Santa Monica Pier hosts DĂa de los Muertos on 1 November
Published on 10/18/2026 at 00:35 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Santa Monica Pier hosts its DĂa de los Muertos Celebration from 31 October to 1 November 2026, with a public art installation and performances in Santa Monica. The programme honours Pedro Infante and invites visitors to contribute to a communal ofrenda in the historic Merry-Go-Round building.
DĂa de los Muertos brings two days of art to Santa Monica Pier
The celebration begins on Saturday, 31 October 2026, and continues on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The organiser describes it as a two-day public art installation with free, family-friendly programming at the pier.
On 31 October, visitors can view and contribute to ofrendas inside the Merry-Go-Round building. The programme on 1 November includes ofrenda altars and face painting at noon, followed by a traditional Aztec blessing at the west end at 1pm.
The afternoon continues with Santa Monica Ballet Folklorico performances at 2pm, mariachi and Ballet Folklorico at 3pm, and live music by Brotherhood at 4.15pm. A speech by Carlos González Gutiérrez, Mexico’s consul general in Los Angeles, is scheduled for 4pm. The celebration programme for 2026 places these activities around the Merry-Go-Round building and the western end of the pier.
The Merry-Go-Round building connects the event with pier history
The 2026 celebration centres on Pedro Infante, the Mexican singer and actor whose career included more than 60 films and over 350 recorded songs. The installation also features altars by local artist Sylvia Sanchez and decorations on the 100-year-old Carousel.
That setting reflects the layered history of the landmark. Santa Monica’s municipal pier officially opened on 9 September 1909 after the city chose a concrete design for a utility structure extending into the Pacific. The city’s historical account records architect Edwin H. Warner’s original 1,600-foot proposal and the official opening ceremony in 1909.
The later entertainment history is visible in the carousel building, where the cultural programme will take place. The city history of the concrete pier links the structure’s early municipal role with its later public life.
Visiting Santa Monica Pier: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The DĂa de los Muertos Celebration runs from 31 October to 1 November 2026 at Santa Monica Pier, with the main programme in the Merry-Go-Round building on 1 November.
- The event includes public art, community altars, face painting, a procession, mariachi and dance performances. The organiser states that the programming is free and family-friendly.
- The blessing takes place at the west end of the pier, while the altars and performances are centred on the historic Merry-Go-Round building.
- Santa Monica Pier is at the western end of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica. The city states that visitors can reach downtown Santa Monica by public transport, including the Metro E Line, with the pier a short walk from the station.
- The site combines a long, open pier deck with an enclosed historic carousel building. Visitors attending the programme should expect to move between the western end and the Merry-Go-Round building.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Santa Monica Pier
When does DĂa de los Muertos take place at Santa Monica Pier?
The celebration takes place from 31 October to 1 November 2026. The main programme is scheduled for 1 November in and around the Merry-Go-Round building.
What can visitors see at Santa Monica Pier during the celebration?
Visitors can see community altars and other art installations, with mariachi, Ballet Folklorico, a traditional blessing, a procession and live music on 1 November 2026.
Where is Santa Monica Pier and how do you get there?
Santa Monica Pier stands at the western end of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica. The city identifies the Metro E Line and downtown Santa Monica public transport links as options for reaching the area.
