Had to come back an update my review. Since returning from the pandemic they now sell tickets in time slots for this event which really helps with crowd control. Kudos to them. Went this evening and the crowds were manageable and of course the altars moving and absolutely breathtaking. I also was able to do a bit of Christmas shopping from the vendors they have there. Nice selection of food and drink stalls as well. Pro tip: if you really want to hear talented performers go the small stage in back of the mausoleum. Almost every performer I've seen there is incredible. The main stage can be a bit rough. Would definitely recommend to Uber there. Parking can be difficult. read more

Very poor planning regarding toilets. About 100x more crowded than 10 yrs ago. Like Disneyland with no toilets.

Lovely event. Next time I'd want to get there much earlier to catch all the dance and music performances but we saw a couple and we really loved walking around admiring all the beautiful altars. There were a few nice art/craft vendors also and we enjoyed a tasty lime and cucumber agua fresca plus some esquites. I'm sure the event is also wonderful at night but we had a concert to get to instead. Street parking nearby is a big challenge so plan accordingly. read more

11/01/25 1pm -3:30pm This event is barely a shadow of what it used to be. No stages with dancers in colorful costumes, no music, no vendors, no mexican food, no catrinas in the pool. The mauseleum, where they used to display beautiful art, locked up. The area in the back of the mauseleum where they used to have a stage, food, and vendors, blocked off. No parade. Not even a main stage. Hardly anyone was in costume. They used to have a costume contest, no more. We walked thru the ofrendas which weren't even half of how many they used to have. Just so sad and disappointing read more

Started going to this event in its early years. Still love the magic but it has definitely become more commercial and less about its very reason for existing (the ofrendas). On the one hand, I'm happy to see it flourish. But I do think the balance has shifted a little too much towards music and food. read more

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This Dia de Los Muertos event is held at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. We purchased our tickets in advance online for 4PM-7PM entry which is actually a pretty ideal time to go because it's past the hottest part of the day. As it was my first time visiting the cemetery, I was completely blown away by how large it is! Definitely wear comfortable shoes because it'll take you quite a while to walk the entire grounds! There are many altars on display and they all look so beautiful! It was great to get lost in all the details by the talented people who made them. Speaking of which, of course it wouldn't be a Day of the Dead celebration without the proper attire! So many people dressed up and it was amazing to see so many intricately designed outfits. My fiancee and I took note (and plenty of pictures) of some ideas for the next time we dress up for Dia de Los Muertos. If you don't dress up there's plenty of face-paint tents and vendors selling masks & accessories. There are about 4 stages set up throughout the cemetery with fantastic music and dancing. There's a mausoleum lined up with paintings and art which are great to see but be forewarned that it's very hot & stuffy inside. There's lots of food/drink booths set up all around so don't just jump at the first one you see! The biggest downside to this event, as some others have mentioned before, are the people. I don't mean the respectful people who are truly celebrating Dia de Los Muertos or those who wish to learn more about it. I'm talking about the jerks wearing Halloween costumes and those who come just to get drunk at the cemetery. If you're planning on dressing up in a monkey costume or as a slutty angel, go to a Halloween party not DDLM. I cringed quite a lot at the disrespect on display. Keep in mind it's an actual cemetery so don't step/sit on headstones. Show some respect! Also it gets pretty crowded so expect to be elbow-to-elbow with people for the majority of the time you're there. If you're feeling claustrophobic, in back of the mausoleum (which is also behind the main stage) is a less traveled area with a small stage and tables to sit at. Overall we had a great time at this event. All the altars, decorations, and outfits are a sight to behold. They also light up everything at night so I highly recommend coming around 4PM and staying until dark to get the best of both worlds. If you wish to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, definitely check out Hollywood Forever's event at least once. read more

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It's hard to give this event a fair rating considering the many factors that go into the decision. First of all, we drove around for 1 hour looking for a parking spot and ended up parking on Melrose and Bronson and walked up. The entire area of Santa Monica Blvd and surrounding streets was chaos. There was not enough parking to fit the huge crowds. Luckily we entered through the Gower gate and only had to wait for 20 minutes but that was around 7pm. They honored us coming in past our ticket time without batting an eye. Now inside the event was amazing although extremely crowded. Some areas were impossible to move through and restroom line were chaotic. And don't think about eating or drinking without standing in line with 50 other people. Despite all that. I would come back again but plan it out better and come earlier. I loved the colors and the outfits and the live music. People looked genuinely happy and it was simply a feel good event for people of all ages. read more

