FREE Día de los Muertos Festival

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is holding a Día de los Muertos Festival. Admission is FREE.

This event includes live music, art activities, poetry readings, artist demonstrations, dance performances, folk tales, kids’ activities, food for purchase and more.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities are spread across the museum campus and are organized below by location.

Here is a schedule of major events.

Nelson-Atkins Building

Timed Events & Performances

• 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. | Grupo Folklorico del Sol (Atkins Auditorium)
• 11 a.m. to noon | El Mariachi (Kirkwood Hall)
• 12:10 to 1 p.m. | Los Bailadores di Kansas City (Atkins Auditorium) – Welcome remarks precede performance
• 1 to 2 p.m. | Photo Op with La Calavera Catrina (Nelson-Atkins Building)
• 1:45 to 2:20 p.m. | Grupo Folklorico Alma Tapatia (Atkins Auditorium)
• 3:15 to 4 p.m. | Grupo Folklorico Izcalli (Atkins Auditorium)

All-Day Activities 

• Path of Memories Altar Installation (Kirkwood Hall) | View the community display and place paper remembrances to honor loved ones.
• Artist Demonstrations (Classroom 6) | Watch artists create using colorful paper.
• Gallery Learning Station (Gallery 210) | Discover the symbolism of Our Lady of the Rosary by José Manuel Benavides.
• Alebrije Video Screening (Fields Educator Resource Center) | Short video featuring Mexican artist Miguel Bolívar discussing the giant hummingbird sculpture.

Bloch Building

Timed Events & Performances

• 10 to 11 a.m. | Mariachi Fuego (Bloch Lobby Stage)
• 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. | Bilingual Story Time (Spencer Art Reference Library)
• 11:45 a.m. to noon | Bilingual Story Time (Spencer Art Reference Library)
• 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Ballet ItsÏ Asuli (Bloch Lobby)
• 12 to 1 p.m. | Photo Op with La Calavera Catrina (Bloch Lobby)
• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Mariachi Habanero (Bloch Lobby Stage)
• 1:30 to 1:45 p.m. | Aztecs Folklorico Dance Group (Bloch Lobby Stage)
• 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. | Mariachi Habanero (Bloch Lobby Stage)
• 1 to 4 p.m. | Drawing Demo by Emiliano Zapata (Spencer Art Reference Library)
• 1 to 4 p.m. | Meet & Greet: Mattie Rhodes Cultural Center (Spencer Art Reference Library)
• 3 to 3:15 p.m. | Interactive Dance with Grupo Folklorico Alma Tapatía (Bloch Lobby Stage)

All-Day Activities 

• Art Activity (Lens 2) | Make a paper hummingbird finger puppet.
• Viva la Tinta KC Community Printmaking (Bloch Lobby) | Live mobile printing press demo and free mini-prints (while supplies last).
• Photo Op with Giant Puppet Elena Lucía (Bloch Lobby).
• Gallery Learning Station (Bloch Level 1) | Explore the new acquisition Endless Spiral by Betsabeé Romero.
• Low Sensory Breakroom (Rockhill Room) | Quiet room equipped with calming textures and fidget toys.
• KC Current Table (Bloch Level 1) | Interactive stop with giveaways.
• Free Festival Buttons (Spencer Art Reference Library) | Pick up student-designed commemorative buttons (while supplies last, opens at 11 a.m.).

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is located at 4525 Oak Street in Kansas City, Missouri.

More free and cheap things to do