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Mission's Festival of Altars Marks 34 Years

Visitors can see the altars and browse the Mercado de Muertos along the park perimeter.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Cultural

Tiered altars draped in marigold garlands and candlelight stand among park trees on a green lawn under soft fog-diffused afternoon light.
The 34th annual Festival of Altars drew Mission District families to Potrero del Sol Park to honor loved ones with candles, marigolds, and decorated altars on Sunday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Mission District families and altar-makers gathered at Potrero del Sol Park for the 34th annual Festival of Altars, where dozens of altars were decorated with candles, sugar skulls, and photos of loved ones. The festival, hosted with help from The Marigold Project, drew neighbors into a long-running Mission tradition.

Why it matters

For neighbors in the Mission, the festival is one of the places where Dia de los Muertos traditions are kept in public view, from altar-building to live music and traditional ceremonies. Its roots trace back to the 1980s, when the observance grew in the neighborhood amid gang violence, AIDS, and Central American wars.

The festival marks its 34th year at Potrero del Sol Park. No attendance figure or altar count is reported for this year.

The players

The Marigold Project

A foundation that helped host this year's Festival of Altars.

Veronica Estia

A local altar-maker who built an altar at the park for the second year.

The details

Dozens of altars were decorated with candles, sugar skulls, and photos of loved ones, and Veronica Estia built an altar at the park for the second time after starting the previous year. Organizers ran an altar-building workshop followed by several interactive stations, and a local artisan market, the Mercado de Muertos, lined the park perimeter.

Timeline

  1. The festival's observance began growing in the Mission in the 1980s.

  2. The 34th annual Festival of Altars was held at Potrero del Sol Park on November 3, 2026.

Across the Bay

The festival carries forward a Mission observance that grew in the 1980s, when the neighborhood was facing gang violence, the AIDS epidemic, and the Central American wars. Its 34th year places it among the longer-running public Dia de los Muertos gatherings in the city.

If you live near Potrero del Sol Park, expect the festival's altars, music, and artisan market to fill the park for its run. Plan to stop by the Mercado de Muertos along the perimeter to see the work of local artisans up close.

The takeaway

The Festival of Altars keeps a Mission tradition in public view, and its 34 years show how the observance has held up. Bring a photo or a name to place on an altar if you want to take part in the remembrance.

Further reading

Explore more San Francisco Cultural coverage of the traditions and events shaping the city's arts scene.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Mission Local.