San Diego CA— Old Town’s Bazaar del Mundo and Casa Guadalajara are teaming up, Friday through Sunday, November 1-3 to celebrate Día de los Muertos – or “Day of the Dead” – the traditional Mexican holiday that honors friends and family members who have passed on.
Día de los Muertos pays tribute to loved ones through elaborately decorated altars, called “ofrendas,” with treasured items from their lives and traditional elements, such as marigold flowers, candles, water, bread and salt, and their favorite foods and spirits. Throughout the weekend, Casa Guadalajara’s iconic fountains will be turned into altars for guests to enjoy.
The entrance to Casa Guadalajara will transform into a lively marketplace of artisans displaying their Day of the Dead-themed wares, including jewelry artists Lorena Chavez Rosas and Jose Bustamante, alongside festive merchandise from the Bazaar del Mundo Shops. Guests will delight in performances from traditional Ballet Folklorico dancers and Casa Guadalajara’s world-class mariachi band – all in painted skeleton faces. Face painting and photo opportunities with a life-size Catrina (a female skeleton figure donning a Mexican folkloric dress and hat) sitting in an 1800s carriage will also be available.
The restaurant will also host an outdoor Beer & Margarita Garden where guests can purchase and enjoy traditional Mexican beers, house margaritas, delicious street tacos and Mexican street corn known as “esquites.”
In the Bazaar del Mundo Shops, at 4133 Taylor Street, guests can peruse additional artists displaying Día de los Muertos-themed work and collectables, plus additional altars and opportunities to participate in free family friendly activities – including sugar skull decorating, mask making and more.
The festivities begin on Thursday with the Old Town Altar Walk. Beginning at Bazaar del Mundo and Casa Guadalajara, maps will be given out for a walking tour throughout Old Town to view more than 40 beautifully decorated altars. Then, Bazaar del Mundo and Casa Guadalajara’s marketplace and celebration activities will take place Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Guests may park for free across the street at Caltrans (after 5 p.m. Friday and all-day weekends), or take the trolley.

About Bazaar del Mundo

Opened in 1971, Bazaar del Mundo has long been hailed as one of the best shopping environments in San Diego, overflowing with hand-selected and handcrafted gifts and treasures that are unique in all the world. Carefully curated by owner-operator Diane Powers and her long-time staff, the Bazaar del Mundo Shops pay homage to the globe’s most distinctive cultures with bold and ever-colorful merchandise. Bazaar del Mundo is a multi-year winner for the category “Best Place to Buy a Gift in San Diego” as voted by the readers of San Diego CityBeat. For more information, visit www.bazaardelmundo.com.