This past weekend Cheekwood celebrated El Día de los Muertos for the 26th time. The weekend is filled with remembrance, life, and culture. This was my second time going to the event and covering it, and the emotion you feel inside that place is unmatched. Check out some photos, details, and more from the incredible event, and make sure you don’t miss it in 2026.
What is El Día de los Muertos?
Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) is a two day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create ofrendas (Offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations!
Pictures from the event at Cheekwood
What El Día de los Muertos means to Cheekwood?
“Day of the Dead at Cheekwood is a celebration in which you can learn, appreciate and experience the ways Mexican culture involves family and friends welcoming back the souls of their ancestors and loved ones who passed away,” said Arcelia Vázquez, a member of the Advisory Committee for Cheekwood’s El Día de Los Muertos celebration.
Overall thoughts on the experience
From the moment you arrive, you watch the group enter, honoring their loved ones with the dancing, costumes, and makeup. As I sat there watching them perform, I couldn’t help but get emotional as the culture and love. The idea that people are potentially against this or share hatred for this tradition blows you away. I loved being caught up in the moment and can’t recommend enough that if you ever have a chance to go, you must go. Go, watch, listen, understand, and more importantly, learn about the culture and the meaning of the entire day.
Music City Drive-in 
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