The event, organized by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. will include a mix of live entertainment, art installations and activities on the Third Street Promenade, Saturday, October 30 from 5 – 10 p.m.
Festivities include papel picado arts and crafts and face painting by Lil’ Bitter Pixie. In addition, there will be 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 Cognate Collective, initiated by the 18th Street Arts Center.
Performances will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Promenade Main Stage near Arizona Avenue hosted by Normz la Oaxaqueña of Cumbiatón LA.
The lineup will feature Santa Monica Ballet Folklórico with traditional blessing and dance performance, 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. DJ Sizzle Fantastic of Cumbiatón LA 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.