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I've attended this event for several years now and it's one of my favorite Autumn things to do in Los Angeles. This Dia de los Muertos celebration is supposedly the largest outside of Mexico! My view of cemeteries has shifted over time and Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever is responsible for that. I used to see cemeteries as sad places to visit rarely, but for Central American culture, on this particular day, the dead come back to (pleasantly) celebrate life with their loved ones. Installations/booths/altars line the walkways of living people who gratefully recreate scenes in honor of the person no longer living. Imagine missing someone, like an uncle, and thinking that on this night, he'll be with you. What do you have for him to enjoy his visit? His favorite foods, pictures, music and dancing are good places to start. I've come away with the appreciation that instead of avoiding the person who's passed, celebrate their lives by remembering how they lived with joy. If you come from a culture, like mine, that sees death as solemn, lonely and a topic to avoid, this experience will shift that paradigm. For me, it's been for the better. Cons: the parking does suck - I recommend parking far away near the bus line. You'll save yourself time and headaches. read more

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I've been coming to this event for years now . Port -a - potty has vastly improved making bathroom a more clean and less of a ghastly sight . There used to be more independent food and drink caterers but it's really been narrowed down to Northgate , and other bigger and commercialized food and drink vendors . It's really taken away from the fun and charm of attending . Maybe that is why it seemed like such a low turnout last year 2023 compared to other years I've been there. Quite honestly it's just boring when it monopolized by a few big food and alcohol companies at every turn . There seemed to be fewer jewelry and accessory vendors too . I hope this event isn't making it hard for vendors to participate and help make the night special for attendees . read more

This review was started 10/26. Ive been sitting on it in order to weigh the pros & cons in an honest opinion. Yeah I probably over analyzed but here it is... 5 stars and more for the people that walk through the door with a basic understanding of what Day of the Dead is all about and want to learn more about it. -5 stars to the douche bags that show up just to get stupid drunk and or smoke pot on headstones...I mean c'mon people, someone was grieving there. Show some fucking respect. Even less props if you show up dressed in a monster costume...or a small sombrero that you got at the last minute at Party City. If thats you, you need to take your ass to the Queen Mary or Knotts Berry Farm. They are celebrating halloween not DDLM. That said... DDLM at Hollywood Forever cem. is on of things Ive always wanted to check out. Its a pretty huge event and pretty cool if all you want to do is people watch/photograph, get ideas & inspiration for your DDLM alter and listen to some good music. There is also a pretty hearty selection of food & beverages available for purchase. I recommend you walk and look at all the food booths before you decide. I missed out on a lot! THE PROS: Its a huge colorful gathering of mostly people that want to express themselves in DDLM attire. Most of the Alters are very elaborate and are true to the idea of honoring those who have passed away. And again here is a huge selection of food and drinks. Booze too! I was a fan of the spotlight celebration of Mexican Huichol Art & culture this year and the music & entertainment that accompanied it. Great Stuff! Additionally, if you do some research you can find the final resting places of celebs such as Rudolph Valentino, Johnny Ramone and Mickey Rooney. Notable mention goes to mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. THE CONS: Crowded AF...but that was to be expected. Torta de al pastor I found was more bun than meat and really bland. That was my bad cause as mentioned before there was tons of choices. There is no attention being payed to the port-a-pottys. They all smelled pretty bad. Gross! The drunks and stoners I could have done without cause after all this is also a family friendly get together. We get it, you love to smoke pot. OVERALL: I can only see this event getting larger every year. More parking problems/price gouging and larger crowds that may have a potential to get unruly. Ill think real hard before deciding to come back. If you're a 1st timer...I recommend you check it out (because there is so much to see), but keep in mind what I have posted above, because its all true. Its my hope that the event planners steps up to do a better job at crowed control so that it becomes a more enjoyable experience for all especially the newbies. -Peace read more

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For a festival that's put on to celebrate and honor the dead, the production does a horrible job of doing so. We were all excited to finally see this popular festival but when we saw people lounging on people's graves, headstones, setting their lawn chairs and tents over graves it totally killed my excitement and actually made up furious. The altars were on the graves which I will give leeway to but seeing people standing on people's lifted graves, sitting on headstones like they were chairs or kids playing on burial altars I just felt appalled. There was an abundance of food tents and vendors that were setup on people's graves. I had to watch where I stepped. While all the altars were quite beautiful and there were some elaborate and exquisite costumes I don't think I'll be back for this event. read more

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"Dia de Los Muertos" aka THE DAY OF THE DEAD at the Hollywood Forever cemetery was absolutely spectacular! Being my first experience for "Dia de Los Muertos" I was blown away and I will be back. However I will bring my camera for all the images you can capture. Now parking was a headache, but once you found a spot you were good... I would recommend buying two sets of tickets so you can go early then leave and then come back for the night festivities. It appeared more stuff was happening at night but 6 hours in a graveyard gets old. Plenty of food vendors and merchandise booths for shopping pleasures. So you will have more than enough stimulation to keep you entertained. Now as you stroll around you will find celebrities like Johnny & Dee Dee Ramone, Toto ( THE DOG), Darren McGavin (aka CARL KOLCHAK from The Night Stalker) , Don Adams ( Get Smart ) so you can pay your respects and say you saw their final resting spot... Wow, the ornate costumes, large grave displays and face paintings was unbelievable words really can't describe the visuals you will encounter. I guess you will have to find out for yourself, wont ya! Who would have thought you could have this much fun at a grave yard. read more

