Last Halloween, a Friday, one family walked the Suisun City Fire Department's costume parade down Main Street for the first time. According to the Daily Republic, they had lived in the area 10 years. That was the first year everyone's schedule allowed it.
The parade is scheduled for October 31 each year with a 3:30 p.m. start, whatever day of the week that turns out to be. This year, Saturday, October 31, lands on a weekend. On Sunday, the city's Día de los Muertos celebration follows with a new afternoon schedule. For anyone in Historic Suisun City, that means two neighborhood traditions on back-to-back weekend afternoons, and neither one competes with a workday.
A parade pinned to the calendar
The city's own event listings show how much the weekday has moved around in recent years.
| Year | Day of the week | Time | Starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tuesday | 3:30–5 p.m. | Downtown Suisun City |
| 2024 | Thursday | 3:30–5 p.m. | 400 Main St. |
| 2025 | Friday | Late afternoon | Downtown Suisun City |
| 2026 | Saturday | 3:30–5 p.m. | Main Street & Driftwood Drive |
The 2023 and 2024 parades started at 3:30 on a weekday afternoon. Last year's Friday parade had a bit of help, because the Daily Republic reported that Fairfield-Suisun Unified elementary students had the day off. The same story said the late-afternoon time left plenty of time for trick-or-treating at houses afterward.
Last year's event was the 72nd parade hosted by the Suisun City Fire Department, which puts it on with the Suisun City Firefighters Association. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19. October 31 last fell on a Saturday in 2020, one of the canceled years. That makes October 31, 2026, the parade's first Saturday since it came back.
Saturday at 3:30, Main and Driftwood
The city's 2026 parade page puts the start at Main Street and Driftwood Drive downtown and maps it to 418 Main St. The parade runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Costumes are judged in these age groups:
- 0–3
- 4–5
- 6–7
- 8–9
- 10–16
- 17 and up
- Family
Special prizes go to the best-dressed firefighters and police officers. Last year's field covered a lot of ground. The Daily Republic described homemade costumes, Disney characters, witches, and a golfer in tartan carrying a golf bag with a skeleton inside.
In an earlier year, the paper's coverage of the 61st annual parade reported nearly 400 people along Main Street as the parade passed the downtown businesses.
Where the parade lets out at dinnertime
The parade ends at 5 p.m. on a Saturday, so the restaurants on the same blocks are open that evening. Here are the posted hours from each restaurant's own website. Halloween night can change plans, so call ahead.
- Main Street Bar & Grill, 627 Main St. Dinner runs Wednesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., so it opens while the parade is still going.
- Athenian Grill, 750 Kellogg St. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. The house baklava is made from a family recipe and can come with vanilla gelato.
- Craft & Cork, 700 Main St., Suite 110. This taproom and wine bar is open Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight, and its site says the Amtrak station is a three-minute walk away.
A few more spots are close by. Call for their hours before you go. Cast Iron Grill & Bar is at 700 Main St., Suite 104. Babs Delta Diner is at 770 Kellogg St. and takes online orders. La Cabaña is listed at 325 Main St. One correction to older directories: Ironwood American Bistro is no longer at 203 Main St.
For the rest of the year's waterfront dining and events, see our guide to summer nights on the Suisun City waterfront from this summer.
Sunday, Día de los Muertos moves to the afternoon
Last year the two events also ran on back-to-back days, with Friday's parade and then Día de los Muertos on Saturday, November 1, 2025. That celebration, billed as the city's third annual, ran from 6 to 10 p.m. at Joseph Nelson Community Center. The 2024 event, the second annual, also ran from 6 to 10 p.m. at Joseph Nelson Center and featured mariachi, remembrance altars, a beer garden, and Mexican food for purchase.
This year's celebration has new hours and a bigger program.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day | November 2 | Saturday, November 1 | Sunday, November 1 |
| Hours | 6–10 p.m. | 6–10 p.m. | 4–8 p.m. |
| Location | Joseph Nelson Center | Joseph Nelson Community Center | Joseph Nelson Community Center |
| Billed as | 2nd annual | 3rd annual | Community celebration |
The City of Suisun City Recreation, Parks and Marina Department hosts the 2026 celebration at 611 Village Drive, and it's free. The program lists community ofrendas, traditional Ballet Folklórico performances, live music and dancing, food for purchase, food and retail vendors, and beer for guests 21 and over with valid ID.
That puts Sunday's celebration two hours earlier than in the past two years, and it wraps up at 8 p.m. Families coming off Saturday's parade can make a full weekend of it. On Sunday, Athenian Grill's posted hours run to 8 p.m., and Craft & Cork's posted Sunday hours are noon to 6 p.m. Main Street Bar & Grill lists dinner Wednesday through Saturday only, so plan Sunday around one of the others.
Building an ofrenda for Sunday
The biggest change is that residents can now contribute to the celebration. The city invites community members, families, organizations, and businesses to build an ofrenda, a personal altar honoring loved ones who have passed away. Participants are encouraged to decorate with photographs, marigolds, candles, and meaningful mementos. The ofrenda application is linked from the city's event page, along with separate applications for food and retail vendors.
A few rules for the evening, from the same page:
- No weapons of any kind, including for people with concealed-carry permits
- No drugs or outside alcohol in the event area
- No pets, so walk the dog before you go
- Beer service only for guests 21 and over with valid photo ID
- Treat the ofrendas, decorations, performers, and vendors with care and respect for the holiday's cultural meaning
The next tradition on the waterfront
The Daily Republic notes that Suisun City holds two parades a year, one on land in October and one on the water with lighted boats at the holidays. Last year's Christmas on the Waterfront was Saturday, December 6, 2025, with a holiday market, a lighted boat parade, Santa's arrival, a tree lighting, and fireworks. As of this week, the city's events directory lists only the Halloween parade and Día de los Muertos. The 2026 waterfront holiday date will show up there once it's announced.
Until then, Saturday's parade on October 31 starts at 3:30 p.m. at Main Street and Driftwood Drive, and Sunday's celebration on November 1 opens at 4 p.m. at 611 Village Drive.
If walking to the Halloween parade is one of the best parts of your address, it might also be a good time to find out what that address is worth. Michael Hulsey & Associates follows Historic Suisun City block by block, including the homes within walking distance of Main Street. Get Your Free Home Valuation and we'll show you how your home compares to recent sales downtown.
