San Antonio Day of the Dead River Parade & Events: Ultimate Festivity Guide

Pullman Market is celebrating Día de los Muertos with programming throughout October and early November. Photo: Robert Lerma, used with permission.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos in San Antonio: Top Events, Dining, & Festivities

San Antonio is home to some of the largest and most vibrant Día de los Muertos celebrations in the United States. From illuminated river parades and rooftop parties to exquisite tasting menus and traditional altars, here is your ultimate guide to celebrating Day of the Dead across the Alamo City this season.

1. The Westin Riverwalk: Day of the Dead River Parade Celebration

Experience the spectacular Day of the Dead River Parade right from the heart of the River Walk with fine dining, delectable cocktails, live entertainment, and premium parade seating. (The Westin Riverwalk, 2026)

  • Date & Time: October 23 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Highlights: Stilt walkers, live DJ, sugar skull face painting, and reserved parade viewing.

Available Packages:

  • Calavera Celebration Reception ($160 / person): Includes reception-style dining in the Olivares Ballroom (6:00 PM – 7:15 PM), two drink tickets, and one pre-assigned reserved chair along the River Walk.
  • VIP Zocca Patio Experience ($220 / person): Elevated four-course specialty dining on Zocca’s patio with reserved seating from 6:15 PM – 10:00 PM and one drink ticket (first course served at 6:30 PM).
  • Afterlife VIP Room Experience ($650 / 2 guests): Single-room overnight accommodations for two, VIP area reception dinner, four drink tickets (2 per guest), two outdoor VIP chairs with prime parade views, and overnight valet parking.
  • Private Loggia Packages ($2,000 for up to 8 guests | $2,500 for up to 10 guests): Semi-private loggia on the lobby level (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM). Includes buffet and reception dining, two drink tickets per guest, and a dedicated server.

2. Kimpton Santo San Antonio Riverwalk: Spirits of the Night

Head up to Tenfold Rooftop for a spooky, elevated evening honoring those who have passed.

  • Date & Time: Thursday, October 22 | 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
  • Location: 431 S Alamo St
  • Admission: Free (Reservations encouraged)
  • Highlights: Live DJ sets, flash tattoos by local artist Wild Okra Tattoo, and seasonal cocktails.

Featured Autumn Cocktails:

  • The Midnight Harvest: Blanco Tequila, pumpkin, orange, and agave (served in a rocks glass).
  • The Black Magic Mojito: Rum, blackberry, mint, lime, and activated charcoal (served in a highball glass).

3. Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa: Remembrance Brunch

Bring family and friends together over good food, music, and festive activities at Corinne San Antonio.

  • Date & Time: October 25 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Location: 555 S Alamo St
  • Onsite Activations:
    • Live Latin guitarist and face painting (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
    • Donut decorating station
    • Marigold flower bar

4. Pullman Market at The Pearl: Month-Long Culinary Programming

Pullman Market, created by the award-winning Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, is hosting special programming throughout October and early November. (Pullman Market, 2026)

  • Location: 221 Newell Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78215

Featured Activations:

  • The Ofrenda at The Mezcaleria (Through Nov. 3): Honoring deceased loved ones of Pullman Market employees, prominently featuring Guadalupe Mendez—a pioneer of San Antonio’s market community whose legacy of community building inspires the market today.
  • Happy Hour at The Mezcaleria: Monday – Friday (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM). Enjoy a special 1 oz. pour of Mezquite x Parejo Maguey de Cerro Lechuguilla, served with chocolate and a mini concha.
  • 8-Course Dessert Tasting at Nicosi (Oct. 30 – Nov. 1): An exclusive eight-course dessert menu inspired by nostalgic memories of Halloween and Día de los Muertos in San Antonio.
    • Price: $150 per person (includes standard beverage pairings; optional Reserve Wine Pairing for +$50).
    • Seatings: 5:30 PM & 8:00 PM (Reservations on OpenTable).

5. La Panadería: Altars, Calaveras, & Pan de Muerto

La Panadería is bringing vibrant art installations and beloved traditional pastries to all of its San Antonio locations. (La Panadería, 2026)

  • Community Altars (Starting Oct. 24): Guests are invited to bring photos of loved ones who have passed to place on community altars across all locations.
  • Large Calaveras: Decorated skulls adorn entrances to welcome guests.
  • Seasonal Pan de Muerto (Available through Nov. 1–2): Traditional Mexican sweet bread available in Pink, White, and Talavera designs.
    • Mini Packs: 6 Regular Sugar ($25) | 6 Pink Sugar ($30)
    • Family-Style: Large Regular Sugar ($25) | Large Pink Sugar ($27.50)
    • Available for pre-order online and in-person.
La Panadería’s Pan de Muerto. Photo: La Panadería, used with permission.