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My very first Dia De Los Muertos experience started off good, then started to suck, then it got cool, then it got too overwhelming, then it redeemed itself and was cool again. We took the bus to this event because Laura F. and Jennifer L. are smart like that! No dealing with $10 parking and no dealing with crazy traffic. We arrived at Hollywood Forever Cemetary right as the sun has set and headed straight to...the Port O Potties. As Jennifer L. said, "If they can charge $10 admission, they could at least maintain the Port O Potties and stock them with toilet paper!" ...and while they're at it, throw some lights above the makeshift facilities and refill the handwashing stations with soap, water, and paper towels. After we shook it off (pun totally intended AND with multiple interpretations...what? tmi?), we headed to the altars. The best one was Las Chicas de Oro, or The Golden Girls which had the audio of a Golden Girls episode playing in the background. I would have loved to see more altars but it was much too crowded. We could barely move from display to display. The crowd thickened near the food tents. At that point we just wanted to leave. Somehow we managed to take a less crazy trail heading towards the exits and got to see a few vendor booths and more altars. At a distance across the pond we could see dancers in feathers performing. Once we were out of the madness, this was a much more pleasurable experience. Per Laura F.'s advise, it would be much more fun to go earlier in the day before the sunset. Much less people and more beautiful during golden hour. read more

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This festival is pretty awesome. I love that my friends and I were sitting in a beautiful cemetery eating pupusas on grave sites while watching people decked out in traditional Dia de Los Muertos costumes with elaborate painted faces. I also enjoyed the alters. Although, some of the stories and pictures of those that have passed is sad, this holiday is about celebrating the life of that person and sharing it with others. Some of the alters are simple while others are incredibly decked out. I recommend arriving later in the afternoon around 4ish so you can watch them change from day to night. Some people use lights to make them even more stunning when it gets dark. The year we went it was the night prior to a full moon, so that was pretty cool too. The reason I only gave this festival 3* is because of how crowded it gets. We arrived around 4pm with pre-purchased tickets so got right in. It was already pretty busy but walkable (except by the food court and main stage). By 7:30PM you could barely walk through the food court area. Lines were 45-50 minutes long to get anything. It was TOO CROWDED - think Times Square in NYC on New Years Eve or West Hollywood during pride and Halloween. You can not move. We left at 8:30 b/c it was uncomfortably crowded by then. Even walking through the streets to see the alters gets overcrowded. Then there is the nightmare of traffic and parking that is LA. Luckily we live close by so we didn't even bother driving because we knew parking would be a nightmare. I HIGHLY recommend taking some form of public transportation if possible. My friend that arrived at 3:30 had to wait in line to get off the freeway, then it took another 30 minutes to park and walk to the main gate. The later it got the more crowded it became. My friends that came at 7, drove around for 45 minutes to get parking - they ended up getting into a lot but had to wait their turn. The line to get in w/o tickets was nothing between 4 and 4:30 but after dark it was crazy long. You need to have patience and like crowds b/c it's a popular event. I am glad I was able to finally experience this event b/c I heard so many good things about it but honestly I don't think I would go again b/c its much to crowded for my taste. Definitely at least go once though b/c it's pretty spectacular. read more

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The location was a horrible place to hold an event especially to celebrate dia de los muertos! To me it seemed more of a disrespect to the people resting in peace at that cemetery than honoring the dead with the amount of people that attended. We got there and found no parking whatsoever and on top of that you can see the line to go in went for miles and miles and I could keep going and going of how long this line was just to enter, ridiculous!! I feel like people hyped it way too much to the point that I'm gonna say probably "most" people like myself went through the same thing losing money on a ticket they didn't get to use. Terrible! If you want to experience a piece of the Mexican Culture around this time, go to Mexico! I promise you, you won't regret it! read more

