Every November, Tucson transforms into something sacred. Streets fill with candlelight, drums echo through the night, and thousands of people walk together, not in silence, but in rhythm, memory, and love. It’s the All Souls Procession, and it’s one of the most powerful, uniquely Tucson experiences there is.
What began more than three decades ago as a small, personal tribute by local artist Susan Johnson has grown into one of the largest grassroots gatherings of its kind in the nation. Today, the All Souls Procession draws tens of thousands of participants, each person carrying a story, a photograph, a name, or a memory of someone who has passed. Some wear costumes that shimmer with color and light; others walk simply, carrying candles or holding hands. But everyone comes for the same reason: to remember, to honor, and to celebrate the continuity of life and love.
The weekend unfolds over three days, filled with art installations, performances, altars, live music, and community workshops. But it’s the Procession itself that takes your breath away. As dusk settles, the crowd moves slowly through the city, growing larger with every block. Drummers set the heartbeat. Dancers move like living prayers. The air fills with incense, laughter, tears, and song. Strangers become family for a night.
At the heart of it all is the Finale Ceremony, where written messages to loved ones are placed inside a massive urn, lifted high, and set ablaze. The smoke rises into the desert sky, a symbol of release, remembrance, and renewal. It’s a moment of pure connection, where grief and gratitude meet in the glow of firelight.
The All Souls Procession isn’t a parade or a festival. It’s something deeper. It’s a living ritual that reminds us that loss is part of love, and that remembrance can be beautiful. It’s Tucson at its most human...creative, compassionate, and fiercely communal.
This year’s 36th Annual All Souls Weekend happens November 7–9, 2025. Whether you’ve walked every year or you’re joining for the first time, come as you are. Bring your memories. Bring your heart.
Because when we walk together through the night, remembering those we’ve lost, we discover something timeless: that love, once shared, never really leaves us.
More events HERE
