Print detail event | 13th Annual Florida Day of the Dead Celebration

At this time of the year, it is believed that the gateway between Mictlan, the ancient Aztec land of the dead, and our own opens up so we can dance and sing with our lost loved ones for one special time of the year. By popular demand starting in 2022, we will be hosting our FREE main festival on the first Saturday in November to celebrate our beloved souls.

At 4pm, the Celebration begins in Huizenga Plaza where you can enjoy ancient Aztec dance by Tloke Nuake, sugar skull face painters and kids crafts. Then at 4:30, meet the Puppet Team backstage to be trained as an official puppeteer to carry one of giant puppets in the 13th Annual Skeleton Processional (no experience required). At 5pm, officials from the Mexican Consulate, City of Fort Lauderdale and more will welcome the skeletons.

At 5:30 Sharp right after a Mexhika ceremony by Mesoamerican Danza, the Mexican American Council Mariachi Conservatory begins the Processional. Join the Skeleton Processional with hundreds of skeletons and dozens of puppets as it curves west through Riverwalk to north on SW 3rd Avenue to the Revolution Live Entertainment Complex. Big Chief brass Band will follow up the processional with an 18’ tall Frida Kahlo puppet.

At the end of the processional the party continues until 11pm. The Folklorico Stage, Mexican Mariachi, indigenous arts, Craft Crypt, Folklorico dancers, Boneyard Bandstand, tequila tastings, Latin food truck rally, interactive performers and Instagram ready photo ops with the giant skeleton puppets… these are just a few of the eye popping moments experienced at the Florida Day of the Dead Celebration.

Memory for the Dead… Party for the Living.ᐧ

Dates & Times

Dates: 2022/11/05 - 2022/11/05

Additional time info:

13th Annual Florida Day of the Dead Celebration
Saturday, November 5, 2022 4 PM - 11 PM
Processional starts at Huizinga Park at 5:30 PM
SKELETON PROCESSIONAL

Ceremony begins 5pm Sharp at Huizenga Plaza
A playful spectacle that honors the Mexican tradition where skeleton costumed revelers animate dozens of 10’-18’ tall giant puppets from Puppet Network and the Puppet Guild of South Florida. Musicians lead the way as this all-ages processional.
MEXHIKA STAGE - 4-5:30pm

HUIZENGA PLAZA, 32 East Las Olas Boulevard
Indigenous roots of Dia de los Muertos are showcased prior to the Processional with Aztec and Mayan performing troupes performing ancient dance and music rituals. Performances by Tloke Nuhake and Mesoamerican Danza.
FOLKLORICO STAGE 5-11pm

SW 3rd Avenue just South of Broward Boulevard
As the centerpiece of the festival, the Folklorico Stage showcases hundreds of performers presenting the best of traditional folk dance and music traditions from Mexico and throughout Latin America – closing with an amazing Mariachi concert!
BONEYARD BANDSTAND 6pm-4am

AMERICA’S BACKYARD, 100 SW 3rd Avenue
The Boneyard Bandstand opens with New Orleans styled Brass Bands, reinterpreted with a cool modern twist until 8:30pm. Then the late night party continues until 4 AM with sugar skull DJs and high energy international music scapes.
CRAFT CRYPT 4 PM - 11 PM

ASTA Lot between SW 2nd and 3rd Avenues just south of Broward Boulevard
Over 100 of the top regional handmade independent craft artists converge to present their Dia de los Muertos inspired work at this fanciful bazaar. In Partnership with Indie Craft Bazaar, the Craft Crypt presents one of the best ways to take home personalized unique artisan piece of original art.
LATIN FOOD TRUCK RALLY 4 PM - 11 PM

ASTA Lot between SW 3rd and 4th Avenues across from Revolution Live
Over a dozen of the finest traditional Mexican and Latin American food trucks and restaurant booths from throughout South Florida. Damn Good Hospitality will host 6 indoor./outdoor bars to experience your favorite tequila and cerveza!