Día de los Muertos falls on Sunday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 2, this year, and Bay Area celebrations run from Halloween weekend through Nov. 8. Here are the major events, based on listings compiled by KQED and SFGuide.
Oakland: Fruitvale festival, Sunday, Nov. 1
This is the region's biggest celebration. Nine blocks of International Boulevard fill with large ofrendas, music stages and community booths. New this year are a 34-foot La Catrina sculpture brought in by the Unity Council and street soccer on 39th Avenue hosted by the Oakland Roots and Soul. Free.
San Francisco
- Mission procession, Monday, Nov. 2: The 45th annual procession, organized by the Comité de Rescate Cultural, gathers at Bryant and 22nd streets at 7 p.m. and moves along 24th Street toward Mission. This year's theme is "Nuestros muertos no se venden" ("Our dead are not for sale"). Free.
- Tenderloin street fair, Sunday, Nov. 1: 2 to 8 p.m. at 150 Golden Gate Ave., with live Latin music, lucha libre and lotería. Free with an RSVP.
- SOMArts altar exhibition: "In Their Name," at 934 Brannan St. through Nov. 20. Free gallery admission.
- SF Symphony, Saturday, Nov. 7: Día de los Muertos concert at Davies Symphony Hall, $35 to $180.
South Bay, Peninsula and North Bay
- San José: The 10th annual Avenida de Altares at Mexican Heritage Plaza, Alum Rock Avenue and King Road, Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 p.m., free. The Children's Discovery Museum hosts a family event Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; tickets are $22.
- Concord: Pacheco Square, Nov. 1, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., with mariachi and a community ofrenda. Free.
- Santa Rosa: Old Courthouse Square, Nov. 1 and 2. Free.
- Redwood City: Courthouse Square, Sunday, Nov. 8, 3 to 8:30 p.m., with a procession and a car-ofrenda contest. Free.
Note: Clocks fall back at 2 a.m. Nov. 1, so it will be dark well before the Mission procession starts.