13 fun, artsy and espooky ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos in SoCal this week and next
The veil between the two worlds grows thin...
Why be the life of the party when you can party — in spirit, at least — with your loved ones who have passed on into the afterlife?
Read on to find a place for you and yours to join friends and neighbors in marking Día de los Muertos — that solemn, sentimental and sometimes silly celebration of the dearly departed with its roots in Mexico and Central America — at parks, theaters, museums, etc. all around SoCal.
• Downtown Día de los Muertos at Gloria Molina Grand Park The second annual edition of this public art installation features 19 altars, or ofrendas, created by professional artists and local organizations, plus a community altar honoring the victims of the Monterey Park shootings in January and the Maui wildfires in August. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Now through Nov. 2 (park hours, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily). Free. grandparkla.org
• 24thAnnual Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever The famed final resting place of many a showbiz favorite once again serves as the site of not one but two celebrations on the same day: a family-friendly festival featuring live music and dance, arts and crafts, a costume contest, etc.; followed by an all-ages bash with live bands including headliner Bomba Estéreo, plus DJs, dancing, food and drink and more. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. “Día de los Muertos,” 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, $35 (age 4 and younger, free); “Noche de los Muertos,” 5 p.m. to midnight, $60. ladayofthedead.com
• Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos Celebration at Laguna Art Museum Artists from East L.A.’s storied community arts center Self Help Graphics & Art will roll up in their mobile art studio to teach the fine art screenprinting to artists of all ages in two separate sessions. Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Free with museum admission ($9, $12; ages 11 and younger, free). lagunaartmuseum.org
• Día de Los Muertos Festival at 2nd & PCH This family friendly night market/party features live mariachi music, ballet folklórico, artisanal goods, arts and crafts opportunities for the kids and more. Costumes encouraged. 2nd & PCH, 6400 Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach. 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Free. 2ndandpch.com
• Día de los Muertos Celebration at the Third Street Promenade This year’s event includes family- and pet-friendly arts and crafts activities, community altars, a Latinx pop-up market plus performances by Ballet Flor de Mayo, Grupo La Rosa, and others. Added bonus: those senstational, supersize, skeletal “La Catrina” sculptures by L.A.-based artist Ricardo Soltero. Third Street Promenade, 1351 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica. 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Free; no reservations required. downtownsm.com
• Día de los Muertos Family Day at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Banda Lico Music Academy and Grupo Folklorico Huaxyacac are among the acts featured in this celebration that also includes instruction in traditional arts and crafts plus a special giveaway packet for students K-12. Food and drink will be available for purchase. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main St., downtown L.A. noon, Sunday, Oct. 29. Free. lapca.org
• Day of the Dead Family Festival at the Museum of Latin American Art This year’s event includes a costume contest, face painting, a sugar skull workshop, a printmaking station, vendor booths, food and drink, live performances, and DJ Caveman manning the turntables. MoLAA, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. Free, no reservations required. molaa.org
• Día de los Muertos at Forest Lawn Cemeteries Mark the holiday in an actual cemetary at any one of four Forest Lawn locations around SoCal including Glendale, Covina Hills, Cyprus, and Cathedral City, each featuring live music and dance, altars and more. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 29. Free. Details at forestlawn.com
• Downey Día de los Muertos Art Festival at Downey Civic Theatre Live music and dance on two stages, plus arts and crafts, costume contests and a gallery show. Those who work up an appetite dancing can enjoy food trucks and a beer and wine garden. Downey Civic Theatre, 8435 Firestone Blvd., Downey. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. Free. ddlm.downeytheatre.org
• Día de los Muertos Block Party at 24th Street Theatre This free and family friendly community celebration is back for an 18th year. The festivities kick off with a ceremonial procession followed by live music and dance performances headlined by Latin surf band The Space Sanchos and México City-based singer-songwriter Rafael Mendoza. There’ll also be food and drink, arts and crafts and … a merry-go-round and … a Ferris wheel! Costumes encouraged. 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., L.A. Procession: 5:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, starting at Magnolia Ave. and W. Adams Blvd.; block party, 6 to 10 p.m. 24thstreet.org
• 50th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration at East L.A.’s Civic Center Park The aforementioned Self Help Graphics & Art co-presents this community event jampacked with live music and dance, altars by local artists, vendor booths, a resources fair, arts and crafts for the kids, food and drink, and much, much more. Costumes encouraged. Civic Center Park, 4801 E. 3rd St., East Los Angeles. 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Free. selfhelpgraphics.com
• Viva la Vida Día de Muertos Festival in Santa Ana This free and family-friendly celebration includes altars, vendor, booth, live music, food trucks and a candlelight procession. 309 W. 4th St., Santa Ana. 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. vivalavidasantaana.org
• Welcome Day: Día de Los Muertos at the Natural History Museum Offerings include live music from Mariachi Las Catrinas, vendor booths and hands-on arts & crafts, plus a close-up look at the museum’s interpretive altar on display as part of the ongoing exhibit “Becoming Los Angeles. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Free with museum admission ($7-$18; age 2 and younger, free). nhm.org