Bright marigolds guide the way, monarch butterflies hang in trees carrying handwritten messages, and ofrendas with flowers, special mementos and photos invite families to remember loved ones and celebrate their lives.
For Marketing and Communications Chair, Theresa Johnston, sharing this tradition is deeply personal.
“I’m very proud to represent my culture and to show McKinney what the Hispanic community does, how colorful the Hispanic community can be and how meaningful just about everything they do is,” Johnston said.
Operations and Sponsorship Chair, Wendy Kidd, added onto Johnston’s message.
“Dia de los Muertos is such a special tradition of celebrating past loved ones, with so much symbolism. It’s become a holiday near and dear to my heart and I’m so proud to have been a part of this event,” Kidd said.
Visitors can expect an immersive experience, from Aztec dancers and mariachi performances to educational booths, merchants and traditional food, but the central courtyard is the heart of the festival.
“The center of the park becomes this magical courtyard, especially at night, with beautiful papel picado, special lighting and ofrendas,” Kidd said. “We encourage people to bring pictures of their loved ones, and we provide frames so they can frame them and add them to the ofrendas.”
Families who don’t bring photos can still take part, as everyone is invited to write messages to their loved ones on paper monarchs and hang them on a tree—a tradition reflecting the belief that monarch butterflies are their loved ones’ souls returning home during Día de los Muertos. The display becomes a vibrant, shared tapestry of memory and joy that the festival preserves each year, hanging the messages up again each year.
The emotional impact of the festival has been profound.
“It means so much to me that we’ll be walking around and someone from the Hispanic community will come hug us and say, ‘Thank you so much for doing this for us,’” Johnston said. “They’re so thankful that we’ve made space for them.”
Beyond the visuals and performances, the La Catrina Contest highlights one of the most treasured figures of Día de los Muertos. La Catrina, an elegantly dressed woman in a wide-brimmed hat, reminds everyone of the impermanence of life and to appreciate the present.
“Although she had money, she wanted people to understand that at the end, everybody dies the same,” Johnston said.
Families often join together in coordinated outfits, embracing a multigenerational celebration of creativity and tradition.
“Anybody from Mexico who comes usually tells us, ‘This looks just like Mexico,’” Kidd said.
The festival also supports Hispanic students pursuing higher education through the McKinney Día de los Muertos Scholarship, creating lasting impact.
“This is about community outreach, making sure everyone feels a part of it and supporting the Hispanic community,” Kidd said.
What makes the effort even more remarkable is that it is entirely volunteer-run. Each year, a core team of 10–12 people spend months planning, joined by more volunteers during the event weekend.
“None of us get paid for this. This is all because we love the idea of Día de los Muertos,” Johnston said.
Ultimately, the festival’s message is clear:
“Life is to be celebrated, even if it’s gone,” Johnston said.
That spirit—joyful, colorful and deeply human—is what makes McKinney’s Día de los Muertos Festival so unforgettable.
The festival takes place Saturday, October 11, from 2–8 p.m. at the Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Park near downtown McKinney. Bring a photo of a loved one, join in the music and dance, and be part of a community celebration that honors memory by celebrating life.
Click here to register for the free event, or click here to become a volunteer.
