Day of the Dead Festival of Altars in San Francisco

November 2, 2024 @ Potrero Del Sol Park
Installation begins @ 8am | Ceremony begins @ 12pm |Performances begins @ 5pm

A reflection of our lives. Honor your ancestors and understand where we come from.

What is the Day of the Dead Festival of Altars?

Day of the Dead Festival of Altars was designed by a Mexican immigrant woman and marginalized creators in 1992. We formed a multicultural and multidisciplinary organization that welcomes people of all races, genders, abilities, and sexual orientations to reflect possible change. Many early Mesoamerican traditions are misogynistic and hierarchical. We reclaim these ceremonies with a feminist, earth-based, sustainable lens. All are welcome to participate.

What to Expect

Day of the Dead Festival of Altars will be held in Potrero Del Sol Park aka La Raza Park. Please come and participate in building an altar or come to view the community altars.

Community-built Altars

Live Performances

Interactive Art and Craft Stations

Cultural Ceremonies

With the festival of alters we honor our ancestors and uphold the values of balancing the elements of our planet. We create opportunities for the Latinx community and other resilient, historically marginalized groups by paying indigenous practitioners, artists, poets, musicians, and dancers to participate in our free events and educational programs.

Why We Honor Our Ancestors

Altar Elements

We rise in the East with breath as Ehecatl, grow in the South with fire and creativity asXiuhcuhtlit, flow in the West with water as Chaahc, and stand firm in the North as the Elder, Ix Chel. At the center, we balance all elements, birthing beauty and abundance through love, welcomed by Ollin.

East Altar

The East Altar calls the element of air, dedicated to our ancestral children. The circle is used to symbolize the interconnectedness of life and death.

South Altar

The South Altar summons the element of fire, devoted to our ancestral youth, and its triangle symbolizes strength, art, poetry, passion, and balance

West Altar

The West Altar hails the element of water, honoring adults. The symbol is the square, representing rhythms of life, emotions, ocean tides, and moon cycles.

North Altar

The North Altar honors the earth and our ancestors, the four-directional cross is the symbol. It solicits past, present, and future wisdom from the earth and our beloved Ancestors.

Center Altar

The Center Altar is devoted to self-love, love in relationship to the other, community, and the universe. The symbol is the never-ending spiral.

Create the Portal to Your Ancestors

The Festival of Altars creates portals to our ancestors and unites Latinx communities to process grief through shared cultural practices. Our Mesoamerican traditions and ceremonies are open to all, with an authentic desire to understand the cycles of life and death.

You can build your own Personal Altar. The making and viewing of traditional, contemporary, or experimental altars is a uniquely transformative experience connecting us closer to our Ancestors.

Bring flowers, 8-inch glass prayer candles, and mementos of loved ones to contribute to the Community Altars. All are welcome to participate.

Please read the Altar Guidelines before signing up to reserve a spot.

RSVP Your Altar Space

To RSVP an altar space please signup below.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Rosa (rosa@themarigoldproject.org)

  • All are welcome to participate in the sharing of culture, healing, and celebrating the lives of our ancestors.

  • Absolutely! The event is family-friendly, alcohol-free, and designed for all ages.

  • No, the festival is free and open to the public.

  • Yes, the event is fully accessible to all attendees. If you have any special request, please contact us.

  • Yes, anyone can participate by bringing mementos, photos, or other offerings to place on the community altars.

  • You can bring photos, candles, flowers, and personal mementos to honor your ancestors.