The Nightmare Before Christmas: For years I've heard what a beautiful event this is so our hopes were high - apparently too high. First off we're local so we took Lyft. I can't imagine trying to park. We purchased tickets in advance and I did my research, what not to bring etc and based on the NO BACKPACKS policy I left my good camera at home. Well I can tell you that policy was not enforced, every second or third person through security had a backpack and nearly every person set off the metal detectors but they were simply directed inside the event, "Oh you must be wearing jewelry..." What?! I shutter to think what someone could get past security. Speaking of security when we arrived (4-7pm) there was no clear signage indicating where we should go or what to do. When I finally found someone on the security staff and asked if there was a prepaid line he vaguely pointed me in the direction of 400 people standing in queue and generally fending for themselves or cutting across and through lines to access the ticket booths which are inexplicably located at the entrance. After 45 plus minutes waiting to clear security we squeezed ourselves through a single narrow entry and this is where that sinking feeling really set in. My girlfriend had taken the day off special for the event and she was so excited to go, and looked adorable but all those positive vibes evaporated when we hit a brick wall of humanity. It was as if we were literally in amongst the walking dead. Everyone seemed so completely exasperated by trying to snake their way through the thousands of people in search of porta-johns, food and drinks. Apparently there were no limits set on the number of tickets that would be sold which caused serious congestion issues - think the 405 at rush hour. As I said, our expectations were high - but not unreasonable. We looked forwards to being immersed in a wonderful cultural exchange filled with local musicians playing on street corners, wandering spirits and a vibrant, festive atmosphere - simply put, the event felt unorganized and cheap. Apparently we missed all of the major shrines as we wandered blindly through and over tombstones - as respectfully as possible - to avoid getting trampled in our search for food, which ended in a hundred plus line that - with no embellishment - moved two feet in 25 minutes. All in all we spent less than an hour inside Hollywood Forever. Unfortunately what I'd hoped might become an annual tradition was, for us, a complete bust. What a let down and so sad. read more

I was really disappointed in the event this year, 2022. They had one third of the altars. Last year, they had so many beautiful altars. What happened? read more

Dia de los Muertos is my favorite holiday, and of all the celebrations in the area Hollywood Forever's is the biggest, grandest, and most surreal to attend. It's the one time of year when Johnny Ramone's grave is decked out with colorful lights, hundreds of people turn out to put together these spectacular altars honoring their loved ones and deceased people they admired, and everywhere there's music and folk dancing and wonderful art. Several stages are set up throughout the cemetery, including on that island with William Clark Jr.'s mausoleum in the middle of that pond. Sure, I miss when it wasn't as crowded and even more when it was free, but it's still well-worth the visit, even at $10 a ticket. I do warn that with its dynamically increased popularity over the years, there's a high increase of exposure to random ignorance. Example: All the people who come in miscellaneous Halloween costumes. Dia de los Muertos is NOT "Mexican Halloween." The worst case I'd EVER witnessed was when Brandon D. and I were looking over someone's altar, they happened to have a print of one of Frida Kahlo's self-portraits and some girl remarked on it being bad fanart from "that movie Salma Hayek did." All I can ask, fellow Yelpers, is that you be respectful. As jovial as most are eating, drinking, and rejoicing in life, it's still memorializing the dead for those who've made altars. Sometimes these photos with the ceremonious inclusion of items they loved in life are fresh additions for some of these families. While most don't seem to mind when you photograph their altars or art (most were put together with that purpose in mind), it wouldn't hurt to ask permission or talk to them about their set-up. read more

This year was my third time attending the Dia de Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever, it's a tradition I look forward to every autumn. There are many intricate, lovely altars honoring dearly departed loved ones with beloved trinkets, foods they enjoyed, their hobbies, etc. I would suggest getting there in the late afternoon and staying until nightfall so you can experience the altars in daylight and at night when they are illuminated. In addition to the altars, there are booths selling Day of the Dead wares- dolls, keychains, jewelry, dresses, etc. There are also food and drink booths (churros and lemonade!), dancers, and live music performances on the assorted stages. It is something you should experience at least once in your lifetime, and many visitors go all out with face painting and traditional dress. Ticket prices seem to increase every year, I believe it was $10 the first year I went, then $15, this year it was $20 and had a Quinceanera theme. I am hoping they don't raise it again next year. It does get a bit too crowded in the evening, so you unless you enjoy being elbow to elbow with others and jockeying for a spot to take pictures of altars (and annoying clueless photographers using flash), I'd recommend going earlier in the day and leaving around 9/10 p.m. I've always had luck with free street parking on Wilton, it's a bit of a walk but totally doable. There is also a large strip mall near the entrance of the cemetery and my friend and I stopped in before and had huge, sugary sweet Mexican pastries and cans of soda for $3.70 total for both of us- worth stopping in if you'd rather forego the long lines/inflated prices at the food booths inside. read more

