San Antonio's Día de los Muertos celebrations include two distinct events: Muertos Fest at Hemisfair and the nighttime River Parade. Plan festival visits and parade viewing separately, especially when choosing transportation and seats.
In 2026, Muertos Fest runs Oct. 23-25, from Friday to Sunday, and the River Parade sets off at 7 p.m. that Friday. The following weekend, on Nov. 1 and 2, the celebrations continue at neighborhood altars, Pearl and a cultural center's exhibit.
Muertos Fest at Hemisfair
Muertos Fest fills Hemisfair, an open-air park in downtown San Antonio, for three days. Its organizers describe it as a gathering where the city honors loved ones and marks the holiday through art, music, tradition and community.
The festival offers sensory-friendly sessions intended to be quieter and less crowded. In 2026 the gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday, with sensory-friendly hours from 5 to 7 p.m., so a family can see the festival first and then head to the river for the parade.
The park has plenty of room to sit, and the organizers say blankets are welcome. Vendors sell food and drinks, and anyone buying alcohol needs a valid ID to hand.
Dogs that behave well are allowed. The organizers only ask owners to think about how loud and packed the grounds can get. The festival goes on in any weather, and Hemisfair is laid out for all ages and abilities.
Getting to Hemisfair
You can park in public garages and lots nearby. The organizers also point to VIA Metropolitan Transit's Park & Ride and to rideshares as easier options.
Their one specific tip concerns the highway: don't leave at the Cesar Chavez/281 exit. They suggest approaching the park from its south or west sides instead.
The River Parade
The Day of the Dead River Parade is a separate event along the downtown River Walk. It is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, with a 7 p.m. departure near Lexington Avenue. Nearby landmarks are the Tobin Center and the Thompson San Antonio hotel.
Decorated barges move down the river, and each one stands for a different figure or tradition of the holiday. Altars, catrinas and costumed riders ride on the floats.
Because the floats travel along the river, they reach each seating area at a different time. For Parade Plaza, the estimated first-float arrival is about 8:15 p.m.; for Area S near Rivercenter Mall, it is about 8:20 p.m. The parade map shows your section, your entrance and an estimated arrival time.
Chairs, standing room and dinner packages
A standard parade ticket reserves a specific chair, row and section. Food and drinks are not part of it. Children two and older need their own ticket, while younger children do not, and all sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges.
Free viewing is also available without a seat. The designated stretch starts at East Commerce Street and continues along the remaining route. Space goes to those who arrive first, and visitors cannot bring chairs into that area.
Restaurants offer packages pairing a meal with parade seats. Each participating restaurant determines its menu, package inclusions, and seating arrangements.
Parade Plaza and the viewing party
At the Convention Center Lagoon, Parade Plaza is advertised as a general-admission gathering with standing room, vendors, and entertainment. Visitors can purchase refreshments, but admission does not provide a chair or an assigned seat. Doors are scheduled to open at 5 p.m., and guests are encouraged to arrive by 6 p.m., well ahead of the first float.
The Las Palapas Viewing Party at Peak's Park Landing, near Commerce Street, is planned for 5 to 9 p.m. The advertised public viewing space is outside the ticketed area and offers standing room rather than seats.
Getting to the parade
Seating stretches along roughly 2.5 miles of the River Walk, so there is no one best place to park or be dropped off. Your ticket names your section and an assigned entrance, and the organizers suggest parking or being dropped near that spot.
City garages along the route include St. Mary's Street, Houston Street and the Convention Center garage. Event-day flat rates there typically run about $20 or less. At a surface lot, pay before you walk away from the car; with street parking, make sure the space is allowed.
The parade organizers have no road closures scheduled, though other downtown activity can still slow traffic.
On the night itself
Accessible seating is in select sections close to River Walk entrances that have a ramp or elevator. The accessibility symbol on the ticket page marks those seats.
Guests with standard seats may bring their own food and drinks. Event rules exclude strollers, carriers, and ice chests from the River Walk. The organizer also lists restrooms near the route.
The parade goes ahead rain or shine, though lightning nearby may delay it. The River Walk's official channels carry updates.
Nov. 1 and 2: altars, Pearl and Centro Cultural Aztlán
The celebrations continue after the parade weekend. On Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center will hold its 31st annual celebration at the Rinconcito de Esperanza, from 4 to 10 p.m., with altars, music, calaveritas readings and a procession through the Westside.
Pearl's free, family-friendly Day of the Dead spans two days, Nov. 1 and 2, with ofrendas, performances, workshops, activities for children and a shared procession at 7:15 p.m.
Centro Cultural Aztlán will open its 49th annual exhibit of altars and offerings, Altares y Ofrendas, on Monday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., with music, community altars and a market of more than 25 artisans.
Where to stay and getting around
San Antonio's lodging runs from luxury hotels on the River Walk to smaller stays in historic districts. Staying downtown keeps much of the weekend on foot: the River Walk, La Villita and Hemisfair sit close together.
For trips beyond downtown, including visits to the San Antonio Missions, allow more travel time and consider a car or rideshare.
Before you go
Before setting out, review the parade map and the entrance printed on your ticket. For reserved seats, the organizer advises arriving at least an hour before the floats are expected in that section, allowing time for parking and the walk to the gate. Enter from street level: the placement of chairs restricts movement on the lower sidewalks. Keep pedestrian paths and business doorways unobstructed, including in the free viewing area.
Día de los Muertos is a remembrance of the dead, so treat altars as quiet, shared spaces. Leave offerings where they are, give people room, and ask before photographing anyone. Remembrance can be private for families, and a no is a fair answer.
Questions readers ask
Can I bring my dog to Muertos Fest?
Could I watch the River Parade without a ticket?
Does the River Parade go ahead in bad weather?
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