Dia de los Muertos Family Day: A Celebration of Life

Celebrate Halloween in the Hispanic tradition 

On Halloween, Piedmont Arts will host a free family day celebrating Mexico’s ‘Day of the Dead.’

From pre-Columbian times, El Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, has been celebrated in Mexico and other Latin countries. This special ritual is a day for families to remember their departed relatives. 

“Sometimes, when people of other cultures hear about the celebration, they mistakenly think it must be scary or sad,” said Executive Director Kathy Rogers. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily remember their loved ones. It is a celebration of life, full of happiness and long-standing tradition.”

Families will learn about Dia de los Muertos celebrations, see a decorated ofrenda (altar), decorate their own polvorones (shortbread cookies), and learn a traditional dance from costumed members of the Latin Ballet of Virginia. Crafts include making tissue paper marigolds, sugar skull masks and skull bracelets. 

“Everyone can come in costumes to celebrate with us,” said Ana Ines King, artistic director of the Latin Ballet of Virginia. "We say, ‘Come out with your family to celebrate in our Hispanic way.’ Then the children learn so much about our culture just by coming to the festival and attending our productions."

Piedmont Arts’ Dia de los Muertos Family Day will take place on Saturday, October 31 from 1 – 3 pm at the museum, located at 215 Starling Ave. All ages are welcome at this admission free event. Snacks will be provided by Taco Bell.

Día de los Muertos Family Day is part of Celebración de las Artes, Piedmont Arts’ celebration of Latin American arts and culture. Celebración de las Artes is sponsored by Harvest Foundation, Eastman, Alcoa, Virginia Commission for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts.