Halloween may be over, but that doesn’t mean free, family-friendly fun times of a spirited nature must come to an end yet. Today is none other than Día de los Muertos, a time when Mexican and other Hispanic cultures celebrate the lives of departed loved ones with grand feasts and festivities.
The scene over in Arlington, Virginia, is no exception, with the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington getting into the act with its own community-wide Día de los Muertos celebration. What’s even better is that everyone’s invited to join in!
Presented as an evening picnic of epic proportions, this free-to-attend event is slated to kick off today at 5:00 p.m. and run until 8:00 p.m. Throughout the three-hour duration, guests will delight in a wide range of ongoing events and activities. You will also be able to attend the museum’s current Fall exhibits at this time and enjoy all of their usual offerings in addition. Click here to learn more.
The ongoing activities taking place throughout the evening will include Calavera Mask decorating, Lotería games, face painting by Otterly Artistic Events, and family-friendly, all-age-appropriate offerings of many other kinds (TBD). Guests are also welcome (and strongly encouraged) to bring with them photos of loved ones who have passed on. These will be placed on a large-scale altar created by artist David Amoroso on the front portico of the building—a most honorable tribute.
The aforementioned David Amoroso will be participating as one of this year’s artist vendors along with several others. Ana Schwar, renowned for her custom pet portraits, is another featured artist who will be in attendance.
Music, dancing, and entertainment galore will grace the scene. Special featured performers this year include Mariachi Imperio, Los Quetzales dancers, and multiple bilingual poetry presentations.
While entertainment performances are always a mutually appealing feature to any festival celebration, there is another universal interest that is perhaps the most crucial enticement of all to an event being touted as a “picnic” no less. That is food. Guests will certainly have plenty to occupy themselves with in the meal and refreshment categories. From lite bites to coffee and refreshments, phenomenal local food trucks that need no introduction, to visiting vendors setting up shop, rest assured that you will not go hungry. Featured favorites will include Rossana Coffee, Taco Cinco De Mayo, and TNT Mexican Grill.
This is, without a doubt, one lively Día de los Muertos celebration! All events will be taking place on location at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, located at 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22201. More information can be found on the website at www.mocaarlington.org.