Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a tradition in Mexico that reunites the living and dead. During this holiday people mourn and celebrate their loved ones who have passed by creating ofrendas (offerings) to them, sharing memories, and spending time in their spiritual presence.
Taking place Wednesday, November 1 through Thursday, November 2, this holiday is celebrated many different ways, and there’s no shortage of events around the city. Here’s how to celebrate Día de los Muertos in NYC this year:
1. Honor Día de los Muertos with Green-Wood Cemetery’s Mictlán art installation & community altar
Since 2018, Green-Wood has commissioned a Brooklyn-based artist to create and install a large-scale community altar in the Cemetery’s Historic Chapel for Día de los Muertos. Visitors are encouraged to pay tribute to lost loved ones by lighting candles and by leaving personal offerings including flowers, photographs, food, and notes.
Mictlán will be on public view in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel through November 19. A special viewing will take place on November 1 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. for a Day of the Dead Family Celebration. Learn more about the installation and altar here.
🗓️ Saturday, October 14 through Sunday, November 19
2. Create an art project with the whole family
Celebrate this special Mexican cultural holiday at Wave Hill and create your own nicho box, a small shadow box filled with meaning and purpose that honor a lost loved one. You can decorate your box with objects and natural materials and make it special to you.
And, at 11:30 a.m., families can learn more about the holiday with a storytime program at the Gund Theater, all ages welcome. Learn more here.
📍 Wave Hill – 4900 Independence Ave.
🗓️ Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
3. Sip on sugar skull cocktails at a Día de los Muertos brunch
IXTA is bringing the Oaxaca flavor to New York through Mexican cuisine with a contemporary twist, and their Día de los Muertos festivities will be in full effect with an all day brunch party.
Food and drink specials with sugar skull cocktails will be available to order, and guests can also enjoy performances throughout the space with face painting, a mariachi band, a DJ, and more. Learn more here.
📍 IXTA – 299 Bowery
🗓️ Sunday, October 29, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
4. Learn the history of one of Mexico’s richest traditions through performance and demonstration
Head to Pelham Art Center’s courtyard for a folk art celebration of Day of the Dead with renowned artist and educator Zafiro Romero-Acevedo, who will share the history of one of Mexico’s richest traditions through performance and demonstration.
The event is free and open to all, and costumes are encouraged! Learn more here.
📍 Pelham Art Center – 155 Fifth Ave.
🗓️ Sunday, October 29, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
5. Decorate sugar skulls, enjoy performances, and more at the Flatiron Plaza
For the second time the Flatiron NoMad Partnership is bringing the Día de Muertos celebration to the Flatiron North Plaza. This free, public event will feature several elements integral to this historical Mexican tradition, including a folkloric ballet, interactive altar in partnership with the School of Visual Arts, Continuing Education, family activities, and Catrina face painting.
📍 Flatiron North Plaza
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
6. Discover the rich history and traditions associated with Dia de los Muertos at Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery is hosting a day where visitors can discover the rich history and traditions associated with Dia de los Muertos through family-friendly crafts, performances, music, activities, and food.
The event is free (registration recommended) and perfect for the whole family. Learn more here.
📍 The Green-Wood Cemetery – 500 25th St.
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
7. Be treated to a Día de los Muertos dinner cooked by Chef Ana Castro, owner of New Orleans-based Lengua Madre
Chef Ana Castro the owner of New Orleans restaurant, Lengua Madre, will be presenting a Día de los Muertos dinner, bringing her restaurant’s Mexican flavors to NYC. The hosted dinner will include family dishes that are named after and honor past and present family members, like her Abuelito’s Breakfast dish: tamales with hoja santa and mole, and For My Tío Aaron’s Birthday dish: Castro Family – style pozole rojo with tostadas and fixings. Grab tickets here.
📍 PLATFORM by JBF – 25 11th Ave.
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1
8. Enjoy an unforgettable night inspired by Mexican flavors and culture
Hanky Panky will be popping up at Fandi Mata’s Little Oaxaca for a Día de Los Muertos celebration. Bringing together one of Mexico City’s best bars and the vibrant traditions surrounding the Day of the Dead, cocktail lovers can expect an unforgettable night inspired by Mexican flavors and culture.
📍 Pink Taco – 7 Times Sq
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1 & Thursday, November 2
9. Experience a traditional Día de los Muertos altar & enjoy street foods from Mexico City
Mijo, a new Mexican kitchen in Market 57 which features a mix of home style and street foods from Mexico City, will be offering three special Pan de Muertos. The offerings include Classic: scented with orange blossom, orange zest and buttery sugar topping, Totomoxtle: orange blossom and orange zest with a corn husk ash sugar, and Oaxaqueño: decorated Oaxacan style breads adorned with freehand decorations and figurine.
Visitors can also experience a traditional Día de los Muertos altar created by Mixteca Organization, Inc.
📍 Mijo at Market 57 – 25 11th Ave.
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1 & Thursday, November 2
10. Celebrate with food & drink specials & altars adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, & more
Head to Alta Calidad to view altars adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, and take in the aroma of traditional foods. Skilled mixologists will be serving up specialty cocktails that pay tribute to the flavors and spirits associated with the holiday and an exclusive taco platter will be available where foodies can choose from Tempura Crispy Shrimp, Chicken Tinga, Pea Shoots with Black Beans, or Cured and Charred Brisket. The restaurant will also be serving Tamales as part of their holiday special menu.
📍 Alta Calidad – 552 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1 & Thursday, November 2
11. Celebrate with a fiesta at any of JaJaJa’s locations
The plant-based Mexican restaurant is celebrating Mexican culture by remembering loved ones through an ofrenda to pay respect and demonstrate love for those who passed. And since Mexican culture celebrates with a fiesta, locations will have live music and face painting to mark the holiday.
📍 JaJaJa – Multiple Locations
🗓️ Wednesday, November 1 & Thursday, November 2
12. Experience Mexican roots & culture through food & drinks
Opened recently in Williamsburg in a unique setting that transports guests into a Mexican courtyard, the menu features hand-crafted dishes with a regional twist with tortillas, mole, and masa dumplings or ‘gnocchi’ all made from scratch. Mexican roots and culture are told through the restaurant’s food and beverage program with specials on traditional items on Dia de Muertos. Other activities include face painting and music with a Mariachi band performing on November 2nd.
📍 Mexi – 149 North 9th St., Brooklyn
🗓️ Thursday, November 2
13. Take part in a weeklong Dia De Los Muertos celebration on NYC’s only floating Mexican restaurant
La Barca Cantina offers Mexican fare and delicious cocktails afloat, and they’re hosting an exclusive one-night-only celebration of this incredible holiday of Mexican traditions on Thursday, November 2nd.
The 3-hour event, inclusive of a 2-hour sail on the Hudson, will feature sugar skull face art paintings, traditional Mexican dance performances from Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, and traditional Mexican art vendors. You can learn more and grab tickets here.
📍 La Barca Cantina – Pier 81, 41st St. & 12th Ave.
🗓️ Thursday, November 2, 6:30 p.m. (boarding begins)
14. Watch as a beautiful Día De Muertos exhibit takes over Rockefeller Center
From Friday, October 27 through Thursday, November 2, the iconic Plaza is hosting their third annual “Mexico Week” alongside Tequila Casa Dragones, which will include everything from musical performances to colorful art installations and cultural activities. Read all about it here.
📍 Rockefeller Center
🗓️ Friday, October 27 through Thursday, November 2