Days of the Dead Community Day Celebration October 23, 2011

The Oakland Museum of California comes alive with the spirit and tradition of Days of the Dead for a special community day celebration on Sunday, October 23. Craft activities, food, music, dance, and ceremonia bring the community together for healing and honoring the dead. The day features Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro, Teatro Familia Aztlan, La Familia Pena Govea, Orquestra La Moderna Tradicion, and Yolanda Aranda Coria. Watch demonstrations of traditional Meso-American arts and food, and buy local Days of the Dead merchandise for your home altar from our mercado. Bike valet parking provided by East Bay Bicycle Coalition. All included with Museum admission.

Celebrated between October 31 and November 2, the Mesoamerican tradition of Dias de los Muertos is widely associated with iconic and colorful elements---such as sugar skulls, marigolds, and altars, or ofrendas---arranged or created in honor of deceased loved ones. This year OMCA celebrates the 17th annual Days of the Dead exhibition, which looks beyond the icons to delve into the heartfelt tales of love and loss that the ofrendas have to tell. Featuring 14 artists and student and community groups with personal stories related to Dias de los Muertos, the exhibition pays special attention to the importance of ofrendas and celebrates this ritual as a vehicle for creating intimate sacred spaces and sharing memories.

Official Website: http://www.museumca.org