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Events like this remind me how lucky I am to live in Los Angeles. * The decorated altars were worth the price of admission. Some were incredibly intricate, with lights and candles and paper-mache artwork. Some family members explained why they decorated the grave sites the way they did. ** The music and dancers on both the main stage and the Fandango stage was amazing. *** LOVED the art exhibit. **** The ancient Aztec/Mayan dancers put on a fantastic show on the island by the lake. Buy a beer and sit across from the island and just enjoy the show. ***** All around family friendly event. I loved the diversity, ages, nationalities. TIPS for next year: - Take a bus if possible. Parking is 10 dollars and there is a bit of traffic trying to navigate to one of the 5 lots. - Don't forget the cash. -Wear comfy shoes. It's a large event and very spread out. - The costumes and face painting was such a bonus. Don't feel self-conscious dressing up or painting your face. I am definitely dressing up next year! read more

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I'm sooooo freakin' glad I went to Dia De Los Muertos! My first experience was awesome and I guarantee it won't be my last. We rode the redline (subway) to Hollywood and Vine and walked about 20 minute to get to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk - walking in LA isn't the easiest thing to do as you have to dodge traffic, deal with long signal lights, etc., Once we got there we purchased tickets to get in which was $10 - I think it's a GREAT deal for the wonderful experience. We got there around 4:30pm which was a good time - It is important to get there around that time to avoid the traffic and long lines! I also got to see a lot of the beautiful altars in the daylight. I suggest you see it both in the daylight and at nighttime when the candles/lights are turned on. There is so much energy! People are very respectful and you are overwhelmed with the beautiful culture. The big stage (next to the food stands) has a big grassy area you can hang out to eat, drink and enjoy the Mexican folk music. Next time I'll bring a blanket to sit on. Food: I had the beef tamales for $3 and it was delicious. Margarita for $5 was a good deal and tasted pretty good for a booth type stand. The carne asada taco was delicious (on the big side) and $3. Overall I think the prices are reasonable for this type of event. I would say about 30% of the people are in costume or have their face painted. Some people go ALL out and look absolutely spectacular! This event is kid friendly and I saw many of them dressed up or had their face painted. If you don't know how to paint your face, no worries, there are many booths that will do it for you. I think this is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. If you live in the Los Angeles area do it at least one time, you won't regret the experience. read more

I love Dia de Los Muertos and think this is an awesome celebration to reflect those who have passed. I love everything about it, the history, the art, the altars, etc. etc. I think it's a beautiful celebration of life and art and look forward to this time of year. I have been to many day of the dead festivals, but had never been to the Hollywood Forever one. Let me start by saying that parking really fucking SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are a few $20 +++ lots in the area, but good luck finding them, because I never did! You will circle shitty neighborhood after shitty neighborhood trying to find parking forever. It's highly recommended that you get there super early to avoid the parking nightmare, and I think that's pretty much the case. I wasted over an hour of my life that I can never have back searching for parking here! So get there super early or use public transportation or something. This alone is worth of losing a shitload stars, haha. There are lots of Mexican folk musicians and also local artists who are featured at this festival. The amount of beautiful artwork and altars to look at is unbelievable. Many people say the vendors cheapen the event, but I think the vendors are great. A lot of them are local artists selling their artwork and many others are just day of the dead memorabilia. I always want to buy everything in my sight at these types of events, lol. It's definitely also great for picture taking, because everything here is so nice and truly reflects the celebration. I would also really recommend coming dressed up or with your face painted, it really makes it that much more fun. They were some really elaborate costumes and face make up. People really get into the spirit! It's awesome! I unfortunately did not dress up or paint my face this time, but next time I will for sure. All those people really made me wish I had, lol. There are face painters at the event who paint your face for a fee of course, and not to mention the time you have to spend in line, so your choice. I chose to see as much of the event as I could instead. The event is super crowded! So it is sort of hard to get around and see everything, and quite honestly a little annoying. I couldn't really appreciate the vendors as much as I would've liked to, because all of the booths were so packed. If it had been less crowded I would've bought a ton of stuff, but it was too crowded so not much shopping for me. All of the altars were crowded as well, but easier to see and take pictures of if you were interested. There are lots of great overpriced food options, that are very delicious. There are lots of bacon covered hot dogs, fruit and churros on the street and lots of options on the inside too. There were tacos, tamales, pupusas, etc. etc. the list goes on. There were even $5 tequila shots, but it was shitty tequila, so no thanks, haha! I love this event and well, all day of the dead events, but I'm going to give it 3.5 stars, which is generous if you ask me. Parking is horrific, way too crowded, $10 "donation," lines everywhere, and there are ONLY porta potties! YUCK!!! It's just a total cluster fuck of people and really difficult to get in and out of. Like many other Yelpers have said though, it's super important to get there early or you will be screwed for parking and waste lots of time doing that. So with all that being said, show up early, paint your face, wear a costume, bring cash, and be patient with the massive crowds of people. It's definitely an awesome event that's worth going to. read more

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Right on cue, three weeks before the event, reviewer Mary J. writes another outstanding 5 star review promoting this annual event before it occurs. At lease they're holding the event on the correct day this year. Update: Mary J's latest review has been removed for violating content guidelines. read more

