43rd Annual Viva La Vida Festival & Parade

Name: 43rd Annual Viva La Vida Festival & Parade
Start: 2026-10-24T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-10-24T18:00:00-05:00
Location: Mexic-Arte Museum

Oct. 24

Oct. 24 @ 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Mexic-Arte Museum’s 43rd Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade, part of Dia de los Muertos Celebrando Juntos, is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. Presented by the City of Austin’s ACME Department, this year’s festival will take place on Saturday, October 24, at 4th Street and Congress Avenue. The festivities begin with a Grand Procession at 12 p.m. and activities will run until 6 p.m. Participants can enjoy the Mariposa Plaza with hands-on art activities, traditional foods, local artists, retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, and live performances throughout the day. Please join Mexic-Arte Museum in this free family-friendly cultural celebration!

FREE EVENT RSVP

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Celebrated by Mexicans and Mexican Americans alike, as well as others in Latin America, Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead is an important religious and cultural event that synthesizes pre-Columbian traditions and Catholic Church practices. Originating in ancient Mexico, the annual celebration is increasingly observed in the United States as part of contemporary Latinx popular culture. Day of the Dead blends indigenous religious and cultural rituals with customs surrounding the Catholic holy days:

November 1: All Saints’ Day (prayers said to saints and martyrs)
November 1: Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels, dedicated to souls of deceased children)
November 2: All Souls’ Day (prayers and offerings made to deceased relatives and friends, especially for souls in Purgatory)

During this yearly event, cemeteries are cleaned. Home and public altars or ofrendas (offerings) are built to honor the dead, who they attract with food, drink, candles, incense, marigold flowers, and objects once favored in their lives.

Vendors

Viva la Vida features over 20 Día de los Muertos inspired artists, artisans, vendors, and makers! Visit the Muertos Mercado for the perfect addition to your Día de los Muertos altar or the perfect gift for a friend.

Parade

The Parade brings together a vibrant and varied mix of the traditional, contemporary, and Austin “weird”. The Procession – including costumes, props, live music, dancers, and floats – marches down historic 6th Street and culminates at E. 4th Street and Congress Avenue. The 2026 special section theme will be la ofrenda, with artist-commissioned ofrenda components carried through the parade and then assembled on the festival’s altar-like stage.

Volunteer

Parade Volunteers: Help setup & carrying forth the parade (pushing parade props, etc.). Volunteers are ESSENTIAL to the parade’s beauty and success!
Festival Volunteers: General festival duties including setting up and loading props, hanging up decorations, and any other help needed throughout the day.