Marigolds, mariachi and community altars will fill Scissortail Park this Sunday as Oklahoma City's Festival de Vida y Muerte returns for what organizers describe as the seventh annual Día de Muertos celebration downtown. The free, family-friendly event brings together music, dance, art and food meant to honor deceased loved ones in the tradition observed throughout Mexico and Latin America, according to The Journal Record.
The festival is presented by Supermercados Morelos and organized by Tango PR, per the same report. Listings differ on the exact closing time: the park's own event page lists hours from noon to 9 p.m., according to Scissortail Park, while a separate listing from OnlyInOK puts the end time at 8 p.m. Either way, admission remains free and open to all ages, OnlyInOK notes.
Altars, Artisans and a Pet Parade
Visitors can expect community ofrendas — altars decorated with marigolds, cherished photographs and traditional offerings — spread across the park, per the same OnlyInOK listing. The festival will also include a Catrina costume and makeup contest and a free Catrina and Alebrije pet parade open to all participants, according to The Journal Record. Children's activities introducing Día de Muertos customs and symbols round out the family-oriented programming.
Shoppers can browse El Mercado, described as a market where local artisans sell handcrafted goods, clothing and pottery, the Journal Record reports. Local Latino artists will also give live art demonstrations and showcase their work throughout the day, according to Tango PR's event page. Organizers say the festival lets the wider community learn about Día de Muertos through ofrendas, performances and art.
Oaxacan Wood Carving Takes Center Stage
Among the featured artisans is Margarito Melchor, a wood carver from Oaxaca, Mexico, known for alebrijes — the brightly painted fantasy creatures carved from copal wood, the Journal Record reports. Melchor comes from a family considered pioneers of Oaxacan wood carving, with three generations each developing their own artistic styles, according to a biography published by San Jose Jazz. Festival visitors will be able to see his work up close and learn about the carving and hand-painting techniques behind it.
Music will come from Mariachi Los Caporales, a San Antonio, Texas-based group returning as a featured act, according to KFOR. The lineup also includes local and visiting performers along with folklórico dancers, the Journal Record reports, while OnlyInOK's listing adds that acoustic folk music and traditional dance troupes will perform throughout the day. Fourteen local food trucks will serve Latin cuisine and other favorites, per OnlyInOK.
A Growing Downtown Tradition
Last year's festival drew a large crowd to the park, though accounts vary: The Journal Record reported more than 15,000 attendees in its coverage of the 2025 event, while OnlyInOK's listing cites more than 12,000. Either figure makes it one of Oklahoma City's signature cultural events, according to the Journal Record. The 2025 celebration ran noon to 9 p.m. and closed with an Oklahoma City Ballet performance of “Día de Muertos Ballet,” per the Journal Record's earlier coverage.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has called the festival an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to experience the city's diverse culture, according to the Journal Record. Organizers say the event supports small businesses and brings visitors into downtown Oklahoma City, giving food vendors, artisans and Latino artists a place to sell their work and connect with the community. Those planning to attend should note that there is no designated parking area for event participants or guests, according to Tango PR's event page, though nearby garages may charge $2 per hour or $10 per day.