Last night was my first time here and I had an awesome time! Yes it was packed to the ying yang and yes it took us an hour to park but to be honest I was too busy getting my drink on to really care. While a million people made line in the front of the cemetery, we managed to find a side entrance and just walk in with our pre-payed tickets. Once inside there was people coming out of my ass! Most of them were mainstreamers trying to be Mexicans for the night. We headed straight to the grub which honestly was ridiculously packed and the food was overpriced. Three tacos for $9? Hahahaha! In Mexicali that buys you tacos for a week. I settled for a $9 torta which was nothing special and plumped down in the grass and made friends with the people around me. Once done, I grabbed a michelada and off I went to explore. The alters were AMAZING and I enjoyed seeing the curios and the legit face paint some people were sporting. True story: There was a long line to get inside the mausoleum to look at different paintings. But like a true G, I just walked up to the front of the line and just walked in.So my apologies to all those that waited in line only to be cut by me. You liked it tho! Other than the hoards of people everywhere, I think that the one thing I didn't like were how some people were sitting on graves just getting wasted and leaving their trash everywhere. I mean, I get it, it's a giant party at the cemetery but the true celebration is remembering and honoring those who have passed, not to disrespect their resting place. Even slightly buzzed, I knew better than to go around stepping on people's graves and littering around the area. I don't want to get my feet pulled, thank-you-very-much! read more

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This was my first Dia de Los Muertos Festival ever. As a "festival", I had a good time. Lot's of food and drink to go around. Would have been nice to have a few different "types of food" options. It was quite crowded. Ozomatli was definitely a crowd pleaser. Shopping was great, lot's of cool booths to peruse. Parking is crazy. Getting to the parking is RIDICULOUS. My friend that came with me wasn't super happy with the festival. And I can somewhat understand why. The day is supposed to honor the dead, it is originally a respectful and somber yet celebratory event. Holding the festival in the cemetery with random people without loved ones buried in the cemetery and having a gazillion people walking disrespectfully over and around graves is a little disheartening. Also, the mess that all the people left behind was totally uncalled for. Maybe there should be WAY MORE accessible trash cans so people can TRY to keep the area respectable. I get it. read more

I go every year. It's worth the crowds. Rich colors, music reverberates off of every tombstone, the sweet scent of nag champa and marigolds, elaborate skeleton faces, traditional garb, catrina's were seen everywhere & pennies and the like are strewn on every headstone. I will most likely have an altar next year. It's too delicious to pass up anymore. read more

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I look forward to this event every year! - Tons of people in costumes - A reason for YOU to get in costume and/or paint your face! - Metro friendly (be green and avoid the parking nightmare) - Lots of great altars to check out - Food stands - Art stands I really can't say anything more than I look forward to this event every year! I've been going since I first heard about it and the only reason that I missed last year was because one of my best friends got married on that day and I was her photographer, but this year, I am SO there! read more

Very disappointed in food selection. I was expecting to see a bunch of food trucks and more options. If you don't want to wait in the long lines for food you can have churros or popcorn for dinner. Smoking should be banned on the property. read more

I discovered the Hollywood Forever Cemetary thru Cinespia summer movie screenings a few years ago. It's a fun evening if you ever get a chance to do this-- a picnic and typically, some cult movie classic "under and over the stars" as they say. Of course this is an amazingly appropriate venue for a Dia De Los Muertos event! I love the alters, entertainment and local food options. I've been two years in a row now (last year getting in later and this year, on the early side...we actually left before 9!). My one and only gripe? It is HELLA CROWDED!!! From the parking to the actual event-- just moving forward is an exercise in patience. Now, this could very well be entirely subjective...but then again, what Yelp review isn't?? ;D The older I get, the less well I do with crowds and lines in general. You might be the type that loves a crowd. If that's you and you like partying with the dead, I am almost certain this will be a five-star experience for you! For me, it's kind of like this: I've experienced this cool event a couple of times now; I'm done. read more

I have to caveat my review by saying I went during the day when perhaps it was not such a zoo as a lot of the other reviewers have mentioned. However, I'm thinking perhaps this is the best time to go as we had a great time without much fuss. We were able to park in the studio's parking without much hassle. We also were able to see some of the musicians on the main stage, grab a bite to eat, watch the dancers and processions and walk the full circle to see all the altars without a ridiculous crowd. I am so glad we went and experienced it as it was truly moving to see the work and dedication that goes into these altars. They are truly stunning. We were also able to talk to a lot of the altar builders as most of them are at their altars. I really enjoyed listening to their stories behind their designs. I would definitely go back but again most likely during the day or just make sure to arrive early and plan to spend the day there. read more

