festivities, Nov. 1-2, featuring music, dance, art and community ofrenda where families can share memories of loved ones, people and pets. More info.
6. Family Fest: Día De Los Muertos
11 a.m., Nov. 1 | The Wallis
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the first Family Fest of the season, a Día De Los Muertos celebration.
The day of remembrance and gratitude will feature performances and engaging arts and crafts activities from Self Help Graphics & Art, Pacifico Dance Company, Lil Libros, Color Me Face Painting, and City of Beverly Hills Community Services Department. More info.
7. Dia de Los Muertos at Pretend City
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Nov. 1 | Pretend City Children’s Museum
Celebrate Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead―a holiday for celebrating the lives of departed family and friends. Our Altar is decorated with sugar skulls, pictures, treats, and sweets. Come celebrate your loved ones with joyful and vibrant festivities that are a tradition in Mexico, the United States, and throughout Latin America. More info.
8. Glendale’s Annual Día de Los Muertos Festivities
4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Nov. 1 | Glendale Central Library
Join the City of Glendale and Glendale Library, Arts & Culture for the annual Día de Los Muertos festivities.
Activities and performances include face painting, Coaxochitl (Aztec Dancers), Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca, Miramonte Elementary Little Kids Rock and Bilingual Storytime. More info.
9. 19th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival
5 p.m. – 8 p.m., Nov. 1 | Sun Valley Youth Arts Center
DCA’s Sun Valley Youth Arts Center (SVYAC) invites the community to its 19th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival, a celebration of Life, culture and tradition with food, art and live music. Enjoy hands-on art workshops and live performances by Grammy Award-Winning artist Lorenzo Martínez and Vanessa Ramirez y Grupo Bella. The event concludes with a sacred closing ceremony by Kalpulli Temachtia Quetzalcoatl, honoring ancestral roots through dance and tradition.This event is free and open to the public! More info.
10. 7th Annual Día de Muertos Family Festival
6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Nov. 1 | Catalina Museum for Art & History
Catalina Museum for Art & History invites families and visitors to experience the beloved tradition in one of the region’s most scenic settings. The 7th Annual Día de Muertos Family Festival returns to Avalon, transforming the museum plaza into a vibrant evening of remembrance, music and art.
Guests will enjoy live performances by Mariachi Las Catrinas (6–9 p.m.), a community ofrenda and art contest for artists of all skill levels (cash prize included), and festive experiences from local food vendors, tequila tastings, and a kids’ art station. A highlight of the night includes a raffle for the 2025 Barbie Signature Día de Muertos doll, celebrating the iconic collection inspired by Mexican heritage. The event offers countless photo opportunities—from candlelit altars and vivid papel picado backdrops to mariachi performances set against Avalon’s waterfront evening light. More info.
11. 25th Annual Día de los Muertos Family Festival
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nov. 2 | Main Street Canoga Park
Main Street Canoga Park presents the 25th Annual Día de los Muertos Family Festival, featuring chalk art, food trucks, classic car show, altars, live entertainment including Ballet Folklorico, Latin Jazz and more. The free festival will take place along Sherman Way, between Canoga Ave. and Topanga Canyon Blvd. More info.
12. Canoga Park Youth Arts Center’s Día de los Muertos Celebration
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Nov. 2 | The Canoga Park Youth Arts Center
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center (CPYAC)! The exhibition will feature altars, a mini city, and artwork created by our local schools and our afterschool program. Enjoy free art workshops for all ages. More info.
13. Día De Los Muertos at Forest Lawn
12 p.m. – 3 p.m., Nov. 2 | Forest Lawn – Glendale, Cypress and Covina Hills
The community events will honor the memories of the dead and bridge connections with ancestors. Colorful altars, larger-than-life Catrina and alebrije (spirit guide) art works, folklorico dance and Mariachi performances, arts & crafts, face painting, and refreshments will bring the vibrant traditions of the Mexican holiday to life.
Highlights for the Día de los Muertos celebrations include Folklorico dance and Mariachi performances, Bob Baker Marionette performances at Covina Hills, Cypress, and Glendale locations, community ofrendas, food trucks and more.
This year continues live, in-person performances. It also marks the seventh appearance of six-foot-tall Catrina sculptures, artisanal creations crafted by Forest Lawn’s floral designers and inspired by Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. The skeletal women symbolize the return of departed loved ones and are a reminder to be true to oneself and enjoy life. Each of Forest Lawn’s Catrina sculptures has her own personality, with distinct costumes and accessories inspired by the early twentieth century, the time period when Catrinas were first popularized by Jose Guadalupe Posada and Diego Rivera. Alebrijes spirit animals will accompany the Catrina sculptures. More info.
14. Barnyard Afternoon: A Family Program
12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Nov. 2 | Rancho Los Alamitos
Spend a fun-filled afternoon at Rancho Los Alamitos! Participants of all ages are invited to enjoy games and get creative with hands-on crafts celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Perfect for all ages, Barnyard Afternoon is a program with a mix of history, animals, and interactive moments. Book one of two sessions, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. More info.
15. Día de Los Muertos Celebration at The Fowler
1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Nov. 2 | The Fowler Museum at UCLA
Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with artist Maria Elena Cruz and honor the loved ones who have passed away through hands-on artmaking. Create your own mini ofrendas (shrines/offerings) and colorful sugar skull piñatas. Enjoy a curator-led walk-through of our newly installed interpretive kiosks showcasing vibrant devotional practices in Haiti, Guatemala, and Mexico. The program will also include live music by Mariachi Alta California and light refreshments. More info.
16. The Paramount Swap Meet’s First Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration
12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Nov. 16 | The Paramount Swap Meet
Paramount Swap Meet hosts its first annual Día de los Muertos Celebration, featuring face painting, sugar skull creations. papel picado crafts, community altar, catrinas contest, raffles, food, live canvas painters, photo exhibition, live music and Aztec dancers. More info.
