Noche de Altares, Santa Ana’s community Día de Muertos celebration, returns on Saturday, November 7, 2026, noon to 9 p.m. It takes place on Fourth Street between Ross Street and Broadway in downtown Santa Ana.
El Centro Cultural de México has organized the event with volunteers since 2002. Families, students, community groups, artists and businesses build altars in memory of loved ones who have died, or to bring attention to a social issue. Visitors walk the street to see them.
For families
Along with the altars, the organizer lists cultural performances and live music. Children can get their faces painted and join free art workshops.
The 2026 event site also has sign-ups for artisans, food vendors, Catrinas and a talent showcase, and it lists invited artists.
Before you go
Details can shift closer to the date, so check the event site before heading downtown. Questions go to the organizers at nochedealtares@elcentroculturaldemexico.org.
The featured photo shows Fourth Street at Main Street in 2003, a few blocks east of the event area.
Sources
Featured photo: Orange County Archives via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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