Oakland Museum of California Presents 22nd Annual Dias de los Muertos (Days of the Dead) Community Celebration October 16
(OAKLAND, CA)—The Oakland Museum of California will honor the traditions of Dias de los Muertos (Days of the Dead) during its 22nd annual Community Celebration on Sunday, October 16 from 12–4:30 pm. Each year, the Museum comes alive with craft activities, food, dance, musical performances, colorful ofrendas, and ceremonia, bringing the community together to pay homage to loved ones lost. Aztec dancers and Days of the Dead committee members will lead a procession to open the daylong celebration, which has grown to become one of the most popular Days of the Dead events in the East Bay. The family-friendly afternoon will feature demonstrations of Mesoamerican arts and cooking, Days of the Dead merchandise by local artisans at the mercado, and viewings of community-created altars throughout the OMCA Gardens.
The celebration will include:
- Performances ranging from contemporary to folkloric to mariachi, including Oakland-based Latino hip hop group Bang Data, Mexican folkloric dance group Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro, authentic Mexican musicians Mariachi Tapatio, and up-and-coming artist Gabriela Sepúlveda, known for her appearances on La Voz and American Idol.
- A directional altar dedication to passed members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense.
- Altar installations by community organizations, including Radical Monarchs, Circúlo de Hombres, Xochipilli, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, La Clínica’s Youth Brigade, and Attitudinal Healing Connections.
- Nearly a dozen Off the Grid food trucks, open from 11 am–4:30 pm.
- Twelve mercado vendors selling handmade arts and crafts, including the OMCA Store.
- Engaging hands-on activities and Days of the Dead calavera face painting.
- Live tortilla making demonstrations and traditional Mexican paper maché crafts making.
Advance tickets for the 22nd annual celebration are $11.95 for adults, $8.95 for students/seniors/youth, and $4.95 for youth ages 9-17. Day-of tickets are $15.95 for adults, $10.95 for students/seniors/youth, and $6.95 for youth ages 9-17. Entry is free for children 8 and under and OMCA Members, and includes Museum admission. Advance tickets will be available at museumca.org/visit. The Museum’s Days of the Dead exhibition will not be held this fall and will resume on a biennial schedule beginning in 2017.
ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people. OMCA’s groundbreaking exhibits tell the many stories that comprise California with many voices, often drawing on first-person accounts by people who have shaped California’s cultural heritage. Visitors are invited to actively participate in the Museum as they learn about the natural, artistic and social forces that affect the state and investigate their own role in both its history and its future. With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCA is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California’s dynamic cultural and environmental heritage.