Día de los Muertos in San Antonio 2026: Thrift Finds for Your Ofrenda, Plus This Weekend’s Free Festivals

Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — is Sunday and Monday, Nov 1–2, and San Antonio starts celebrating this weekend. The ofrenda (altar) is the heart of it: photos of the people you miss, their favorite foods, candles, and marigolds to guide them home. Almost everything an ofrenda needs is sitting on a thrift-store shelf right now, waiting for a second life — which is exactly the spirit of the holiday.

What to hunt for your ofrenda

• Picture frames — the single most important find. Photos of your loved ones anchor the altar; thrift frames run a dollar or two and a mixed set looks beautiful together.
• Veladoras and glass candle holders — tall glass candles are sold new for the holiday, but the holders, votives, and candle plates at thrift stores are a fraction of the price.
• Cloth — embroidered tablecloths, runners, and bright woven cloth to drape the altar levels.
• Vases and jars — for marigolds (cempasúchil). Fresh flowers come from the grocery or florist; the vases come from the thrift run.
• Levels — small boxes, crates, and shelves to build the traditional tiers.
• Calavera décor — sugar-skull figurines, painted ceramics, and papel-picado-colored pieces show up in seasonal aisles all October.

And for what you wear

Festival attire is half the fun: embroidered blouses and dresses, floral prints, black lace, and vintage pieces with color. Start with our San Antonio thrift store directory and work the vintage stops — Thrift @ The Warehouse at the Pearl (1203 Camden St, open daily 10–8) curates exactly this kind of rack. Goodwill and Texas Thrift seasonal aisles carry the décor; check the Deal Board for this week's estate and garage sales, where whole boxes of candles, frames, and cloth turn up at once.

The free festivals — this weekend and next

• Muertos Fest at Hemisfair — FREE. Friday Oct 23, 5–11 p.m.; Saturday Oct 24, 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday Oct 25, 12–9 p.m. One of the largest Day of the Dead celebrations in the country: 80+ handmade altars and two processions. Details: muertosfest.com.
• Market Square Cultural Celebration — FREE. Saturday Oct 24 and Sunday Oct 25, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at Historic Market Square (514 W. Commerce St): traditional altars, a marigold giveaway, live music, and the Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession both days, 1–2 p.m. (City of San Antonio: fall events release.)
• Calaveras de Azucar Festival — Market Square. Saturday Oct 31, 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m. and Sunday Nov 1, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.: altars, live music, and local vendors, right on the holiday itself.
• Self-Guided Altar Tour. Running now through Nov 6, every day 10 a.m.–6 p.m. — a calm way to see altars across downtown after the festival weekend.

One note from the heart: an ofrenda is personal. A thrifted frame holding your grandfather's photo is not a budget substitute — it is the point. Old things that carry love are what this holiday is made of. Shop respectfully, build it with your family, and let the kids place the candles.

Planning your route? The weekend sales map shows what's on near you, and joining SA Thrift free gets the weekly digest so you never miss a seasonal guide.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• Muertos Fest — official site (dates, hours, lineup)
• City of San Antonio — free fall events at Market Square
• SA Thrift — San Antonio thrift store directory
• Thrift @ The Warehouse (Pearl, 1203 Camden St): (210) 882-2591

FAQ

When is Día de los Muertos in 2026?

The holiday is Sunday Nov 1 and Monday Nov 2, 2026. San Antonio celebrates across two weekends: Muertos Fest runs Oct 23–25 at Hemisfair, and Market Square hosts events Oct 24–25 and again Oct 31–Nov 1.

Is Muertos Fest free?

Yes. Muertos Fest at Hemisfair is a free, three-day festival, and the Market Square celebrations — including the marigold giveaway and the Las Monas procession — are also free.

What does a home ofrenda need?

Photos of loved ones (in frames), candles, marigolds, water, and a favorite food or drink of the person you are honoring. Thrift stores cover the frames, candle holders, cloth, and vases for a few dollars; the flowers and food come fresh.