Houston's Día de los Muertos Parade and Festival is back for its sixth year on Saturday, Nov. 7, bringing music, food, arts and crafts, and a Catrina contest to the heart of the city. The parade is set to step off at 7 p.m. in downtown Houston, with opening ceremonies beginning at 6:30 p.m. Festival-goers can head to Sam Houston Park starting at 4 p.m., and the party runs until 11 p.m.
Those details come from ABC13 Houston, which is the parade's official English-language TV news partner. The station says it will livestream the parade that weekend. The celebration launched in 2021, and this year's edition marks six years of honoring loved ones, per ABC13.
The event is listed as the 6th annual edition on visithoustontexas.com, which fits a pattern of steady growth. A The Heritage Society listing billed the 2023 gathering at Sam Houston Park as the 3rd annual parade and festival, free to attend, with a 7 p.m. parade start.
What Visitors Saw Last Year
Last year's festival gives a sense of what could be in store. Style Magazine described the 2025 event, held Nov. 1 at Sam Houston Park, as packed with community ofrendas, Catrina costumes, live music, dance performances and cultural showcases. It also featured a La Llorona performance and a memorial wall of images submitted by Houston families.
The 2025 festival was presented by Reliant, with Telemundo Houston and ABC13 among its supporters, and organizers said all festival activities were free, though some areas could reach capacity. Whether the 2026 edition will keep every one of those features has not been confirmed.
Why the Day Matters
Día de los Muertos is a celebration that began in Mexico to honor ancestors and the recently departed and to welcome their spirits, according to ABC13. The Smithsonian Institution traces its origins to ancient Mesoamerica, where Aztec, Maya and Toltec groups had set times to remember loved ones who had died. After the Spanish arrived, the ritual became intertwined with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and the holiday is generally celebrated on Nov. 2.
At the center of the tradition is the ofrenda, a temporary altar that the Smithsonian says is a way for families to honor their loved ones. ABC13 notes that these altars feature photos of beloved family members and symbolize water, wind, fire and earth. The earth element is represented by food such as pan de muerto, and offerings can include fruit, chocolate and toys.
Marigolds play a starring role, too. Per the Smithsonian, the petals are used to make a path that leads spirits from the cemetery to their families' homes.
The Story Behind La Catrina
Anyone planning to enter the Catrina contest should know the character's roots. ABC13 Houston reports that La Calavera Catrina began in 1910 as a satirical sketch by Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada. The skeleton look poked fun at Mexican high society's obsession with rich Europeans who powdered their faces too much.
Today, people paint their faces to emulate Catrina, and ofrendas often feature Catrina skulls or skeletons. ABC13 adds that the figure has even been featured in a special edition Barbie doll.