This was my first DDLM event and I was lucky enough to be a part of the show! I did not get a guest-view of the traffic/crowds during the evening but the daytime wasn't bad at all. I would suggest getting to the event before sun-down so you can grab food/shop before the madness begins at night. I wasn't quite sure what to expect of the event, considering I had never been a part of Dia de los Muertos before, but I am truly impressed and happy I could celebrate my mom's life with that many people. Highly recommend! read more

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This was definately an eye opening, crazy, beautiful, creepy experience. My friend and I had no idea what to expect. We parked about 3 blocks away on sunset and walked for about half an hour to the cemetary. We decided to get our facepainted by some people on the side of the road. I would advise you to ask for pricing. The price range differs from one place to another. We got half our face done for 5 dollars each. Upon entering we were met with aztec dancers, skulls, tombs, people with the craziest facepaint, and decorations. Alot of the gravesite were decorated. I could tell there was so much time and thought put into it. There was a lot of candles and some had more than a few alters. It extended up and around and some of the decoratioms were so big it looked like a small room. Everyone has to go and experience this at least one time. :) read more

Dia de Los Muertos - Festivals Near Me - Hollywood, California

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They raised the price of the tickets to $55.00 this year, 2022 versus $40.00 last year, 2021! Plus the $8.88 online ticket purchase fee! My guess is that they raised the price on the Vendors too because all of the incredible Vendors from last year weren't there again this year! There was no Art Gallery in the Mausoleum either like last year! There were less Altars and only one incredible Altar in my opinion versus numerous incredible Altars last year! Way less serious and amazing costumes by participants this year! No AMAZING Processions this year! Greed ruined this event this year! Terrible! I was SO disappointed this year after last year's incredible experience! I won't go again! After spending $65.00 per person for a dud of an event! read more

Will be here today !! This is the place to be for Dia De Los Muertos you could come in your favorite costume and enjoy it with the family will see you guys here . read more

Dia de Los Muertos - Festivals Near Me - Hollywood, California

It's safe to say I can now think of at least two things I highly recommend doing at a cemetery... and Dia de los Muertos is most definitely one of them. (I'll leave the other to your furtive imaginations!). The colorful displays, live ancestral music, feather head-dressed Aztec dancers, elaborate and lovingly displayed candlelit altars, painted faces, tacos, pupusas, tequila, folk art, mausoleums, damp hanging on the air... all mingling to create a feast for the senses. This celebration of the dead is so alive the energy is palpable. Every year brings serious talent and Lila Downs' live performance was incredible. More incredible was the fact that there was just as much going on on two other stages. There are a number of Dia de los Muertos events across LA, but as far as big fetes go, this one is not to be missed. Don't think twice, just grab some friends and go. Make sure you're armed with cash so you aren't stuck paying fees or standing in lines at the on-site ATMs -- the $10 admission, food and most vendors are cash only. Arrive early to beat the crowds, get parking before the lots fill up and most importantly, to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy all there is to see, hear and do. Tip: If you don't mind missing the spectacle and live music at the main entrance (they even entertain you in line!), you can skip the masses and sneak into the side entrance on Gower where they sell tix, too. read more

What is Dia de Los Muertos? Dia de Los Muertos aka Day of the Dead is a time of celebration when eating and partying are common. What's this event like? Well, if an Art Walk, a County Fair, and Skeletor from He-Man had a wicked three way, then what you get is Dia de Los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery! Now that IS interesting. Don't take that literally my friend. What this means is that you get all the pluses like checking out amazing artwork by local artists inside a mausoleum, listen to traditional Latin American music, and chow down on great food. I wanna go, but is it tough getting there? They start at 2pm and end at midnight. It might be wise to go early before 5pm. Even around 5pm, it's tough to get parking within half a mile from the cemetery. Once at the entrance, you line up like buying a computer from Fry's electronics. The line is windy and long, but well organized and goes quickly. I'm getting woozy. Concentrate Average Joe! There's good reason for that. It's probably due to sensory overload. There's great music located all over. There's a main stage along with three other smaller stages scattered around the cemetery. There's also the smell of incense from the altars (sometimes mixed with marijuana smoke from random art observers). Did I mention the skulls? Yes. Lots of skulls everywhere and on everything. From skullifying children's faces with paint to giant skulls perched atop of a Mayan pyramid and everything in between. Vendors selling skull dolls, paintings, and key-chains. You even eat them too...sugar skulls. Should I be scared? If you are the only person there with an unfortunate job of night watchmen at a cemetery, then the answer is yes because ghosts, spirits, grave robbers, necrophiliacs, and Michael Jackson roam the grounds. But the fact that you're with hundreds if not thousands of people makes the experience not scary at all...unless you hit the porta-potties. Can I eat ice cream now? Not until after you finish dinner! You can dine at the food area where they serve bacon wrapped hot dogs, tacos, burritos, and pupusas. They also have a variety of drinks you can wash 'em down with like horchata, various fruit juices, and tequila. I need to go pee. ::sigh:: go do your damage over there... ... .... .......... Dood that's someone's headstone. Totally uncool. read more

