Our Dia de Muertos community altar will honor our migration stories and loved ones who have passed away. Our programs team and youth participants have been creating handmade decorations and offerings to commemorate those who have passed. You are welcome to bring offerings and photos of your loved ones to participate in the celebration that night. We will also observe our loved ones who have passed through the Filipino tradition of Undas, held on November 1st and 2nd, by wearing white and taking part in a symbolic gravestone activity.

Come learn more about these cultural traditions and celebrate our loved ones and our familiar histories through community and art!

Our Community ARTS project teams are excited to lead a variety of interactive art activities:

- Hands-on Pan Flute Workshop: Make your own pan flute from paper straws and explore how sound is produced.

- Mantra Workshop: Create and share personal mantras to contribute to a collective sound archive.

- Encoded: Honor hidden communication traditions of Día de los Muertos by branding symbolic codes onto wood for a communal piece and receiving a laser-cut strip to take home.

- Community Looms: Join our sewing class to help stitch together collaborative textile artworks.

- Painted Wood Calaveras: Decorate Day of the Dead-inspired wooden skulls with paint markers and rhinestones, and add ribbons for display at home or on your altar.

Throughout the space, many of our partner organizations will be providing Dia de los Muertos-themed art activities for youth and families of all ages, from creating nichos to decorating real sugar skulls and making paper cempesuchil to help adorn our altar!

We are excited to present several live performances and presentations throughout the night, starting with a Kumeyaay Ceremony performed by Eva Salazar from Sweetwater High School Ballet Folklorico Tlapalán, traditional dances from Filipino Friends Cultural Dancers, Poetry and Performance from Yenn Avila, a screening of the Postal Sonora Noche de Xantolo interactive sound and visual performance, DJ and music from friend of ARTS Pablo Dodero and a musical performance from our Community ARTS Sound and Technology project team and live mariachi performances throughout the night.

Our friends at IPS have curated valuable community resources and information from participating vendors, ensuring a rich and engaging experience. While you are at the event, explore each table, collect stamps in your program, and enter our raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes.

We are honored to partner with a diverse group of organizations, each of which contributes unique expertise to advancing health and equity. Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) focuses on public health and reducing disparities through community-based prevention and advocacy. Casa Familiar has served South San Diego County for decades, evolving its programs to support residents’ changing needs. The City of National City Community Services who engages the community and improves the health and wellness of residents through safe and affordable services, programs, and special events.Anakbayan San Diego empowers Filipino youth and advocates for democracy in the Philippines. Livewell San Diego unites over 600 organizations to improve the health and well-being of all county residents. Border Angels provides humanitarian aid, education, and advocacy for migrants and asylum seekers, while the BIPOC Support Foundation uplifts BIPOC business owners and students through intersectional, culturally responsive programs.

Join us by dressing in traditional Dia de los Muertos and Undas attire! We will be hosting a runway show featuring everyone who comes dressed up and wants to showcase their fits’! Here are some tips for dressing up:

Dia de los Muertos: For this celebration, consider wearing skull makeup with colorful, vibrant shades! Traditional Catrinas wear colorful, flowing dresses and skirts. For a more masculine look, you might opt for a black suit or a charro jacket.

Undas: Traditionally, Undas attire includes light colors and white, reflecting modesty and respect for the loved ones we are honoring.

We are excited to welcome ‘friend of ARTS’ Iris Rain who will be providing face painting at the event!

Throughout our space, there will be opportunities to taste cultural and traditional dishes from the Dia de los Muertos and the Filipino community. We will offer traditional Pan de Muerto from Clementina’s Sweets and Hot Chocolate for all guests, as well as other food and drink specialties for purchase from our friends at Cafeina Cafe and La Chulona.

Make sure to come early, we are excited to offer your choice of free tacos or coffee to our first 60 guests who arrive!

Visit our local vendor booths, La Casita and Baile Folklor Mexico, to discover unique handcrafted goods that celebrate the vibrant traditions of Mexican culture.