Día de los Muertos in Austin, Nov. 1: Free Altars, Mariachi and a Free Museum Sunday

Three Día de los Muertos events land on Sunday, Nov. 1 in Austin, and you can't do all of them. Waterloo Greenway's free celebration at Moody Amphitheater runs 4 to 8 p.m. in Waterloo Park. Ballet Folklórico de Austin's ticketed show at the Long Center starts at 5 p.m. And Mexic-Arte Museum, which is free every Sunday, is showing a Day of the Dead exhibition downtown from noon to 5 p.m. According to ATX Things, which read each organizer's own event page this week, the order that works is museum first, Moody Amphitheater for the evening.

Viva La Vida, the big parade, was Oct. 24. This is the quieter part of the same holiday: altars, photographs and candles, in Austin, on the days it is traditionally observed, Nov. 1 and 2.

AI illustration, not a photograph of the event.

What is happening at Moody Amphitheater on Nov. 1?

Waterloo Greenway's event page calls it a community celebration "honoring the lives and memories of those who have passed." The page says it is presented at no cost, thanks to sponsors. The main ofrenda is designed by the local floral studio Teoxochitl Design, and visitors can add photos and mementos of their own people to it. A second altar is for pets: the Alebrijes Altar, designed by artist Nikki Diaz, for past animal companions.

The stage schedule as posted:

Chris "Tejano Man" Tristan is spinning records through the evening, and two artists, Arden Gonzales and Angel Ortega, are painting live. There's a photo booth next to the altars, a kids' zone with calavera face painting and crafts, and a beer garden.

AI illustration.

Food vendors listed on the page: Tamale Addiction, Texas Drip BBQ, Churro Burro ATX, Fancy Fluff ATX, Hecho Por Penelope, Peached Tortilla and YAPA Artisan Empanadas. The Mercado y Más artisan market lists 20 vendors, among them Julia's Mexican Crafts, Muertos Clothing Co and Barrio Pop Studio. Food is for purchase. Prices are not posted.

Is the Mexic-Arte Museum exhibition worth doing first?

Mexic-Arte's exhibition Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias runs Sept. 11, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027. Its premise is that an ofrenda holds one person's memory while a museum collection holds a community's. The museum's description names José Guadalupe Posada's calavera prints, the cartonería of the Linares family, and work by contemporary artists including Claudia Zapata and Claudia Aparicio.

The museum's own visit page says Sundays are free for everyone. On other days, adults pay $8 and students, seniors and veterans $5. Tickets are sold only at the museum store desk, in person, and food, drinks and backpacks are not allowed in the galleries. The museum lists Downtown MetroRail five blocks east and bus routes 801 and 803 nearby. I haven't checked parking myself, so use the museum's page for its discounted garage instructions.

One flag: the exhibition page's details block says "January 3, 2026," while its header says Jan. 3, 2027. The header dates are the ones that fit the Sept. 11 opening.

What is the Long Center show, and who is it for?

Ballet Folklórico de Austin performs Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. The Long Center's page says the program covers dances from the eight regions of Oaxaca. It asks attendees to bring a photo of someone they've lost, or a favorite object, to add to an onstage ofrenda before the show starts.

It collides with Moody's evening. Both start around 5 p.m. If the dance is the point, buy the Long Center ticket and go to Moody afterward for the 6 and 7 p.m. sets, which is feasible but tight: Mexic-Arte and Moody are about two-thirds of a mile apart in a straight line, and the Long Center is farther. I haven't timed a drive or a walk between them, so leave a cushion.

A Sunday that works

1. Noon–3:30: Mexic-Arte, free.
2. 4:00: Moody Amphitheater, as the music starts.
3. 5:00 or 6:00: Pick a stage set. Mariachi Corazon de Tejas at 5, Danza Azteca Guadalupana at 6.
4. Monday, Nov. 2, 6–7 p.m.: the altars are still up, and Waterloo Greenway runs a free bilingual yoga class with live mariachi at Moody Amphitheater; its final relaxation is built around remembrance.

Weather: I couldn't pull a forecast for Sunday today, and the amphitheater is outdoors. Check the day before.

What locals should know

• Sunday is the free day at the museum and the only day the three overlap. If you miss it, the exhibition runs until Jan. 3.
• Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. that Sunday, so clocks go back an hour before any of this. Waterloo Greenway's page gives no capacity or parking plan, so leave extra time.
• For a related morning in the same park this week, see our piece on tagging monarch butterflies at Waterloo Park, and for more of what's on this month, things to do in Austin.

FAQ

Is Día de los Muertos at Moody Amphitheater free? Yes. Waterloo Greenway's event page says the program is presented at no cost. Food and market purchases are extra.

What time is the Waterloo Greenway celebration on Nov. 1? It runs 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 at Moody Amphitheater, 1401 Trinity St. The altars remain on display through Monday, Nov. 2.

Is Mexic-Arte Museum free on Sundays? Yes. The museum's visit page says Sundays are free for everyone. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m.

Do I need a ticket for the Long Center's Día de Muertos show? Yes. The Long Center's page says all patrons, regardless of age, need a ticket. The show is Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m.

Can I add a photo to the altar? At Moody Amphitheater, visitors may contribute photos and mementos to the main ofrenda. At the Long Center, attendees are invited to bring a photo or a favorite object to an onstage ofrenda before the show.

Sources: Waterloo Greenway event pages for Día de los Muertos (Nov. 1) and the Mariachi yoga class (Nov. 2); the Long Center's Ballet Folklórico de Austin event page; Mexic-Arte Museum's exhibition and visit pages. All read Oct. 28, 2026. Venue addresses and operating status checked against Google Maps listings Oct. 28, 2026. This desk has not attended any of these events.