Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead Celebration

Location: Woodlawn Cemetery, 1847 14^th St.

Date: Saturday, November 3

Time: 11am – 2pm

Admission: Free admission, parking & bike valet

Parking: Santa Monica College lot between 16^th and 17^th Streets on Pico Blvd.; along 14^th St.; and limited spaces available in the cemetery.

Website: www.smgov.net/dia

On Saturday, November 3, 2012, the City of Santa Monica celebrates Day of the Dead for the first time at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Produced by the City of Santa Monica Community & Cultural Services Department, Woodlawn Cemetery and artist Paulina Sahagun, the event focuses on the traditions that make up this celebration of life and death.

The traditional Mexican celebration will offer a variety of ways for participants to discover the philosophy and history of the day.  Visitors can create a coronita (crown) of fresh marigolds and papel picado (perforated paper) to honor a loved one who has passed; take a self-guided tour of the cemetery and explore the history of local famous people including Leo Carrillo, Abbot Kinney, Thelma Terry and most recently Sally Ride to name a few; watch a documentary and discover how a small town in Mexico prepares for Dia de los Muertos; participate in the closing Nahuatl/Indigenous Ceremony with live traditional music and enjoy fresh tamales which will be available for sale. People are encouraged to participate, discover and honor their ancestors.