27th Annual Dia De Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever
Celebrate the memory of lost loved ones at Hollywood’s oldest cemetery during the 27th annual Dia de Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever (Los Angeles, CA). Taking place Saturday, October 24th, 2026 from Noon – Midnight, the event features elaborate ofrendas (altars), music, dance, folk art, food, and vibrant displays honoring the lives of the dearly departed.
History of the Event
According to the event’s official website, “Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever cemetery was envisioned for the purpose of providing an authentic venue, in which this ancient tradition could be genuinely observed, celebrated and preserved. ” Over the past 27 years tens of thousands of new and returning visitors have joined the celebration. From creating meticulously crafted ofrendas to participating in traditional dances to dressing in costumes, the event has fostered creativity and connection to this sacred celebration.
Dia de los Muertos
Traditionally observed on November 1st or 2nd, Dia de los Muertos – or “Day of the Dead” – is a holiday to honor and remember deceased relatives. Instead of somber gatherings, this Mexican tradition embodies joyfulness and humor. It is a celebration instead of mourning.
Key traditions include:
- Ofrendas: altars decorated with marigolds, candles, photos, mementos, and the favorite foods of deceased relatives.
- Cemetery Visits: families visit loved ones’ graves. Gravestones are cleaned and adorned with offerings, flowers, and candles. It is believed that spirits wander the earth on this day.
- Sweets: Calaveras (sugar skulls) are decorated and Pan de Muerto (“bread of the dead”) is baked.
- Makeup: revelers often apply skeletal makeup, symbolizing remembrance and respect. More than just a Halloween costume, it has deep cultural significance and meaning. Many choose to incorporate elements that honor their loved ones – such as their relative’s favorite colors or symbolic flowers.
An iconic figure of the celebration is “La Catrina”. Often depicted as a skeleton wearing an elegant French-style hat and fancy dress, La Catrina symbolizes that death comes for us all – regardless of social status.
La Catrina is a popular costume for Dia de los Muertos revelers, who wear the fancy dress and calavera make-up. The male counterpart to the Catrina, wears the same skull makeup and black clothes, often a formal suit with a top hat or a mariachi costume.
Hollywood Forever
Dating back to 1899, Hollywood Forever is Hollywood’s oldest memorial park. A full service funeral home, crematory, cemetery, and cultural events center, Hollywood Forever opens its gates to the public year-round. As the final resting place for hundreds of Hollywood’s founders and iconic figures, it is quite the morbid tourist’s destination.
Notable interred individuals include:
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Mel Blanc
- Douglas Fairbanks
- Judy Garland
In hosting the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, the venue strives to embrace the celebratory process of death and dying by providing a historically recognized cultural setting for the event and sacred observance.
Dia de Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 24th, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. (Noon) – 12:00 a.m. (Midnight)
Location: Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038
Parking: Paramount Lemon Grove Structure (900 N. Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038), Paramount Van Ness Structure (783 North Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038), Paramount Gower Structure (801 N Gower St., Los Angeles, CA 90038), and Hollywood Production Center (1149 North Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90038)
Tickets, contest information, and schedule will be available soon at the event’s official website: https://www.ladayofthedead.com/
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