Redwood City's Día de los Muertos Turns to Tlaxcala, a Region Its Festival Already Knows

On November 3, 2024, a dance group called Los Charros de Tlaxcala made its way to the Courthouse Square stage through a dense crowd. The dancers wore flowing capes and ornate hats, and the dance celebrated the Earth. One member told the Redwood City Pulse that the group had traveled from Tlaxcala, a small state in central Mexico, and had been part of Redwood City's celebration for the past eight years.

"The outfits are all handmade and they take about a year to sew."

That line comes from the same 2024 report. Two years later, the place those dancers came from is the theme of the whole event. Redwood City's Día de los Muertos returns to Courthouse Square this Sunday, November 8, with a theme drawn from the traditions and Indigenous heritage of Tlaxcala. The theme points back to one of the festival's longest-running guests.

A New Region Every Year, and This Year a Familiar One

The organizers choose a new focus each fall. The City of Redwood City's event listing says that "every year, a theme or region of Latin America is carefully selected with a deep connection to the traditions and cultural significance of Day of the Dead." The 2024 theme was artwork. It drew on Diego Rivera's 1940 mural featuring La Catrina, the elegantly dressed skeleton that printmaker José Guadalupe Posada first drew in the early 1900s to satirize Mexico's elite.

The 2026 theme is a place. The city describes Tlaxcala as "a region rich in history, Indigenous heritage, and vibrant traditions," celebrated "through its unique customs, colors, and symbolism." Moving from a single image to a whole region gives the altars and costumes a wider range to draw from. It also puts Tlaxcala at the center of the festival. In 2024, the region appeared on the program through Los Charros de Tlaxcala's performance.

The 2026 performers have not been announced yet. Casa Círculo Cultural, the lead organizer, says it will share the lineup and full schedule closer to the event, so check its page before you go if you hope to see a particular group. In 2024, the program also included Grupo Mictlan, an Aztec dance group. San Francisco's Community Music Center sent three groups directed by Martha Rodríguez: the intergenerational Mariachi CMC and two choirs, Coro Solera and Centro Latino.

Why a Downtown Festival Can Plan Around a Region

One organization has run this event for its whole history. Casa Círculo Cultural is a grassroots arts organization that offers bilingual arts, cultural and educational programs for Bay Area Latino communities. It was founded in 2009 and started Redwood City's Day of the Dead celebration in 2010. Classes cover music, art, theater, dance, martial arts, chess, literature and multimedia, taught mainly in Spanish. Casa calls the November celebration its flagship event and says it draws thousands of people downtown. Founder Veronica Escamez received the Ohtli Award from the Consulate General of Mexico in 2022.

The Redwood City Pulse described last year's event on November 2, 2025, as the 15th edition and reported crowds in the thousands. The program included mariachi dancers, small-business vendors, trunk altars and a short play by Casa's adult theater group. Los Charros de Tlaxcala's eight years on that stage, as of 2024, cover more than half of the festival's run.

The lineup of partners has also grown. In 2024, Casa co-hosted with the San Mateo County History Museum in partnership with Friends of the Redwood City Library. This year, the museum is a co-organizer again, and the Redwood City Parks & Arts Foundation has joined as a collaborator.

The Altars Are the Part the Community Builds

Day of the Dead is traditionally observed on November 1 and 2, when families build ofrendas with photographs, marigolds, candles and the favorite foods of the people they are remembering. Redwood City's public celebration comes the Sunday after, and many of the altars on the square are entered by members of the community.

Two altar formats are on the 2026 program:

• Community altar contest. Casa is accepting original altars that can be transported to the square. The application and key dates are still listed as forthcoming.
• "Recuerdos sobre ruedas." This trunk-ofrenda contest honors children, or "Angelitos." It is set for November 8 on Broadway, is limited to 12 registered entries, and its viewing, judging and award times are still to be announced.

The trunk format has history on this street. In 2024, the Pulse described altars built in the trunks of vintage cars parked in front of Courthouse Square. One was laid out with pumpkin seeds, chili-dusted peanuts, tangerines and mangoes, the favorite foods of the relatives being honored. Inside the San Mateo County History Museum that year were eight altars, some for individuals and families and others for victims of domestic violence and war, plus a craft table where children made catrinas and papel picado. Neither organizer has published details of a 2026 museum program, so treat the indoor altars as a past feature unless they announce one.

Sunday, November 8, at a Glance

The event runs on Broadway between Hamilton Street and Middlefield Road, in front of Courthouse Square at 2200 Broadway. Published start and end times differ by source, so the table lists both.

The 6 p.m. procession is the fixed point of the evening. If you plan your visit around one thing, plan around that, and come a little early so you can walk the altars before the crowd closes in. The Pulse's Silicon Valley roundup calls Redwood City's event "one of the biggest celebrations on the Peninsula."

Getting There, and What to See Before Sunday

The city has not posted parking instructions for the event. Its downtown parking page lists two garages within walking distance of Broadway:

1. Marshall Garage, 750 Marshall. Open 24 hours, $1 to $2.50 per hour.
2. County Garage, 440 Middlefield. Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., so it will still be open well after the festival ends.

If you want to see some ofrendas before Sunday, the Downtown Library at 1044 Middlefield Road is showing ofrendas, sugar skulls and related artwork by local artist Rosario González in its Makerspace. The exhibit is free during regular library hours and closes Friday, November 6.

Neighbors who want a full weekend can go to Mountain View the day before. Its Día de Muertos runs Saturday, November 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza. It is free and includes catrina face painting, workshops for flowers, sugar skulls and flower headbands, live music and a community altar. Sunday evening on Broadway has the 6 p.m. procession.

Casa's Día de los Muertos page is where the performer list will appear once it is announced, along with booth information for vendors.

Following downtown Redwood City's calendar, from Courthouse Square festivals to new openings along Broadway, is part of how I advise clients on this side of the Peninsula. If you have questions about a home near downtown, Fani Realty is happy to help. Request a personalized consultation and market valuation.