Dia de Muertes — A Mexican Celebration to Remember Our Departed, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Seattle Center; Dia de los Muertos, Burien, Seattle, Tacoma.
Celebrate the traditions of Dia de MuertosSaturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, at Seattle Center Armory.
A combination of centuries-old traditions of Mexico’s indigenous peoples and Catholic traditions of Día de los Fieles Difuntos (All Souls’ Day), it’s said to be the time of year when deceased loved ones and ancestors are nearest to us, to be welcomed with ofrendas (altar displays), music, food, sugar skulls and festivities.
Dia de Muertos — A Mexican Celebration to Remember Our Departed — marks its 14th anniversary at Seattle Center with music and dance performances, artists from Mexico sharing traditional stories to preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage of the holiday, and a “La Calavera va al Panteon” theatrical puppet show illustrating the meaning of the festival.
Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Festival
Time: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30
Location: Burien Community Center, 14700 Sixth Ave. S.W., Burien
More info: 206-988-3700 or burienwa.gov/DDLM
Dia de Muertos — A Mexican Celebration to Remember Our Departed
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Location: Seattle Center Armory, Seattle
More info: 206-684-7200 or seattlecenter.com
Dia de los Muertos
Time: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Location: Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle
More info: 206-783-2244 or phinneycenter.org/dia
Dia de los Muertos Community Festlval
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Location: Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
More info: 253-272-4258 or tacomaartmuseum.org
Dia de los Muertos Exhibit
Time: celebration, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, by reservation; exhibit 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 3-19
Location: El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave. S., Seattle
More info: 206-957-4605 or elcentrodelaraza.org
Events both days include a marketplace of traditional foods and crafts, activities for all ages to create sugar skulls and paper skeletons, community ofrenda displays and a procession inviting all to honor the lives of departed loves ones.
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Other local events celebrating the holiday include Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Festival Friday, Oct. 30, in Burien with traditional foods, ofrenda altars by local groups, craft activities and performances including Grupo Folklorico Guadalajara Mexican dance, mariachi music and storytelling around the campfire.
Phinney Neighborhood Center’s Dia de los Muertos event Sunday, Nov. 1, features Aztec dancers, traditional ofrenda altar dedication, Spanish music for children, food, arts and crafts.
Tacoma Art Museum’s Dia de los Muertos Community Festival, also on Sunday, has a Calavera Costume Contest, traditional foods, mariachi music, sand-painting demonstration and ofrendas.
Seattle’s El Centro de la Raza displays ofrendas created by many local groups, debuting at the 11th annual Ofrenda Exhibit Opening and Celebration Monday, Nov. 2, with dinner and children’s activities; reservations requested. This year’s event is in solidarity with and honoring the Black Lives Matter movement.
The ofrenda exhibit continues weekdays through Nov. 19.
All events are free and open to everyone.