Where To Celebrate Día de Los Muertos in Sonoma and Napa Counties, 2024

Create ofrendas, decorate sugar skulls, watch ballet folklórico performances and more at these local Día de los Muertos events.


Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is an ancient Mexican holiday to honor deceased loved ones and celebrate life with family and friends. Traditionally observed on Nov. 1 and 2, the holiday often involves celebrating with food and drinks and creating ofrendas, or altars, to remember the dead.

Read on below to find out where to celebrate the holiday in Sonoma and Napa counties.

Saturday, Oct. 26

Halloween Carnival: The Rohnert Park Community Services Department is hosting it’s fourth annual Halloween Carnival with a Día de los Muertos celebration at the Rohnert Park Community Center. There will be games for all ages, a haunted maze, magic show, live animals and more. A community altar will be on display and attendees are invited to add photos and mementos. The altar will be displayed again from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, at the Rohnert Park Community Center. Free. Noon – 5 p.m. 5401 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. rpcity.org

Día de Los Muertos flowers and artwork
Zinnias and Mexican artwork create a colorful display in the window at Frontburner Open Studio for a Day of the Dead celebration in Windsor, Oct. 9, 2011. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)

Marigolds and Muertos: The role of the Marigold in the traditions of Mexico: Join Windsor Garden Club at the Town Green Community Garden in Windsor to learn about marigolds (maravillas or caléndulas) and the role they play in Latin American communities. Malinalli López, president of the Windsor Unified School District, will give a short talk on the flower and it’s meaning in Mexican culture and history at 11 a.m. Marigolds are for sale during the event. The garden is located at the corner of Windsor Road and Joe Rodota Drive in the Windsor Town Hall complex. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. windsorgardenclub.org

Sunday, Oct. 27

Healdsburg 2024 Día de Muertos celebration: Corazón Healdsburg and the City of Healdsburg are putting on this year’s Día de Muertos celebration at the Healdsburg Plaza. The plaza’s gazebo will be decorated with sugar skulls, papel picado and marigolds. There will also be live music, a classic car show with trunk-or-treat displays, an alter honoring loved ones and more. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Free. Noon – 7 p.m. Healdsburg Plaza at Healdsburg Avenue and Matheson Street. corazonhealdsburg.org

Día de Los Muertos altar in Healdsburg
An ofrenda, an altar honoring the dead, during the Día de Muertos at the Plaza in Healdsburg, on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)

Friday, Nov. 1

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with La Luz Center: Honor the holiday by painting catrines and catrinas, drinking hot chocolate, eating pan de muerto, dressing up and enjoying live performances from Mariachi San Francisco and Grupo Folklórico Quetzalén. There will be a community altar and a pet altar where people can add items. Photos for the altar can be dropped off at La Luz Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28-30. Free. 5-9 p.m. 17560 Greger St., Sonoma. laluzcenter.org

Día de los Muertos Celebración: Join Art Escape Sonoma for an evening honoring loved ones. There will be sugar skull decorating, face painting, traditional Mexican food and drink and a Quetzalén dance performance. Free. 5-8 p.m. 17474 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma. happeningsonomacounty.com

Día de los Muertos in Cloverdale: Celebrate with altars, artisan vendors, traditional music and food at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair. Free. 5:30-10 p.m. 1 Citrus Fair Drive, Cloverdale. happeningsonomacounty.com

Día de los Muertos in Windsor
Miriam Rivera, 30, attends Windsor’s Día de los Muertos event, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2021

Saturday, Nov. 2

Día de los Muertos Winemaker Dinner: Celebrate Día de los Muertos with an authentic Oaxacan mole dinner paired with Surcos wines in a Sonoma vineyard. Join Surcos winemaker Luis Gallegos for this first-ever event featuring Violetta Espinoza’s mole made with more than 36 ingredients and served with chicken, rice, nopales salad and handmade tortillas. A traditional dessert of dulce calabaza, or caramelized pumpkin, will follow. Guests can dress up if they want and are invited to bring photos of loved ones to display on the ofrenda, or altar. Tickets are $60. 6-9 p.m. 2000 Denmark St. (Block 19), Sonoma. eventbrite.com

Día de los Muertos at Sonoma Community Center: The Sonoma Community Center will celebrate Día de Los Muertos with an altar-lighting ceremony, dance performance from Grupo Folklórico Quetzalén, art activities, food, drinks and more. Members are invited to contribute mementos to the altar. Free. 5:30-8 p.m. 276 East Napa Road, Sonoma. sonomacommunitycenter.org

Día de Muertos de Windsor: Stop by the Windsor Town Green to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The event’s performers will include Indigenous dancers, ballet folklórico and mariachi. There will also be music, food, an artisan market, lowrider car show, face painting and more. Free. 3-8 p.m. 701 McClelland Drive, Windsor. somoswindsor.org

Día de los Muertos at Keller Estate: Head to Keller Estate for an evening of wines paired with authentic Mexican dishes. Guests can bring photos and offerings for the event’s altar. $124 or $105 for members. 5:30-8:30 p.m. 5875 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma. sonoma.com

Día de los Muertos: Artesa Winery presents a Día de los Muertos celebration with music by DJ Mark G, an altar display, face painting, raffle, Mexican cuisine, taco truck, wine and more in Napa. Costumes are optional, but encouraged. Photos for the communal altar are welcomed. Must be 21 years or older to attend. $60, club members will have discounted tickets and wine purchases. 7-11 p.m. 1345 Henry Road, Napa. exploretock.com

Napa Día De Los Muertos: The City of Napa presents a family-friendly Día de Los Muertos event at Veterans Park. There will be altars, music, food, art, dancing and more. On the main stage, performances include Aztec and folklorico dancing, charro and mariachi. Free. 3-8 p.m. 800 Main St., Napa. cityofnapa.org