Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is observed by many Latino cultures to commemorate and honor loved ones who have passed on. Building altars and adorning them with colorful paper flowers, decorating sugar skulls, parades of lavishly dressed skeletons and candles, are a few special ways to remember those we have loved. Officially, The Day of the Dead falls on Tuesday, October 31 thru Thursday, November 2, but in the Bay Area events are spread throughout October and early November.

MARIN

Saturday, October 19: Paper Arts, 4-5:30pm, Come celebrate Day of the Dead with artist Rachel-Anne Palacios! Learn about some of the traditions behind the celebration. Build your own ofrenda to remember your loved ones, and create fun take home items like calavera, jaguar and butterfly masks, dancing skeleton puppets and paper marigolds!, San Rafael Library.

Saturday, October 28: Dia De Los Muertos Celebration, 10:30a-1p, have fun decorating sugar skulls, face painting, snacking on traditional pastries and creating our own memory box, Mill Valley Community Center. 

Saturday, October 28: Day of the Dead/ Dia de los Muertos, 3:30 PM, Join in the colorful procession with Aztec Dancers and Day of the Dead pageantry! March from Gallery Route One to the Dance Palace for an evening of song, ceremony, food, and treats, Dance Palace, Pt Reyes. 

Thursday November 2: Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos, 3:30-4:30pm, Celebrate with us! Paper crafts and treats for kids of all ages! / ¡Celebra con nosotros! Artesanías de papel y aperitivos para niños de todas las edades! Bolinas Library.

Friday, November 3: Day of the Dead, 12-10pm, free, You are invited to the celebration of a traditional Latin American holiday that combines pre-Colombian festivals and indigenous traditions with European rituals for honoring the dead. It is celebrated every year at this same time as Halloween and the Christian holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, Bolinas Community Center.

Friday, November 3: Día de los Muertos Altar Making, 3:30-5:30pm, Age 5+, Advance sign-up required, create a shoebox altar to honor a loved one, bring a shoebox and a photo of a loved one if you wish, Mill Valley Public Library.

Saturday, November 4: Dia de los Muertos, 4-9pm, alters, art, face painting, parade, music, and more! Albert J. Boro Community Center, 50 Canal Street, San Rafael.

SAN FRANCISCO

October 6-November 9, Día de los Muertos Exhibition, SOMARTS.

Friday, October 27, Crafty Friday: Sugar Skull Decorating, 3:30-5pm, Mission Library.

Saturday, October 28, Crafty Saturday: Sugar Skull Cookies, 2-3:30pm, Ocean View Library.

Sunday, October 29, Creative Family Fun - Día de Los Muertos Masks, 11am-4pm, Presidio Officers Club, San Francisco.

Thursday, November 2: San Francisco Day of the Dead, Procession and Festival of Altars, 4-11pm, art, music, performances and a walking procession, which help us contemplate our existence and mortality -- a moment to remember deceased friends and family, and our connections beyond our immediate concerns, Garfield Park, 26th & Harrison Streets.

Saturday, November 4: Día de los Muertos Community Concert, 11am, 2pm, & 8pm, Arrive an hour early for refreshments, live music and dancing, colorful altars, traditional crafts, and more, San Francisco Symphony.

EAST BAY

October 18, 2017–January 14: Metamorphosis & Migration: Days of the Dead, exhibition is inspired by the lifecycle of the Monarch Butterfly. Known for its mass migration each winter, this butterfly’s journey spans  several generations, all of whom follow the same routes their ancestors took. In Mexico, the returning Monarchs also symbolize the returning souls of loved ones who have passed away, Oakland Museum.

Sunday, October 29: Dia de los Metros, 10am-5pm, enjoy the flavors of Latin American cuisine and enjoy a day filled with entertainment on two stages, art and community, Fruitville Village, Oakland.

Thursday, November 2: Let The Big Kids Play! Día de los muertos Evening Mixer, When's the last time you played with playdough, painted a sugar skull, or even your face? Habitot Children's Museum, Berkeley.

Thursday, November 2: Dìa de los Muertos Celebration, Build a Community Altar 5-10PM
Candle Light Procession 9PM, crafts, skeletal painting, food trucks, music and more, Downtown Berkeley (Kittredge & Harold Way).

Friday, November 3: Luna Mexicana, 6pm, family friendly performance is filled with festive dancing, colorful costumes, and vibrant music including traditional Mexican folk music and witty electronic fusions. Audience members are encouraged to attend in Day of the Dead attire, Oakland Ballet.

NORTH BAY

Saturday, October 28: Candlelight Procession with Giant Puppets, 4-10pm, Festivities include live music, Ballet Folklorico, Aztec dancers, food and art, a children’s activity area, and much more, Petaluma Historical Museum, 20 4th Street.

Saturday, October 28: The Day of the Dead Celebration, tricks and treats, pumpkins and skulls, bats and bones, the Safari West Halloween Spectacular is an event the whole family can enjoy together! Safari West, Santa Rosa.

Sunday, November 1: Día de los Muertos Community Celebration, 6-8pm, Everyone is welcome to bring photos to place on the altar, Maloney Memorial Waterwise Garden, Sonoma.

SOUTH BAY

Saturday, October 21: Día De Los Muertos, also called Day of The Dead, is a celebration of life. Día San José is a culmination of family, entertainment and most of all fun! Throughout the night, we sing, dance, laugh and celebrate our loved ones.

Saturday, October 28: Dia de los Muertos/Halloween Party, 12-5pm, Fun for the whole family. Bring the kids in costume for parade, trick-or-treating, cookie decorating, FREE kids zone with haunted house and corn maze, and pumpkin patch (while supplies last, 100% sales to local nonprofit). Shop for fall produce, decor & crafts, Menlo Park.

PENINSULA

Sunday, November 6: Day of the Dead, 5pm, music, kids activities, traditional food, vendors and altars contest at the San Mateo County History Museum. Procession, music and  crafts will be FREE activities for children, Downtown Redwood City.