I still love the artistry and soul of Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever. The love, care and detail that people put into their altars is unbelievable, the Aztec dancers are amazing, and the energy is great. There were a lot of "interactive" altars this year, and that was wonderful. I especially liked the altar where they very respectfully included all of the individuals who were interred in the graves around them. The altars get five stars. Having said that, I think I might be done with this particular Dia de los Muertos celebration. Why? The crowds were totally out of control this year. I was there during the day; Lord knows what it was like at night. Even worse, it seems to be attracting a very disrespectful hipster sort of crowd - the types who take really tasteless, ironic photos with the altars and random graves, don't pay any attention to the fact that the graves at the cemetery are REAL and deserve respect; and let their kids destroy things because they're just precious snowflakes who are expressing themselves. That's not hyperbole; I saw all of the above going on. I actually saw one child punch through some papel picado (those colorful flags you see everywhere at Dia de los Muertos), totally destroying it, at one altar. And don't even get me started on how these folks apparently think it's Halloween 2.0 and wear totally inappropriate costumes (note for future reference for any of these brain trusts that might see this review: "sexy bumblebee" costumes do not belong at Dia de los Muertos!). That's not what Dia de los Muertos is about, and it was frustrating and upsetting to see so many who obviously had no respect for the culture, the traditions OR the cemetery itself. I'll be seeking out some other celebrations next year. read more

If you can do it, choose to ignore the ignorant masses of people and their stupid comments, and you'll be fine. Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrating the life of lost loved ones, and is traditionally celebrated in early to late November, with alters of respect and memories of loved ones. The traditional dress is of skeletal makeup and traditional Mexican attire (not the touristy crap). It is a well-respected holiday, and IS NOT MEXICAN HALLOWEEN. The statement of sheer ignorance that it is that is utterly appalling. It is not a day for you to dress up in your Star Trek uniform or as a Twilight vampire and "trick or treat" around. But, hey, I'm not one to stop you in your parade of ignorance. One more thing: Parents, can you stop bringing the giant sized strollers? You're going to be in foot traffic that rivals the mass density of the exhibit hall of San Diego Comic Con on a Saturday afternoon. People will bump into your children, they will trip over strollers, and you will be stuck in one stop for five minutes at a time. My Latino family has a rule about stroller-bound children, "If you can't walk, you can't go." Anyway, the event itself is wonderful display of culture, tradition, pride and respect replete with music, excellent mouth-watering food and amazing visuals. There are a few shops hawking their traditional and "traditional" wares here and there. You get to see the traditional dancers, the traditional costumes and everything that intrinsically belongs to Dia de Los Muertos. Why it's celebrated in October is beyond me, but I suspect it's a tie-in to Halloween as Americans know it. Do get your tickets online and avoid the line to get in. Do arrive early enough to find some semblance of parking nearby (we had to park five blocks away just to find an available space). Do be patient as there are crowds of stupid. Do Not pay for parking in the nearby lots as leaving will be a pleasant experience in wasting your gas sitting. And do, for love of grilled cheese sandwiches, make fun of the families getting married during a celebration of the dead. Yeah, that's good omen right there. Congratulations on your wedding. In a cemetary. During a celebration of the dead. Good job. read more

Went back this year, it was awesome! This place just keeps getting better and better each year! The only thing that's changed is that people are bringing it harder, the art is stronger, and the live music is more awesome! I was unable to walk because I had to dance all the way into the food vendor section. It was a total good time. There is no ethnocentricity here, everyone is welcome and sure to enjoy their stay. Note: 1. Alcohol is sold here such as beer, mixed simple drinks, and simple shots. 2. BRING TOILET PAPER!!! Porta-potty without tissue paper is NO BUENO! 3. As stated before parking is challenging, but totally worth it. 4. You can get your face painted there or come in full blown DOTD gear! read more

Every year, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is filled with altars of sugar skulls and marigolds to celebrate The L.A. Day of the Dead. Los Angeles Halloween attractions are overflowing with frights and foreboding; though variety is the spice of life, so too is it abundant in the ways we connect with death. For anyone seeking something more festive than scary, and especially for aficionados of fine costumes, Day of the Dead events are not to be missed. There's stage performances, live music, delicious food, art displays, crafts for sale, numerous interactive altars to remember the dearly departed in our own ways, and so many wonderful costumes. The basic aesthetic for Dia De Los Muertos is calacas (skeletons) and skulls, and thousands of creative guests where there to show off what they could do with that theme. read more