In the dog days of summer, organizers of Muertos Fest, San Antonio’s popular two-day celebration of Día de los Muertos, said they are hard at work to prepare for the 12th annual Halloween event.

Event organizers said in late August that Muertos Fest will return to Hemisfair on October 26 and 27, and it will be filled with activities that reflect the traditions of Day of the Dead.

Muertos Fest, according to organizers, is one of the nation’s largest Día de los Muertos celebrations, attracting more than 100,000 people. The free admission event will boast music, cultural performances, food, storytelling, a market, kids’ activities, a traditional evening procession, and dozens of altars designed and assembled by local students, nonprofits, artists and families.

"San Antonio's Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair is recognized nationwide -- and for good reason. Our city knows how to embrace its rich cultural heritage in style and Hemisfair is the perfect location,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement. “I am confident the 12th annual Día de los Muertos celebration will be the best yet."

Jim Mendiola, Muertos Fest’s artistic director, said efforts to present the family friendly festival in a fully authentic way have helped the endear the event to multiple generations of local and visiting attendees.

Typically observed November 1 and 2 in Mexico, Día de los Muertos is sometimes recognized close to Halloween in the United States, and gives people a chance to celebrate the lives of a deceased loved ones and friends in a festive manner.

This includes altars holding offerings, or ofrendas, which are often decorated with calaveras (skulls), marigold towers, pan de muerto (a sweet bread of the dead), even personal items — all meant to commemorate the life of the dearly departed.

One of the biggest attractions at Muertos Fest is the installation of the expected 80-plus altars, which are exhibited across Hemisfair, the downtown San Antonio park that itself is undergoing redevelopment and revival.

Organizers said there is a tentative deadline for September 1 for anyone who wants to apply for a space to create and showcase their Muertos Fest star, but if space remains, altar applications will stay open until September 15. Organizers also promised to share details about musical and dance performers after the Labor Day weekend.

“Our success is rooted in the support of our vibrant south Texas community," said Mendiola, "and we draw inspiration from the Chicano community groups and local families who have upheld this tradition for decades and are excited to witness the continued growth of this day of celebration both in San Antonio and nationally."

More information about the festival is available at muertosfest.com.