Día de los Muertos Celebration

A cultural celebration featuring La Catrina sculptures, community altars, ballet folklorico, family activities, makers market, & DJ Dance Party.
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) is honoring Día de los Muertos, highlighting the traditional Mexican cultural celebration of life and death, with a mix of live entertainment, art installations and family-friendly activities on the Third Street Promenade, Saturday, October 30 from 5 – 10 pm. Festivities include papel picado arts and crafts and face painting by Lil’ Bitter Pixie, in addition to booths with goods from over 30 local BIPOC vendors with Angel City Market and Market Exchange, a collaboration between Santa Monica artisans Ines Garcia, Laura Hernandez, Carmela Morales and Cog•nate Collective, initiated by the 18th Street Arts Center.
A diverse lineup of performances begin at 5:30 pm on the Promenade Main Stage (located at the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade near Arizona Avenue) hosted by Normz la Oaxaqueña of Cumbiatón LA and will feature appearances from Santa Monica Ballet Folklórico who provide a traditional blessing and dance performance, students from Santa Monica High School Latinx clubs who will present on the importance of Día de los Muertos traditions, Ballet Folklórico Flor de Mayo, Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Mariachi Perla del Oeste, and DJ Funky Caramelo, and DJ Sizzle Fantastic of Cumbiatón LA who will host a dance party to conclude the day’s events.
Sculptures by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero of La Catrina, one of Día de los Muertos’ most recognizable figures created by Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada, will be viewable throughout three blocks of the Promenade beginning Friday, October 29 through November 2. Altars created by local organizations and artists will also be on display beginning October 30 through November 2.
Soltero’s iconic La Catrina sculptures range up to 14 feet in height and welcome guests to the Promenade in brightly colored traditional Mexican attire inspired by Day of the Dead traditions, Mexican icons and embroidery. La Catrina was first born out of Mexican social satire and has become a well-known figure in celebration of the holiday.
DTSM remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of the community, visitors, and staff. Face coverings are recommended when visiting the Third Street Promenade and all guests are encouraged to practice physical distancing.
The Día de los Muertos Community Celebration is on Saturday, October 30 from 5 – 10 pm. La Catrina sculptures will be on display daily from 10 am to 8 pm, October 29 through November 2. Community altars will be on view October 30 through November 2.
The community celebration, altars and La Catrina sculptures will take place along the Third Street Promenade with performances on the Promenade Main Stage (located at the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade near Arizona Avenue).
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