Celebrating Día de los Muertos and Halloween in El Paso 2026
In the borderland, fall means two celebrations: Halloween and Día de los Muertos, the Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed with altars (ofrendas), marigolds, sugar skulls and music. El Paso does both beautifully. This year the city's biggest Día de los Muertos parade lands on Saturday, October 24, and Halloween follows a week later on a Saturday too, so you can plan a trip around either weekend, or both.
Día de los Muertos Desfile & Festival — Saturday, October 24
The 9th annual Día de los Muertos Desfile & Festival fills downtown El Paso's Arts District from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and admission is free. It's one of the region's largest celebrations of its kind, drawing more than 50,000 visitors, according to the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), which organizes it.
- The parade (4 p.m.): More than a mile long, with about 60 entries including floats, ballet folklórico dancers, musicians and walking ofrendas honoring loved ones.
- Altars and exhibits: Community altars and free Día de los Muertos art activities at the MACC, the El Paso Museum of Art, the Museum of History and the Museum of Archaeology.
- Shopping and food: Local artisans and vendors from The Market, plus a food truck placita serving antojitos.
Tip: Arrive early to explore the altars and museums before the parade crowds build, and grab a spot along the route by mid-afternoon.
Halloween fun around El Paso
Boo at the Zoo, El Paso Zoo — Saturday, October 31. Trick-or-treating and spooky activities throughout the zoo on Halloween itself, included with regular zoo admission.
Brew at the Zoo, El Paso Zoo — Saturday, October 17, 6-11 p.m. (21+). A Halloween-themed adults' night with drinks, food trucks, live music and after-hours visits to select animal habitats.
Halloween on the Farm at Licon Dairy — Saturday, October 24, noon-5 p.m. An afternoon of fall farm activities, and an easy pairing with the Día de los Muertos festival that evening.
La Union Maze, Anthony, NM — through November. A short drive from El Paso: a 13-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, wagon rides, pig races and more. On Friday and Saturday nights in October, brave the haunted maze.
Free Halloween Carnivals. El Paso Parks and Recreation hosts free carnivals at recreation and community centers across the city, with games, candy and costumes encouraged. Check the city's site for 2026 times.
For even more options, including haunted trails and corn mazes, see El Paso Matters' 2026 fall guide.
Celebrate the season at Chase Suite Hotel El Paso
Make a weekend of it. Our spacious suites come with fully equipped kitchens, so you can pack snacks for the parade or bring home pan de muerto from a local bakery. Start each morning with our daily breakfast buffet, cool off in one of our two pools, and take advantage of our complimentary airport shuttle if you're flying in. Downtown's Arts District and the El Paso Zoo are both a short drive away.
The Día de los Muertos weekend (October 23-25) and Halloween weekend (October 30-November 1) are both popular, so reserve early.
Chase Suite Hotel El Paso 6791 Montana Avenue, El Paso, TX 79925 Reservations: (915) 772-8000 · chasehotelelpaso.com
Event dates and details can change. Please confirm with each organizer before you go.