Chiles, Chocolate & Day of the Dead Festival
Festival de Chiles y Chocolate y Día de los Muertos
Friday, Oct. 31 & Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Viernes 31 de octubre – Sábado 1 de noviembre de 2025
Treat yourself to a delectable fusion of flavors and traditions at Tohono Chul’s Chiles, Chocolate, & Day of the Dead Festival!
Experience the vibrant energy of the Fall season with dozens of food vendors, local craftspeople, and entertainers who fill the gardens with delicious bites, handmade delights, and lively melodies. Kids can enjoy free craft activities and complimentary face painting for Día de los Muertos!
Immerse yourself in the artistry of personal ofrendas crafted by local artists and students, paying homage to the enduring borderland traditions of Día de los Muertos.
Don’t miss our community altar, where you can leave recuerdos (remembrances) for your lost loved ones, which will be taken to Tucson’s All Souls Procession on Sunday, November 9th, to be burned in the famous Burning of the Urn Ceremony.
Event Details
Don’t Miss the Full Experience
Wild Chile Botanical Area 25th Anniversary
Wed, Oct. 29 | 6 – 8 PM
$10 Members | $15 General Public
Kick off the Chiles, Chocolate, & Day of the Dead Festival with this salon-style discussion featuring special guests from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, New York Botanical Garden, Borderlands Restoration, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum considering the past, present, and future of the Wild Chile Botanical Area.
XIXA at the CHUL
Sat, Nov. 1 | 6 – 10 PM
$60 Members | $70 General Public
Keep the celebration going with XIXA at the CHUL! Tickets sold separately.
Celebrate the finale of our Chiles, Chocolate, & Day of the Dead Festival with an exclusive concert by Tucson’s XIXA (pronounced chi-cha)—an after-hours experience you’ll only find at Tohono Chul. Known for their mesmerizing blend of mystical rock and cumbia, XIXA will close out our festival weekend with a performance that honors the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos through their distinctive, Latin-influenced sound.
Ticket Information
You can purchase tickets online, at the admissions window, or at the door upon arrival.
▸ General Admission | $25
▸ Tohono Chul Members | $10 (click here to become a member and save on tickets!)
▸ Child Admission (4-12 years of age) | $7
▸ Children under 4 | FREE
*Please note Guest Passes & American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Privileges are not valid during this special event and tickets are non-refundable.
▸ admisión general | $25
▸ para miembros | $10
▸ niños de 4 a 12 años | $7
▸ GRATIS para niños menores de 4 años
*Ten en cuenta que los Pases de invitados y los Privilegios de admisión recíproca a los jardines de la American Horticultural Society no son válidos durante los eventos especiales.
Purchase Tickets
Each ticket is valid for one day only. To enjoy both days of the Festival, please purchase two separate tickets. Please note that tickets are non-transferable between days, and all sales are final. If you’d prefer to buy your tickets in person, our staff at the admissions window would be happy to help. Thank you!
Visitor Map
Musical Entertainment & Performances
Performance Garden
Friday, October 31st
Danzaculture Mexicana | 10 AM – 11 AM
Traditional Mexican Regional Dances
Mariachi Alegre | 11 AM – 12 PM
Mariachi Ensemble
Chalako | 1 PM – 4 PM
Eclectic Latin Band
Saturday, November 1st
Edna & Ely B-Cool | 9 AM – 11 AM
Soul, Jazz, Latin Duo
Gardenias | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Latin Acoustic Ensemble
Tradiciones | 2 PM – 4 PM
Latin American & Peruvian Ensemble
Culinary Delights & Local Shopping
Spicy, Sweet, & Made in Tucson
Chocolatiers
- Chocolate 66 (handmade chocolate)
- Carolina’s Chocolate (spicy chocolate)
- Tucson Chocolate Factory (handmade chocolate)
- Untamed Confections (chocolate made with local honey)
- Kim’s Confections (locally crafted confections)
- Ritual Chocolate (liquor- infused chocolate bars)
- Chocotama (pure Mexican chocolate)
- Monsoon Chocolate
Chiles, Spices, & Salsas
- Chiltepica
- Desert Cactus Essentials
- The Roasted Chile (green chile lemonade, cookies, and chocolate)
- Mouth of the South Salsa Co.
- Hot Flash Chile Products (Hatch green chile)
- Maria’s Chile Ristras (dried chile decorations)
Handmade Goods & Gifts
- Rainbow Goddess Designs (handmade headwear)
- Tierra Antigua Zapotec Rugs (see their Loom in action!)
- Macs Upcycle (handmade Catrina dolls)
- Sol Design Studio (Fri. only)
- Mama Bear AZ (Arizona-themed candles, soaps, art, and jewelry)
- Arizona Warmth Creations (quilts, bowl cozies, handbags)
- Teresa Dirzo-Rinehart
- Pressed Flower Art by Dede
- Susan Libby Art
- Victor Navarro
- Rebecca Wilder (Sat. only)
Food & Drink
- Garden Bistro Concessions & Bar
- Cactus Jack Lemonade
- Churros Insunza
- Dirty Tamarindo (spicy candy)
- Jose’s Kettle Corn
- Tortilleria Arevalo
- Sabores De Abuela (tamales & horchata)
Food & Drink Menu
Fresh Eats and Cold Drinks From the Garden Bistro!
