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California Museum to Host 12th Annual Día de los Muertos Fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 11
“Recuerdos Ilustrados: Día de los Muertos 2025” exhibit showcasing original work by California artists to be unveiled during Fiesta featuring Aztec ceremonial blessing, live music & more
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — August 1, 2025: Tickets are now available for the California Museum’s highly anticipated Día de los Muertos Fiesta on Saturday, October 11. Now in its 12th year, the event will honor the rich Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead and celebrate the grand opening of the California Museum’s new exhibit, “Recuerdos Ilustrados: Día de los Muertos 2025.”
Fiesta attendees will enjoy food and drinks for sale by local favorite Mayahuel, a ceremonial blessing by Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers, live performances by 10-piece salsa band Conjunto Liberación, and a vibrant Mercado de los Muertos (Market of the Dead) featuring handmade items by local vendors and artists. Family-friendly activities include sugar skull decorating workshops, face painting, and crafts for children ages three and up.
In addition to celebrating Mexican culture and tradition, the Fiesta will also commemorate the grand opening of the Museum’s newest temporary exhibit. A journey through life, love and death, “Recuerdos Ilustrados: Día de los Muertos 2025” (Illustrated Memories: Day of the Dead 2025) features contemporary altars and artwork by California printmaking artists Stephanie Mercado, Daniel Villa, and Álvaro D. Márquez, whose altars will be centered around the topic of immigration. Their work will explore the Mexican cultural tradition of honoring deceased loved ones each year by displaying altares de muertos (altars of the dead) and ofrendas (offerings), which have evolved from the Aztecs to modern-day Mexico and California. In addition to viewing these displays, members of the public are invited to pay tribute to lost loved ones at a Community Altar through the end of the exhibit on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025.
“Día de los Muertos is both deeply personal and profoundly communal,” said California Museum Executive Director Amanda Meeker. “Through this exhibit and event, we’re proud to provide a platform for visitors to engage with a tradition that continues to evolve while staying rooted in cultural heritage. It’s an opportunity not just to remember those we’ve lost, but to experience the richness of this practice and learn from one another.”
Fiesta tickets are $12 and must be purchased in advance. California Museum members will have access to an exclusive Members-Only Lounge & Terrace along with free admission to the event. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Fiesta25.eventbrite.com
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM:
The California Museum—home of the California Hall of Fame—focuses on the state’s rich history, its diversity and its unique influence on the world of ideas, innovation, art and culture. Through interactive experiences, the Museum inspires visitors to make a mark on history. Located at 1020 O Street in the March Fong Eu Secretary of State complex, the Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $8-$10. Plan a visit at californiamuseum.org
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For a downloadable press kit, including images and image credits, click here.
Interviews available by request, please contact dwood@californiamuseum.org