Muertos Fest 2025 to Honor Flaco Jiménez with Special Friday Night Tribute at Hemisfair

San Antonio’s Muertos Fest at Hemisfair, the city’s largest Día de los Muertos celebration, will return this October with a major expansion—a brand-new Friday night experience honoring late San Antonio icon Flaco Jiménez.

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The special evening, titled ¡Presente! A Night to Remember, will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025, beginning with a sensory-friendly altar viewing from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests can explore more than 80 altars in a calm, reflective environment before the spotlight shifts to a once-in-a-lifetime musical tribute to five-time Grammy Award winner Flaco Jiménez at 8 p.m.

The tribute, curated by cultural advocate Juan Tejeda with support from Max Baca, will feature an all-star lineup of performers celebrating Jiménez’s unmatched impact on conjunto and beyond. The roster includes David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Santiago Jiménez Jr., Dwayne Verheyden (from the Netherlands), Stefani Montiel, Patsy Torres, Rubén Ramos, Rick Treviño, Rebecca Valadez, Jesse Borrego, Lisa Morales, Laura Denisse y Los Brillantes, Nune Rubio, and more. Max Baca & Los Texmaniacs will serve as the house band, ensuring Jiménez’s legendary accordion-driven sound takes center stage.

“Flaco Jiménez is not only a San Antonio treasure, but a global icon whose artistry has transcended borders,” said Jim Mendiola, Muertos Fest Artistic Director. “It is an honor for Muertos Fest to pay tribute to him in this special way, surrounded by the community, music, and traditions he helped elevate.”

Muertos Fest at Hemisfair 2025
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The festival continues Saturday, October 25 (10 a.m. – 11 p.m.) and Sunday, October 26 (12 p.m. – 9 p.m.), with more than 50 performances across five stages. Acts include Erick y Su Grupo Massore, La Doña, The Last Bandoleros, Gabriella, El Dusty & the Homies, Campanas de America, Piñata Protest, Kings del Wepa, Llamativa, Los Juanos, Nick Gaitán, The Tiarras, and The Guadalupe Dance Company, among many others.

Now celebrating its 13th year, Muertos Fest at Hemisfair draws more than 100,000 attendees annually and is recognized as one of the most significant Day of the Dead festivals in the United States. New for 2025, UNAM San Antonio will debut a Day of the Dead Bookstore pop-up, and the festival will once again feature its signature processions, mercado, children’s area, workshops, and unique DJ experiences. This year’s processions will include tributes to Flaco Jiménez, beloved arts educator Mary Cantu, and the Queens of Tejano Music—Lydia Mendoza, Laura Canales, and Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

Commissioner Justin Rodriguez praised the cultural importance of the festival, adding, “Muertos Fest at Hemisfair is one of the most meaningful and inspiring events held each year in our community. The citizens of Bexar County invite everyone to join us as we pay tribute to our loved ones with respect and dignity in celebration of our culture and our people.”

For more information and full festival details, visit MuertosFest.com or follow @MuertosFest on social media. A two-hour primetime special will air on KSAT-12 on October 29.

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