Celebrate Día de los Muertos in El Paso, a Mexican holiday that honors those who have passed on. Each year, it is celebrated on November 1 and 2. This is when the deceased are believed to return to Earth to visit their friends and relatives. The two days commemorate loved ones through traditional rituals like creating an altar (or ofrenda), burning candles, eating their favorite foods, dancing, and listening to their favorite songs. It’s a time of celebration and remembrance. 

Día de los Muertos isn’t a melancholy holiday but a time that allows us to express gratitude for our ancestors. In addition, it serves as a community-building opportunity to keep the memory of our loved ones alive through storytelling. Día de los Muertos also helps us recognize and accept that death is an unavoidable part of life.

We hope you’ll allow yourself to experience this culturally rich holiday. 

Ámbar Restaurante 

From October 23 to November 4, El Paso’s top downtown restaurant, Ámbar Restaurante, will be hosting a week of festivities for Día de los Muertos. As you sit to dine, enjoy lively music and a festive altar decorated with calaveras, marigolds, candles, and more.

The culinary team led by Chef Acosta will feature special menu items, including dishes like Tetela Negra (a mushroom and cheese-filled black tortilla resting atop pumpkin mole) and the Candle for the Dead by Pastry Chef Rojo (a dark chocolate cake dressed with a candle and edible sugar skulls). These specialty dishes will be available from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On November 2, a mariachi band will perform during the dinner service, making it an elevated affair. The restaurant will also feature a Día de los Muertos tequila flight throughout November. Reservations are encouraged.

106 West Mills Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901

El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department 

On October 28, 2023, the El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department is hosting a family-friendly Día de los Muertos Celebration in downtown El Paso from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

The day will kick off with drop-in activities from a community “sand art” station to piñata-making tutorials. As the day unfolds, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to discover the details of what makes this holiday special with food vendors, face painting, and the opportunity to make your own matchbox altars. A parade kicks off at 4:00 p.m. from San Antonio Street. 

Multiple areas, Downtown El Paso 

El Paso Museum of Art 

To celebrate Día de los Muertos, the El Paso Museum of Art will have an exhibit that honors the deceased. You can marvel at the large Catrina dolls on October 28, or walk through the artistic altar showcase on October 25. If you want to educate yourself a bit more on this important day, then you won’t want to miss the chance to view historical artifacts and photographs from Mexico that bring this tradition to life. El Paso is the perfect place to explore the deep significance of this holiday. 

1 Arts Festival Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901

Discover More of El Paso

As you spend time at The Plaza commemorating this unique holiday, indulge in the Taste of El Paso package. The package includes a $30 per night food and beverage credit. Use your credit towards our Día de los Muertos specials. Sample dishes like fresh ceviches, roasted cauliflower with mole poblano tacos, and bacon tacos “al pastor”. While you’re enjoying these culinary offerings, don’t miss the opportunity to also sample spirits from our agave collection—the largest and rarest in the United States. 

As you plan your visit to El Paso, consider booking your legendary stay at The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park. While in downtown El Paso, we suggest securing a reservation for dinner at Ámbar Restaurante. After dinner, enjoy an evening of cocktails and rooftop views at La Perla. There’s no space that’s as inviting or glamorous for a West Texas stay.