Festival del Dia de los Muertos
On November 1, 2011, the “Night of the Angels”, the Living Arts & Science Center will present the 6th annual Day of the Dead Festival with a participatory celebration at the Living Arts & Science Center as well as at the Old Episcopal Burying Ground at the corner of E. 3rd Street and Elm Tree Lane. This event is a fun, participatory experience for the entire family.
Join the celebration and experience the rich visual, musical, dance and culinary traditions
of this holiday that is celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Central and South America.
Traditional Mexican dance will be performed by men’s dance company, Matlachines, as well as Danza Azteca.
Mexican singer and guitarist Jose Rivera will perform throughout the evening, and a variety of hands-on crafts, typical of Day of the Dead celebrations will take place indoors and out.
These participatory activities include decorating Sugar Skulls, creating sand murals, making tissue paper flowers and papel picado (cut paper streamers) as well as making tin ornaments and decorating monarch butterfly wings to wear in the candlelight parade. Participants may keep their crafts to continue to enjoy at home.
Visitors may also view the colorful Alabrijes exhibit in the LASC art gallery which includes work by children and adults inspired by the Mexican folk art form first popularized by Pedro Linares, a Mexican artist in the 1930’s. And,
thousands of Monarch butterflies, created by over 20 schools and community groups, have been installed on the fences of the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, as an introduction to this cultural holiday.
At dusk, musicians and dancers will lead participants in a beautiful candlelight parade from the LASC to the Old Episcopal Burying Ground at 3rd Street and Elm Tree Lane.
In the cemetery, participants may view an exciting exhibition of altars in and around the gravesites of this historic cemetery. Viewers may talk with artists, school groups and community members who have created both traditional altars as they would be presented in Mexican cemeteries as well as altar designs inspired by this joyful celebration. A community altar will also be presented, inviting individuals to place photos, mementos or names of their own loved ones, or participate in adding the flowers, candles and other traditional offerings. In the cemetery informal discussions will take place to educate participants about the altars, Day of the Dead, and the traditions and symbolism associated with this important Latin American holiday.
Traditional food from area restaurants and caterers will be available for purchase at the LASC. The LASC will also serve complimentary pan de muertos, the traditional bread of the dead.
