The Day of the Dead River Parade has come and gone for its eighth year, so if you missed the floats on the water, the good news is that the rest of the weekend is still going. The parade itself ran on Friday, October 23, starting at 7:00 p.m. near Lexington Avenue, next to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and Thompson San Antonio, and covered about 2.5 miles of the downtown River Walk. If you're still in town, the festivities are far from over.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in San Antonio and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
La Villita is the place to be through Sunday, October 25. The village is hosting its festival and community activations, and the centerpieces are worth the walk: the largest Catrina and Catrín in the United States, standing 38.5 feet tall in Maverick Plaza and created with Chef Johnny, plus the Calavera Collection of more than 40 giant skulls and a set of giant Alebrijes. The free activities there run from noon to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, so there's plenty of time to catch them before the weekend wraps.
Over at the Historic Market Square, Día de los Muertos celebrations continue on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free, and the highlight is the Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession, which runs from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. both days. It's a great way to keep the spirit going without needing a ticket or a reserved spot.
Beyond this weekend, San Antonio has a few more ways to take in the season. The San Antonio Zoo's Fiesta de los Muertos runs through November 1, and the Jardín de las Catrinas at the San Antonio Botanical Garden stays open until November 2. If you're planning to head back down to the river for any of it, it's worth knowing how the parade set the stage: the ticketed Parade Plaza at the Convention Center Lagoon opened its doors at 5:00 p.m. with the first float not arriving until 8:15 p.m., and the free standing area along the route from East Commerce Street to the end didn't allow chairs. For anyone who missed the water parade but still wants to see the art, the La Villita installations and the Market Square procession are the easiest things to catch before the month turns.
If you're planning a visit to any of these, a little prep goes a long way. The Market Square events are free, and La Villita's activities are too, so you can easily string a couple of them together. The zoo and the botanical garden are separate destinations, each with its own schedule, so it's worth checking their hours before you head out. Between the giant Catrina at La Villita and the dance procession at Market Square, there's still plenty of the season left to see in San Antonio, even with the parade already behind us.
Published Date
25 October 2026