Sweet Traditions: La Panadería Unveils Its Fall Pan Dulce and Día de Muertos Treats

La Panadería’s Pink Pan de Muerto. Photo: La Panadería, used with permission.

🍂 Celebrate Fall with La Panadería’s New Seasonal Pan Dulce and Día de los Muertos Specials

La Panadería is excited to announce the launch of its fall-inspired pan dulce lineup—just in time for cooler weather and Día de los Muertos celebrations! This season, the bakery brings bold, comforting flavors to its beloved collection of pastries with two standout creations you won’t want to miss. (La Panadería, 2025)


🎃 Pumpkin Concha — $4.70

Back by popular demand!
The Pumpkin Concha returns with La Panadería’s signature pillowy concha base, topped with a festive orange cookie crust and filled with a rich, spiced pumpkin filling made from real pumpkin purée. It’s a cozy fall favorite and the perfect pairing for the bakery’s Maple Pumpkin Cold Foam Latte.

🗓 Available: Now through Thanksgiving (November 27) at all La Panadería locations.


💀 Dubai Chocolate Pan de Muerto — $7.50

New this year!
Introducing the Dubai Chocolate Pan de Muerto, a luxurious twist on the traditional Day of the Dead bread. This personal-sized pan de muerto is flavored with orange essence, dusted in sugar, sliced open, and generously filled with house-made Nutella and pistachio ganache made from real ground pistachios. Finished with chopped pistachios, it’s an indulgent, limited-time treat.

🗓 Available: In limited daily quantities through Día de Muertos weekend (November 2) at all four La Panadería locations, while supplies last.


🕯 Pan de Muerto Pre-Order Details

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with La Panadería’s family-size and mini Pan de Muerto loaves, available for pre-order online.

Pre-Order Here
Pre-orders open: Wednesday, October 22

🍞 Available Items & Pricing

  • Family Size Regular Pan de Muerto – $25.00
  • Family Size Pink Pan de Muerto – $27.50
  • Mini 6-Pack Regular Pan de Muerto – $25.00
  • Mini 6-Pack Pink Pan de Muerto – $30.00

📦 Pick-Up Dates

  • Friday, October 31
  • Saturday, November 1
  • Sunday, November 2

✨ The vibrant pink Pan de Muerto—a customer favorite—returns this year in both family-size and mini options. The classic mini and personal-sized Pan de Muerto are also available year-round in-store, no pre-order required.


☕ Fall-Inspired Lattes

Round out your visit with La Panadería’s new cold foam latte lineup, featuring comforting seasonal flavors:

  • Abuelita Chocolate
  • Dubai Chocolate
  • Pumpkin

These handcrafted drinks are the perfect pairing to a sweet slice of Pan de Muerto, making every visit a delicious way to celebrate the spirit of the season.


Dubai Chocolate Pan de Muerto. Photo: La Panadería, used with permission.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with La Panaderia’s Pan de Muerto

pandemuerto
La Panaderia’s Pan de Muerto.  Photo: Karissa Rangel, used with permission.

With an official citywide Dia de los Muertos celebration, San Antonio sees one of the biggest celebrations in the country, hosting parades and colorful events with altars, calaveras on stilts and live mariachi throughout Friday November 1 and Saturday November 2. For anyone looking for traditional treats to serve for the celebration, La Panadería is making it easy for locals to pick up their Pan de Muerto for Dia de los Muertos parties. (La Panadería, 2019)

During the holiday, La Panadería will offer party size Pan de Muerto in a special box decorated with calaveras, available for pick up before the holiday. Offering traditional Pan de Muerto is important to the business owners since it is part of the duo’s Mexican culture and reminds them of their time spent in Mexico City. What makes La Panadería’s treat stand out is their baking technique that uses plenty of high-quality European butter in comparison to other recipes that do not use butter at all. The butter aids the bread due to its long rest period of 72 hours. Earlier this year, La Panadería provided city officials with party favor sized Pan de Muerto during its official Dia de los Muertos press conference and will provide Pan de Muerto at the large festival held by Pearl.

Hoping to share their Mexican heritage with citizens in the U.S., José and David Cáceres opened La Panadería in San Antonio, Texas in 2014. The bakery, which specializes in handmade bread, pan dulce and pastries inspired by Mexico’s Golden Era, or Epoca de Oro, also draws influence from French, Italian and American breadmaking techniques. La Panadería’s unique approach to breadmaking includes a minimum 48-hour fermentation process that results in artisan bread and pastries unlike any other. La Panadería has two locations in San Antonio, Texas.

8305 Broadway St.
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 375-6746

301 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 592-6264