Old Town Albuquerque is gearing up for its fourth annual Dia de los Muertos celebration, a 10-day run of marigold-draped streets, glowing miniature hot-air balloons and candlelit processions that begins October 30 and continues through November 8. The historic district will fill with more than 30 ofrendas, a Marigold Mile stretching across its adobe walls and vigas, and nighttime gatherings built around remembrance and tradition.
According to the official event page from Old Town Albuquerque, the celebration runs October 30th to November 8th, 2026, echoing the same roughly 10-day format the neighborhood used last year. Sara Mancini, a volunteer with the Historic Old Town Association, told KOB 4 that the festivities stretch from Halloween through November 8 and include cultural events, crafts for kids, lowriders and mariachi music woven throughout the district.
Marigolds, Ofrendas and a Mystery Sculpture
The signature Marigold Mile will see more than 15,000 feet of marigold garland strung along beams, vigas, lights and historic adobe structures throughout Old Town, organizers say. More than 30 ofrendas, or altars honoring the dead, will be scattered across the district, while a separate community ofrenda decorated by students from San Felipe de Neri Catholic School and Escuela del Sol Montessori will anchor the plaza. Visit Albuquerque, meanwhile, describes more than 50 community-built ofrendas specifically at Plaza de los Recuerdos, a figure that differs from Old Town’s own count for the broader district.
New this year is a towering sculpture that organizers have not yet revealed, joining pieces created during the celebration’s previous two years. The ofrenda tradition has grown quickly since it began: organizers told the Albuquerque Journal that last year’s event had about 20 ofrendas and they expected up to 75 in 2025, a sharp jump from the celebration’s earlier years.
Globitos, Coco Screenings and the Hidden Courtyard
Among the most talked-about attractions is the Globitos Candlelight Glow, featuring model hot-air balloons that tower 20 feet tall, filling the street and church courtyard with light. KOB 4 reports the Globitos will appear two times during the week as part of the broader festivities, which also include a costume procession for visitors who want to join in…