Every fall, Chula Vista slowly turns orange and gold. Marigolds start showing up on front porches, papel picado hangs over the shops on Third Avenue, and families dig through old photo albums for that perfect picture of grandma or grandpa to bring to the altar.
I love Día de los Muertos Celebrations in Chula Vista and go every year, so I’ve had this Sunday, November 1, on my calendar for a while. We get two celebrations in one day, and the times line up well enough that you can easily make it to both. I’m especially looking forward to El After Life, which is back at Chula Vista Center for its second year. I went to the first one last year and had a great time.
I’ll be at both events with my camera, so if you see me walking around, come say hi. Here’s a quick look at what’s happening:
- El After Life at Chula Vista Center, 12 to 3 p.m.: school and college altars, folklórico dancers, mariachi and a Catrina contest
- 6th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration in Downtown Chula Vista, 3 to 7:30 p.m.: an ofrenda competition, live music at four locations, a car show and the Community Altar
Why We Celebrate Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos isn’t a sad holiday. It’s a joyful one. Its roots go back more than 3,000 years to the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures, who honored their ancestors and saw death as a natural part of life, not the end of it.
That idea is still at the heart of it today. Families treat the holiday as a reunion with the people they’ve lost and welcome their memories home with color, food and music. You’ll see women dressed as la Catrina, ofrendas set up in living rooms and along sidewalks, and cempasúchil just about everywhere you look. Cempasúchil are the bright marigolds whose color and scent are said to guide spirits home.
Every altar tells a story. Next to the marigolds, you’ll find pan de muerto, sugar skulls, candles, and colorful papel picado. Together they stand for the four elements of earth, wind, water and fire, and they connect the living with the people who came before us.
El After Life at Chula Vista Center
My day starts at Chula Vista Center for El After Life, which is back for its second year. More than 2,000 people came out last year, and this year they’re promising it’ll be even bigger. If you missed it, here’s my recap of last year’s El After Life.
For me, the best part is the altar competition. Local schools and colleges build ofrendas and compete against each other, including the University of San Diego and the Sweetwater Union High School District. Winners are announced during the event, so stick around.
You can also see a live folklórico performance by Grupo de Danza Folklórica Mexicana Wa-Kushmaa and hear mariachi music through the afternoon. Kids can visit the free art station, get free face painting and pick up a free goody bag. If you’ve been working on your look, enter the Catrina contest for a chance at prizes from Chula Vista Center stores.
Watch my video recap on YouTube here.
The Details
- When: Sunday, November 1, 12 to 3 p.m.
- Where: Chula Vista Center Event Area, between Macy’s and Burlington, 555 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
- Cost: Free
6th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration in Downtown Chula Vista
When things wrap up at the mall, I’m heading straight downtown. Downtown is basically my neighborhood, and I’ve watched this celebration grow every single year. Now in its sixth year, it’s centered at Memorial Park, with smaller altars set up along Third Avenue. Several downtown businesses build their own altars too, so take a walk down the avenue between performances. You can see what it looked like last year in my recap of both 2025 celebrations.
There’s a lot to see at this one. The Ofrenda Competition and the Catrín and Catrina Ensemble contest are always fun to watch, and there will be live music and dance at four different spots around downtown. The neighborhood also has a car show, kids’ crafts, plenty of food and treats, and themed photo spots throughout. Artisan vendors will be set up at the Mercado by Las Jefas Market, so plan on doing a little shopping.
My favorite part is the Community Ofrenda. Bring a printed copy of a photo of someone you’ve lost and pin it on the Community Altar at Davidson. When photos from families across Chula Vista come together on one altar, it stays with you.
The Details
- When: Sunday, November 1, 3 to 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Memorial Park in Downtown Chula Vista, with smaller altars along Third Avenue and the Community Altar at Davidson
- Cost: Free
Making a Day of It
To go to both, get to Chula Vista Center around lunchtime, then head downtown around 3 p.m. Wear comfortable shoes, because the downtown event covers several blocks, and don’t forget your printed photo for the Community Altar. If you’ve got a Catrina or Catrín look ready, wear it all day, since you’ll have two contests to show it off.
Two celebrations, one Sunday, and a whole city coming together to remember the people who shaped us. Whether you go to one event or both, I hope you’ll come out and be part of it. I’ll post photos and videos from both, so follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @livingchulavista, and check the Chula Vista Living event calendar for more around-town happenings.
