Downey Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos

As Halloween winds down in Los Angeles, people begin preparing to commemorate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), an annual tradition marking All Saints Day and All Souls Day and marking friends and loved ones who have passed on. From October 31 through November 2, celebrations take place, beginning with All Saints and All Souls Day itself and running until November 2. On November 5, Bowers Museum of Latina American Art invites families to their free Mexican Day of the Dead Family Festival held in Long Beach featuring dance performances, food vendors, classic car show classic car show arts & crafts face painting community altars & procession!

Downey Dia de los Muertos Art Festival created an atmosphere of culture and rememberance from October 29-30 with art showcases, activities, community vendors, food trucks and performances in its civic center. Art was at the core of this year’s festival; dance performances, musical acts, children’s bilingual story-times and puppet shows also provided entertainment alongside print and painting workshops that provided unique artistic experiences for festival goers.

Ofrendas are ritualistic ceremonies designed to welcome back spirits of those who have passed on, usually featuring their favorite foods, personal belongings, and water for their journey back home. Flowers such as cempasuchi marigolds bring joy and help the deceased return home via Aztec beliefs; their scent helps guide souls back home through these paths of flowers.

Altars have long been a tradition in homes and public spaces to honor the dead, dating back centuries. Mesoamerican cultures viewed death as an inexorable part of life – not something to fear but rather embrace.

Festival attendees can also shop from local community vendors and food trucks at the festival Mercado. Additionally, this year’s festival is certified Green Event with the goal of leaving as little of an impactful footprint on our environment as possible.

Olvera Street in Downtown LA is an historic district with the charm and atmosphere of a small Mexican village. Olvera Street hosts a nine-day festival of rememberance and celebration from October 25 through November 2, starting each night with a procession beginning at 6pm, including dancers and musicians as well as calavera (skeleton) parades each night.

The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is another venue commemorating this holiday with an extensive calendar of events throughout October and November, culminating in its Day-Long Festival on November 5. Additionally, live musical and dance performances, an art-making station, sugar skull workshop as well as 20 community altars are scheduled. Go Metro: Take the A Line to 5th Street station for easier access.