Over a thousand community members gathered at Courthouse Square in Redwood City day and night on Sunday to honor their ancestors at the city’s 16th annual Día de los Muertos celebration.
Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a traditional Latino holiday dedicated to paying homage to the deceased by creating altars or ofrendas, which include pictures of the loved one, favorite foods or drinks of the departed, sugar skulls and marigold flowers. Beyond that, families celebrate Día de los Muertos through food, music and dance.
A member of Los Charros de Tlaxcala performs during a Día de los Muertos celebration at Courthouse Square in Redwood City on Nov. 8, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Photos of deceased pets on display inside the San Mateo County History Museum during a Día de los Muertos celebration in Redwood City on Nov. 8, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Attendees look at an altar inside a car during a Día de los Muertos celebration at Courthouse Square in Redwood City on Nov. 8, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Attendees look at an altar inside a car during a Día de los Muertos celebration at Courthouse Square in Redwood City on Nov. 8, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
The event was hosted by Casa Círculo Cultural and the San Mateo County History Museum, in collaboration with the Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation. While the holiday is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 or 2 and typically involves a candlelit visit to one’s ancestors’ gravesites, Redwood City hosts a well-attended public festival instead.
Casa Círculo describes the event as a “true blend of cultures and voices to create a holiday that is as unique and powerful as the Chicanx community itself.”
The theme of this year’s event was inspired by Tlaxcala, a region rich in history, indigenous heritage and vibrant traditions, according to Casa Círculo.
The event featured live performers, dancers with Los Charros de Tlaxcala, art installations, food vendors, face painting and a parade. The festival also included two contests: an “Altar Festival Contest” — to “showcase your creativity” and “engage with the rich tapestry of cultural diversity” — as well as a “Trunk Ofrenda Contest” — to celebrate and honor the memory of children who passed away, according to Casa Círculo.
A theatrical performance by the Casa Círculo Cultural Theater Group Adultos portrayed violence by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and the impact of deportations and deaths on Hispanic communities. A couple of hours earlier, an individual was arrested by ICE blocks away outside of the Maguire Correctional Facility on Sunday at 3:45 p.m., and one more just after midnight at 12:15 a.m. Monday morning.
Almost 30 local organizations, agencies and businesses sponsored the heritage event.
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