Día de Muertos celebrations continue through Nov. 8 in Des Moines, Davenport, Marshalltown, Sioux City, Fort Madison and Cedar Rapids, with free festivals, ofrendas, dance and family activities.
By Hola Iowa
Updated Oct. 31, 2026.
Día de Muertos celebrations across Iowa continue from Saturday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 8, with community gatherings, museum festivals, ofrendas, music, dance and art exhibitions. Events on Nov. 1 include free celebrations in Des Moines, Davenport and Sioux City, along with gatherings in Marshalltown and Fort Madison.
Rooted in Mexican tradition, Día de Muertos honors loved ones who have died through remembrance, family gatherings and shared cultural practices. Ofrendas often feature photographs, flowers, candles, food and personal objects associated with the people being remembered.
Marshalltown’s celebration at Midnight Garden will feature a presentation by the Hispanic Art Center of Omaha inspired by Hanal Pixán, a remembrance tradition from Yucatán. Exhibitions and cultural programming in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids will continue after the main celebration weekend.
Oct. 31–Nov. 8 — Día de Muertos events in Des Moines
Oct. 31 — Community celebration and free health screenings
Capitol Park Neighborhood Association and Violence Free Iowa will host a Día de los Muertos community celebration on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Carver Community School, 705 E. University Ave., Suite 100, Des Moines.
The family-friendly gathering includes cultural activities, music, food and community resources. MyHealthIowa–MiSaludIowa will participate as a community health partner, providing free blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol screenings, along with health education.
Nov. 1 — Des Moines Art Center’s 26th annual celebration
The Des Moines Art Center’s 26th annual Día de Muertos celebration takes place Sunday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines.
This year’s theme, ¡Sí Se Puede!, explores civil and human rights and the legacy of labor leader Dolores Huerta. The community ofrenda honors Felicia Timotea Leon Mullin, whose life and work will also be featured in a short documentary.
The program includes bilingual storytelling, Mariachi Los Aguilares, KonKultura Dance, additional live music, hands-on art activities, vendors and a Catrina photo area. Hot cocoa and samples of pan de muerto will be available free while supplies last.
Scheduled highlights include bilingual storytelling at 11:15 a.m., a mariachi procession at 11:30 a.m., and documentary screenings with KonKultura performances from noon to 1 p.m. and again from 2 to 3 p.m.
Admission is free, and registration is not required. A complimentary shuttle will run between Merrill Middle School and the Art Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Through Nov. 2 — Community ofrenda at Central Library
Des Moines Central Library is displaying a Día de Muertos ofrenda through Monday, Nov. 2, in its Gateway Gallery at 1000 Grand Ave., Des Moines.
Latinx Immigrants of Iowa created the altar in partnership with Des Moines Public Library. The installation includes flowers made by library visitors in memory of loved ones.
Nov. 2 — Day of the Dead celebration at Des Moines Central Library
The Des Moines Public Library’s Día de Muertos celebration is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave.
The family program, presented with Latinx Immigrants of Iowa, includes an ofrenda, Catrina displays, dance performances, a screening of Coco, a community resource fair, tamales, pan de muerto and Mexican hot chocolate. The library also lists free flu shots for children among the activities.
The celebration is open to all ages.
Nov. 8 — Honoring the Spirit at the Des Moines Art Center
The Art Center’s Honoring the Spirit: A Day of the Dead Ofrenda Conversation takes place Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. in Levitt Auditorium, 4700 Grand Ave.
The discussion will explore remembrance, civil rights and the community ofrenda created by poet and artist Michaela Mullin in honor of her mother, Felicia Leon Mullin.
Participants include Mullin; historian and filmmaker Vince Valdez; and Erica Johnson, founding executive director of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice. Karina Sanchez of the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission will lead a brief Know Your Rights presentation. Mia Buch of the Art Center will moderate.
Admission is free, and no registration is required.
Nov. 1 — Free Day of the Dead Family Fiesta at the Figge in Davenport
The Figge Art Museum’s Day of the Dead Family Fiesta returns Sunday, Nov. 1, from noon to 5 p.m. at 225 W. Second St., Davenport.
Admission is free during the event. Visitors can explore the community ofrenda, see Catrinas throughout the galleries and visit the Mexican Roots: Masks, Prints and Traditional Arts of Mexico exhibition.
Crafts and face painting will be offered from noon to 3 p.m. Glenview Mariachi performs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., followed by Danza West Liberty at 1:30 p.m. and Quad City Ballet Folklorico at 2:30 p.m.
The celebration is presented in partnership with LULAC Council 10 and Hola America/Hola Iowa.
Related: Mexican Roots brings centuries of art, tradition and imagination to the Figge this fall.
Nov. 1 — Marshalltown celebrates Día de Muertos at Midnight Garden
Marshalltown will host a Día de los Muertos celebration on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Midnight Garden, 1501 S. 17th Ave., Marshalltown, IA 50158.
The program features food vendors, ofrendas, children’s activities, folkloric dance, a Catrina contest and cultural performances. Organizers encourage families to come in costume and bring a photograph of a loved one measuring 8 by 10 inches or smaller.
The Hispanic Art Center of Omaha will present Day of the Dead Inspired by Hanal Pixán: Food of the Souls, highlighting a tradition from Yucatán that honors deceased loved ones.
Admission pricing was not specified in the available event information. The organizer’s contact number listed by the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce is 641-751-0067.
Nov. 1 — Sioux City Public Museum closes its Noche de Ofrendas exhibition
The Sioux City Public Museum’s Noche de Ofrendas exhibition remains on display through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 607 Fourth St., Sioux City.
This year’s display focuses on candles, light and remembrance. It features altars created by community members and paper candles prepared by local students.
The museum will also host a free Día de Muertos celebration on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 4 p.m., with music, dance, face painting, children’s crafts and refreshments.
The exhibition and celebration are free and open to the public. Sunday’s museum hours are 1 to 5 p.m.
Nov. 1 — Fort Madison honors Mexican Village history and Día de Muertos
The Latin American Club–LULAC Council 304 will host a Día de los Muertos gathering on Sunday, Nov. 1, from noon to 4 p.m. at 1424 36th St., Fort Madison, Iowa.
Families are invited to create ofrendas honoring loved ones who have died, bringing photographs, flowers and personal mementos. The gathering will also feature historical dioramas depicting the Mexican railroad settlement and housing associated with Santa Fe Railway workers and their families.
At 2 p.m., historian and author Dr. Alejandro Benavides will present a talk about the history of Fort Madison’s Mexican Village and the railroad families who built a community there.
Live music will feature RJ Hernandez, Andrea Hernandez-Mendez, Dominic Martinez and Greyson Garcia.
The event announcement does not specify an admission fee.
Through Nov. 8 — Día de Muertos art exhibition in Cedar Rapids
CSPS Hall’s second annual Día de Muertos group exhibition continues through Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids.
The exhibition opened Oct. 8 and features artwork exploring remembrance and cultural traditions associated with Día de Muertos.
Gallery admission is free. Published hours are Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
Correction (Oct. 25, 2026): An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified MyHealthIowa–MiSaludIowa as an organizer of the Oct. 31 Día de los Muertos community celebration. The event is organized by Capitol Park Neighborhood Association and Violence Free Iowa. MyHealthIowa–MiSaludIowa is participating as a community health partner.
Image transparency note: All photographs used in the collage are original images taken by Hola Iowa/Hola America photographers. AI-assisted tools were used in some visual compositions accompanying this story to arrange images and add creative visual effects. Our editorial team remains responsible for the reporting, writing and published content. ©️ Hola America Media Group.
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