BISTRO GRILL
Sonoran Hot Dog | $8
Bacon Wrapped, House Charro Beans, Pico de Gallo, Jalapeño Sauce, Mayo, Mustard, on a Mexican Style Bun
Chiles en Nogada | $12
Smoked Pork: Pecan Smoked Pork, Onions, Cilantro,
Tomatoes, Olives, Garlic, Gold Raisins, Walnut Sauce & Pomegranate OR Calabacitas: Butternut & Summer Squashes, Onions, Cilantro, Garlic, Roasted Corn, Tomatoes, Gold Raisins, Pomegranate, Walnut Sauce, Cotija Cheese & Olives
Quesadilla | $12
Mexican Cheeses in a Griddled Flour Tortilla. Choice of Red Chili Chicken, Pork Carnitas, or Calabacitas served with Arbol Chile Salsa. *Plant based cheese available upon request
Chicken Mole Enchiladas | $12
Three Chile & Chocolate Braised Chicken Enchiladas, topped with Mole, Cilantro, Mexican Cremas & Queso Fresco
Vegan Charro Beans & Mexican Cheeses | $4
*Vegan cheese available upon request
Kids Cheese Quesadilla | $8
SWEETS & SIDES
Guajillo Chile & Dark Chocolate Brownie | $8
Soft Pretzel | $5
Chocolate Sauce or Mustard
DRINK MENU
Libations
• Prickly Pear Margarita or Mimosa | $13
• Jalapeño Prickly Pear Margarita | $13
Canned Cocktails
• Nutrl Vodka Seltzer | $7
• Bacardi Punch | $11
• Gin & Juice Cocktail | $11
• Cazadores Margarita | $11
Beers
• Barrio Blonde | $7
• Modelo Especial | $7
• Barrio Hipsterville Hazy IPA | $8
• Mother Road Tower IPA | $8
Wine
• Cabernet | $11
• Pinot Noir | $11
• Sauvignon Blanc | $11
• Chardonnay | $11
Non-Alcoholic
• Bottled Water | $4
• Assorted Sodas | $4
• Prickly Pear Lemonade | $6
• Horchata | $5
Choice of 2% Milk or Plant-Based Milk
• Matcha Horchata | $6
Choice of 2% Milk or Plant-Based Milk
• El Pajarete | $7
Mexican Iced Mocha with Goat’s Milk, Ibarra Chocolate, Guajillo Chilies, Espresso, Whipped Cream, Chile Pecans
Create & Celebrate
Festive Crafts for Kids & Their Adults!
TJ’s Paint Parties
Get creative with TJ’s Paint Parties! Bring the whole family to create sugar skulls or pumpkins in these fun, hands-on painting sessions—family bundle tickets available!
Red Herring Puppets
Saturday is mask-making day with Red Herring Puppets! Visit the Children’s Garden from 11:30 AM–3:30 PM to design your very own Day of the Dead masterpiece.
Complimentary Face Painting
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Children’s Garden
Enjoy FREE Día de los Muertos face painting with Desert Diva Face Painting — a colorful tribute to honor and remember loved ones.
Featured Plants
Featured Botanicals to Celebrate the Season (quantities limited)
Expressions of Love and Culture
Day of the Dead Altars by Local Artists & Students
Tohono Chul’s Chiles, Chocolate, & Day of the Dead Altar Project features Altars of Remembrance created by regional artists and students from Safford K-8 School, Salpointe Catholic High School, Catalina High School, and Roskruge K-8.
Participating Artists Include:
Aimee Smythe
Annie Gordon
Antonio C. Estrada & Gloria J. Valenzuela
Carolee Asia
Elisa Salgado
Genevieve Guadalupe
Melanie Thomason
Morgiana Correa
Patricia & Adam Silva
Royce Davenport
Sandy Luna
Thank you to the Arizona Commission on the Arts for their generous support of this event!
STUDENT ARTWORK FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS
Book Signing
Meet Local Author Rebecca Wilder
Rebecca Wilder | Painter, Book Artist, & Graphic Designer
Rebecca Wilder is captivated by the vast horizons, shifting light, and the magic of the natural world. Rebecca’s work has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Gallery, Graficas Gallery, The Davis-Dominguez Gallery, The University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography Special Collections, The Tohono Chul Gallery, and the Pima Community College Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery.
Grab your tickets today!
Each ticket is valid for one day only. To enjoy both days of the Festival, please purchase two separate tickets. Please note that tickets are non-transferable between days, and all sales are final. If you’d prefer to buy your tickets in person, our staff at the admissions window would be happy to help. Thank you!
Overflow Parking
Lifepoint Church
7355 N Paseo Del Norte
St Andrew’s Church
7650 N Paseo Del Norte
Handicap Accesible Parking
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!
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