Free Family Days

Día de los Muertos Free Family Day

Sunday | October 20 | 11 am – 4 pm

For the 35th year, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art honors the Mexican tradition of remembering the dead with a display of altars created by students in the Museum’s school and outreach programs and local community groups. Día de los Muertos inspired art activities for all ages will be offered on the Front Terrace and in the Family Resource Center. End the event at 3:45 pm by joining the second Day of the Dead Calenda from SBMA to the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. This festive procession will feature a range of traditional music and dances from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. All are welcome to participate.

Generous support for the 2024 Día de los Muertos Free Family Day is provided by the Hazen Family Foundation.

Event Details

Altars

11 am – 4 pm — View altars created by school and community groups

Art Activities

11 am – 2:30 pm — Alfredo Ramos Martinez inspired Still Life Collage & Skull Charms
11 am – 4 pm — Rufino Tamayo-inspired newspaper Nichos
2 – 4 pm — Paper Flower Headdresses to wear in the procession

Music, Dance & Procession

3:45 pm — Gather on the Museum’s Front Terrace for the 4 pm procession to MCASB

Join SBMA and MCASB in Celebrating our second Day of the Dead Calenda in Santa Barbara.

Calenda in Oaxaca is a traditional celebration that represents the expression of joy, the strengthening of family, community, and personal bonds. This festive event will feature a range of traditional music and dances from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero such as the Banda de Viento de San Jorge de Oaxaca, Lico Music Academy, traditional dances from the Mixtec region of Oaxaca, Las Danzas de los Diablos and Rubios de la Mixteca Baja grupo Agua Azul from Santiago Juxtlahuaca Oaxaca, Danza de la Pluma San Pablo Guila and @Oaxacreation Monos de Calenda y más from the Heroic city of Ejutla de Crespo Oaxaca. The ceremony will begin at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s State Street entrance and will proceed towards the MCASB in the Arts Terrace at Paseo Nuevo, where there will be an altar of the dead, authentic Oaxacan cuisine, art vendors, and a thrilling dance party by the group Los Hijos de San Juan Mixtepec. All are welcome to participate.

The music, dance, and procession is a partnership with:

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