Día de los Muertos in SM: A Guide to Events

Amid all the hubbub about , not to be overlooked is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The Mexican holiday—which celebrates departed family members and friends—has been growing in popularity in the United States, and Santa Monica is no exception.

The holiday is actually observed on two days, Nov. 1 and 2, when All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, respectively, take place. Traditionally, children are remembered on the former day, and adults on the latter one. But some of Santa Monica's Día de los Muertos fiestas are happening earlier than the first two days of November.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., more than 1,500  students and alumni, along with members of the community, are anticipated at what is purported to be the biggest Day of the Dead celebration on the Westside. The family-friendly Fall Festival/ Día de los Muertos Celebration will feature arts and crafts, authentic Mexican food, children’s entertainment, games, a haunted house, karaoke, live music, rock climbing and more.

Alfombras, which are displays consisting of dust, flowers and other materials, will be presented at the free Edison event, which starts at 1 p.m. And there will also be 1,000 hand-made Japanese origami cranes hung on altars as part of the “Cranes for Peace Project,” memorializing victims of natural disasters and war, among others.

A couple of days earlier,  celebrates the holiday with an opening of and reception for its Dias de los Muertos Art Exhibition. In the school's Roberts Art Gallery (on the second floor of the History Building), retablos (Latin American devotional paintings) by Samohi students will be featured alongside artwork by students at and , and kids involved with the .

Also participating in the free Samohi event—which will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday—is alumnus Daniel Alonzo, the artist who created the Whale of a Mural on Ocean Park Boulevard, under the Fourth Street overpass.

The PYFC has a slew of events on and leading up to Nov. 2. On Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., the center's leadership council will research the holiday and witness a guest presentation by the Santa Monica/ West Los Angeles chapter of the Association of Mexican American Educators.

On Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., the center invites members of the community to help build PYFC's Día de los Muertos altar, where people can leave photos, flowers, candles or offerings to honor the memory of the departed.

The events continue next week: On Nov. 1, members of 's Association of Latin American students visit the center at 4:30 p.m. to talk about Día de los Muertos history and culture. Finally, on Nov. 2 from 4 to 9 p.m., there will be a Xinachtli History & Nauhtl Naming Workshop.

Last but not least, restaurant will feature Día de los Muertos specials from Monday through Nov. 5. Every night from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant will offer free tequila tastes and treats as part of its six-day celebration. There will also be a week-long tequila flight; six special mole plates; and a Día de los Muertos altar.

Did we miss a Día de los Muertos event happening in Santa Monica? Drop details about it in the comments box below.