San Antonio will be hosting its seventh annual Día de los Muertos celebration, "Día de los Muertos: Celebrando las Misiones," on November 2, the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office has announced. The event, honoring the historic missions and their descendants, will take place at Mission Marquee Plaza and will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., according to an announcement on the City of San Antonio website. Reflecting the communal spirit of the day, the event is open to the public at no charge.
District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran emphasized the Day of the Dead's significance in fostering familial and community ties. "Dia de los Muertos is an opportunity for us to celebrate and honor our loved ones who have passed, reinforcing our connections to family and community," Viagran told the City of San Antonio's news page. The event will commence with a drum and dance procession, beginning at Mission San José Granary and culminating at the Mission Marquee Plaza.
Attendees can expect an array of activities including live music, dance performances, and food, with workshops and free face painting available until 7:30 p.m. A special feature of the event, a remembrance slideshow, invites community members to contribute photos of late loved ones to be displayed on the Mission Marquee Plaza's original 1948 movie screen, as outlined by the event schedule published on the City of San Antonio's website. Anthony "The Poet" Flores will be master of ceremonies for the day, guiding participants through a rich program featuring storytelling, a costume contest, and a closing film screening of "The Book of Life."
The celebration not only provides an authentic local experience but also stands as a product of collective effort, highlighted by the city's World Heritage Office. "The World Heritage Office is proud to host the Día de los Muertos event at Mission Marquee Plaza," said Colleen Swain, Director of the City’s World Heritage Office. "This event is developed annually in partnership with the community and provides an authentic local celebration," Swain remarked in a statement found on City of San Antonio news release. The organization has expressed its appreciation for the collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture and the mission descendant families, who play a critical role in the event's planning and success.
More details about the event, including the full lineup of activities and performances, are available at the Mission Marquee Plaza website. Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to partake in the educational and cultural richness of this age-old tradition, as San Antonio showcases the value it places on commemoration, heritage, and the arts.
