¡Feliz el dia de los muertos!
In days past one would celebrate El Dia de los Muertos on Nov. the 1st and 2nd in the privacy of one’s home, local cemetery, parish hall or select bastions of la cultura Mexicana like Olvera Street. Nowadays Day of the Dead celebrations in Los Angeles and neighboring counties rival Halloween fright nights, harvest festivals and haunted houses in sheer number and variety. Don’t feel forlorn if you missed Hollywood Forever’s celebration last Saturday, here’s a just a sampling of upcoming events and exhibitions from sombre and respectful to fun and satirical that run from now through the first week of November. So, slap on that calavera face paint and join us in honoring our dearly departed the Latin way!
The Olvera Street Merchants Dia de los Muertos : Nine nights of Novenario processions through the Olvera Street Mexican market at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Site followed by free pan de muerto & champurrado. Processions: Oct. 25 – Nov. 2, 7 – 9pm ; Fiesta Muertos: Oct. 28-29, 10 am – 8 pm The Gazebo Plaza on Olvera Street, El Pueblo Historical Monument, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles. Info: ww.ci.la.ca.us/ELP/ , (213) 625-7074
Dia de Los Muertos at Self Help Graphics : East L.A.’s community arts celebration with altars, arts & crafts workshops, food, entertainment and procession. Exhibition opening Oct. 28; Workshops: Oct. 29, 12 noon-3 pm at 1300 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033; Procession and festival Nov. 2, 5-11 pm Procession leaves from Mariachi Plaza (E 1st St, Boyle and Pleasant Ave), (323) 881-6444
Mucho Mas after the jump!
LATA El Fieston de Calaveras : Childrens theater performance! Oct. 27-29, 7:30pm, Oct.. 30, 3:30pm at Elysian Park Amphitheatre , 929 Academy Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90012. $10 donation (free/discounts for under 18 & advance tickets!)
28th Annual Day of the Dead Altars & Ephemera exhibition : Now through Nov 5, (contact gallery for hours) at The Folk Tree, 217 South Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena, 91105, (626) 795-8733
Oct. 29 & 30 Dia de los Muertos at LA Plaza: music, performance, arts and crafts workshops, face painting at 501 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 12:30-4pm
Oct. 30 The Autry Museum’s ¡Vivan Los Muertos! : Live entertainment and ceremony, public altar, art exhibits, family activities. Check out the website!! Free with museum admission, 2-9pm
Oct. 30 El Dia de los Muertos Downtown San Pedro : El Dia-Peedro Style!: entertainment, food, children’s activities and vendors at 6th, 7th, 8th Streets & Pacific Ave., 3-10pm.
Nov. 1 Plaza de la Raza Day of the Dead : community celebration, altars and sand paintings, art exhibits, crafts, food. 3540 N. Mission Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90031, (323) 223-2475 Kids & teens workshops, 5-7pm; entertainment, 6-8pm
Nov. 2 UCLA @ SPARC Day Of The Dead: a traditional ceremony of calling the spirits. Live music, art and community altar, pan dulce & hot chocolate, 685 Venice Blvd., Venice, 6:30-9pm.
Nov. 2 24th Street Theatre – Dia de los Muertos : calaveras puppet theatre, art, music, dance & food. 1117 West 24th Street, Los Angeles, 6-10pm
Nov. 2 and Nov 5th La Muerte Vive If you are in the mood for a rock opera/cabaret kind of Day of the Dead performance, check this out for an alternative to the traditional festivites:at the Million Dollar Theater. A full day of events with performances at 7 & 11pm. Check website for ticket price. UPDATE: Saturday November 5th, 2011 just added. Same time and ticket prices.
Nov. 2 Dia de los Muertos Mass and Celebration at Forest Lawn-Cypress : a reverent celebration of the beloved dead at the Forecourt of the Paradise Mosaic, 7-9pm AND Forest Lawn Covina Hills – Forecourt of the Life of Christ Mosaic, 4:30-9pm
Nov. 5 Noche De Altares : large community festival at 4th and Birch Streets, Santa Ana, 1-10pm
Nov. 6 Dia de los Muertos Festival : large community festival on Sherman Way between Canoga and Vasser Avenues, Canoga Park, 10am-5pm
For additional 2011 Day of the Dead happenings check out your local community center, museum or gallery or go to L.A. Taco’s Event Guide.
I love Self-help Graphics!!!
Good seeing you last night, Lor! I’m glad to know that you have achieved a few things that are, alas, still on my “bucket list”, viz. becoming a published author, blazing new trails, transforming yourself into a calavera, etc., etc. (although I intend to paint a sugar skull on my face for Halloween this weekend – I can only hope that it turns out as good as yours!) – anyway, you have my contact info, let’s keep in touch!
~ your old pal “Boo-Lu” (ps: how do you like my pen name?)
hmmm, I would have gone with La Figa (but that’s just ME) XD