All Souls Procession

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Carnival & ParadeTucson

DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking

DurationAutumnEstimate from available data

Crowd-Public scale varies

Best forMasks, paradesFew large American public rituals can trace

LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD

CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type

The story

All Souls Procession in Tucson

Begun in 1990 as a small ceremonial performance by Tucson artist Susan Johnson grieving her father's death, the All Souls Procession has grown into a two-mile, human-powered march through downtown Tucson drawing more than 150,000 participants. The independently produced event culminates in the ceremonial burning of a large communal urn honoring the dead.

In 1990, Tucson artist Susan Johnson was grieving the death of her father, and rather than mourning privately, she turned to her own creative practice, staging a small ceremonial performance piece to memorialize him.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

Few large American public rituals can trace their origin so precisely to one person's private grief: Susan Johnson created the first procession in 1990 as a personal, artistic response to mourning her father, joined by only about 25 people, and it grew almost entirely through grassroots artistic participation rather than institutional promotion into an event now drawing over 150,000 people

The mystery stays covered

Produced by the nonprofit Many Mouths One Stomach, the procession is explicitly non-motorized and participant-based rather than spectator-oriented, meaning much of its scale comes from people marching rather than watching

The city starts moving

Organizers are also notably precise about what the event is not: despite surface similarities in symbolism, it is not affiliated with Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, even though participants sometimes borrow visual elements from those traditions

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The procession draws loosely on ritual mourning and remembrance traditions found in cultures worldwide

Water and renewal

Living ritual

including symbolic elements sometimes associated with Dia de los Muertos

The sacred route

Living ritual

while organizers are explicit that the event is an independent

The local code

Living ritual

artist-created tradition rather than a direct continuation of that Mexican holiday or of Halloween

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Its central ritual

Tradition 6

Living ritual

the ceremonial burning of a communal urn filled with written names and memorial items

Tradition 7

Living ritual

continues a tradition established at the procession's 1990 founding as a way to collectively process grief through public

Tradition 8

Living ritual

participatory art

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

Expect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

What to wear

Costumes are strongly embraced, ranging from elaborate skeletal or memorial-themed face paint and dress to simple black attire; comfortable footwear is essential given the two-mile walking...

Safety

Keep valuables light, set a meeting point, and give processions room to move.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map32.22 N, 110.93 W Open in Google Maps

Tucson, AZ

Nearest airportTUS — Tucson

TransportExpect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Tucson via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near Tucson, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare fares Festival gearCostumes are strongly embraced, ranging from elaborate skeletal or memorial-themed face paint and dress to simple black attire; comfortable footwear is essential given the two-mile walking distance, and a light jacket helps for cooling temperatures after dark.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rules Travel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is All Souls Procession?

All Souls Procession is listed for November · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does All Souls Procession take place?

The festival is listed in Tucson, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Tucson, AZ

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLallsoulsprocession.org

Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →

SourceSource link available

Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November

Source statusOfficial source linked

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →

All Souls Procession

All Souls Procession in Tucson

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The city starts moving

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Tradition 5

Tradition 6

Tradition 7

Tradition 8

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

Tucson, AZ

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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