Oakland Unveils 34-Foot La Catrina at Festival

Fruitvale Transit Village hosted a Día de los Muertos celebration featuring a giant La Catrina statue built in Mexico City.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Cultural

Towering painted La Catrina figure in a feathered hat rises above a festive street strung with orange and magenta papel picado and marigold garlands. — Oakland's Fruitvale Transit Village hosted its Día de los Muertos festival on November 1, centered on a 34-foot La Catrina statue built in Mexico City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Oakland's Fruitvale Transit Village hosted its Día de los Muertos festival on November 1, centered on a 34-foot La Catrina statue. Festival organizers predicted attendance could reach 150,000.

Why it matters

The festival draws large crowds to the Fruitvale District and highlights the Latino heritage of Oakland's residents. The statue's journey from Mexico is meant to symbolize the migration many community members made to settle in the city.

Festival organizers predicted 150,000 attendees, up from the typical 100,000 the event draws, while the statue stands 34 feet tall. The actual turnout had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.

The players

The Unity Council

A nonprofit community development organization in Oakland that organizes the annual Día de los Muertos festival in the city's Fruitvale District.

The details

The Unity Council organized the festival, which featured a 34-foot La Catrina statue commissioned from artists in Mexico City and transported to Oakland. Vendors lined several blocks along International Boulevard, and local artists created altar displays.

November 1, 2026: Día de los Muertos festival held in the Fruitvale District.

Seasonal Patterns

The festival follows the annual Día de los Muertos calendar observed each November 1 and 2, extending a long-running tradition in Oakland's Fruitvale District. Its projected growth from 100,000 to 150,000 attendees reflects how the event has steadily expanded over its history.

The festival is free to attend, with vendors and altar displays spread along International Boulevard and the surrounding Fruitvale streets. Visitors can reach the celebration by transit through the Fruitvale Transit Village.

The takeaway

Events like this one show how a neighborhood's cultural heritage can draw citywide crowds and shape a shared public celebration. Residents planning to attend can use transit to reach the Fruitvale Transit Village and arrive early to avoid crowds on International Boulevard.