Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
MISSION, Texas — The Mission Historical Museum will invite the community to celebrate culture, remembrance and tradition during its annual Día de los Muertos Folklife Festival on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.
The free event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty Ave. in Mission.
The afternoon will feature live entertainment, food vendors, and merchandise vendors, along with an opportunity for visitors to experience the museum’s Community Altar Exhibit.
The altar is particularly significant to Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a tradition centered on remembering and celebrating family members and other loved ones who have died.
Día de los Muertos has roots in ancient Mesoamerican cultures in Mexico and later incorporated elements associated with the Catholic observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The tradition is generally observed around Nov. 1 and 2, although community celebrations frequently begin in late October.
Rather than treating death only as an occasion for mourning, Día de los Muertos celebrates the lives and memories of those who came before. Families traditionally construct ofrendas, or altars, displaying photographs and personal belongings of deceased loved ones along with candles, flowers, food and other offerings.
Marigolds, known in Mexico as cempasúchil, are among the tradition’s most recognizable symbols. Papel picado, candles and decorated skulls are also commonly associated with the celebration. The Smithsonian notes that the ofrenda helps families honor loved ones and preserve memories of their lives.
The tradition’s cultural importance extends internationally. UNESCO inscribed the Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, after it was originally proclaimed in 2003. UNESCO describes the celebration as deeply rooted in the cultural life of Mexico’s Indigenous communities.
In South Texas, where Mexican and Mexican American traditions remain an important part of the region’s cultural heritage, celebrations such as Mission’s festival provide another opportunity for families to share those customs across generations.
Admission to the Mission Historical Museum festival is free.
Individuals and businesses interested in participating as vendors may contact the museum at 956-580-8646 for additional information.
The Día de los Muertos Folklife Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty Ave., Mission, Texas.
