La Pulga Spirits
In Fort Worth, there are a few places so rooted in the city’s story they feel less like restaurants and more like living, breathing parts of the community. Joe T. Garcia’s — the Tex-Mex landmark that’s been serving generations since 1935 — is one of them. This year, as the restaurant celebrates its 90th anniversary, the Garcia family is opening its doors to something more intimate than a plate of sizzling fajitas: a public Día de los Muertos celebration honoring their ancestors and the traditions that keep their memories alive.
For decades, the Garcia family has observed Día de los Muertos privately, gathering to remember loved ones with ofrendas — colorful altars adorned with photographs, candles, and favorite foods. But this year, those traditions will move into the heart of the restaurant, where all guests are invited to take part on November 1 and 2.
Six ofrendas will be displayed throughout Joe T.'s, each honoring members of the Garcia family who helped shape the restaurant’s rich history. The altars will be dressed in marigolds — grown especially for the occasion by the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) — whose bright petals and musky scent are said to help guide spirits home. The Garden is also lending decorations from its “Celebramos” event, ensuring that the restaurant’s courtyards and patios bloom with the same vibrant energy that defines the holiday.
La Pulga Spirits
Sarah Castillo, one of La Pulga Spirits' co-founders.
The celebration also includes a collaboration with La Pulga Spirits, a Fort Worth-based tequila company whose La Pulga Skinny Margarita, made with La Pulga Blanco Tequila, will be featured throughout the weekend.
The festivities begin Saturday, Nov. 1, with mariachis greeting guests at the entrance from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., leading a processional through the restaurant at 5:30. From 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., La Pulga will host the back bar with neat tastings and a 360-degree photo booth for guests to enjoy. On Sunday, Nov. 2, Las Catrinas — the elegantly dressed skeletal figures that have come to symbolize the spirit of the holiday — will wander through the restaurant at noon, greeting diners and adding a touch of living art to the celebration.
In true Joe T.’s fashion, the weekend promises a blend of reverence and joy — a way to honor those who came before while savoring the moment with the living.
“As a family, we are honored to share this tradition with our loyal patrons that are like family to us,” said Kelly Lancarte, director of public relations for Joe T. Garcia’s. “We are thankful to partner with La Pulga Spirits and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to bring our celebration to life.”
