Dia de los Muertos Events 2013
The day after Halloween has been a celebration of the dead for centuries. Called Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, this yearly celebration is actually more about life. Incorporating food, drink, costume, dance, and parades, Dia de los Muertos celebrations happen around the world on November 1st. This year, November 1st falls on Friday, which means many communities are having weekend-long celebrations and educational events. There's likely something going on in your town!
Here is a short list of Dia de los Muertos events around the country - find one near you and celebrate and acknowledge the life of those who have passed on to the next world.
Old Town San Diego - This annual event in the historic Old Town neighborhood of San Diego is a big deal. Since Old Town is where many of the most authentic Mexican restaurants are found and where the regions Mexican heritage is celebrated, iconic skulls and other Dia de los Muertos artifacts and decorations are displayed year round. Old Town will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos Friday and Saturday, November 1-2, with decorated museums and shops, live entertainment, and a procession to the cemerary on Saturday night. Guests can even search for their ancestors on the internet to connect with their history. Don't miss art exhibits, dancers and elaborate altars.
National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC - Celebrate Dia de los Muertos a little differently - with a visual talk on death. An art exhibit titled Not Dead Yet: Thoughts and Paintings on Death and Dying will be hosted by artist Tina Mion while she discusses a personal and historical perspective on this sensitive topic. Don't worry about it getting too dark, though - this 7pm viewing will have its laughs, too. This unique visual talk will touch on different aspects of death, including death in the White House, suicide, personal loss, and why butlers are often murderers (really!). Best of all, this event is free!
Chicago Sinfonietta - The sounds of Dia de los Muertos are as varied as the celebrations that accompany the day, and the Chicago Sinfonietta is having two concerts to showcase different talent. Go on a spectacular journey through death in this two part concert that is both a treat for the ears and for the eyes. The first part takes guests through the more traditional expressions of death - the typical dark and sad feelings - but discover jubilance and enthusiasm during the second part. Complementary wine flights, chosen specifically for this evening, will be served to enhance this journey. Though this concert is not on the Day of the Dead (November 1st), it celebrates the weekend after so guests don't have to choose between this concert and more traditional Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
Celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us on Dia de los Muertos in your community. And don't forget your local Navis Pack & Ship representative will be nearby to help you carefully pack and ship just about anything. Well, anything except los muertos!
