The city and the Laredo Center for the Arts will host a Dia de los Muertos cultural celebration Monday.
“It’s not Halloween, it’s Dia de los Muertos and it’s fantastic,” said City of Laredo Councilman Roberto Balli. “This event will be an amazing celebration of the rich traditions of our Mexican culture.
"I want to invite all out in the community to come out and celebrate this event."
Featuring everything from an altar exhibit, hands on workshops, music and ballet folklorico performances, a procession, and of course, food and arts & crafts vendors, this event will celebrate death in a lively way.
It is set to run from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 San Agustin Ave. A Mass in celebration of All Souls Day will be held at 6 p.m. at San Agustin Cathedral, 214 San Bernardo Ave.
Immediately following will be a procession from the church along Aldo Tatangelo Walkway to the center, where all of the activities will be taking place.
Organized by the City of Laredo, the Consulate General of Mexico, the Instituto Cultural de Mexico (Institute of Mexican Culture), the Laredo Center for the Arts and Laredo Main Street, the event will be a traditional Mexican celebration of honoring the deceased.
The community is invited to bring photos, flowers and offerings of their deceased loved ones for the community altar that will be on exhibit.
Additionally, the free admission, family-friendly event is inviting all attendees to dress as catrines or calaveras, especially for the procession that will feature the oversized mojigangas (large head paper mâché caricatures).
The schedule of events is as follows:
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Workshops on how to make sugar skulls, tissue paper flowers and papel picado (cut tissue paper decorations), skull masks and face-painting
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: All Souls Day Mass at San Agustín Catholic Church
7 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: Procession from church to Laredo Center for the Arts
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: Music and ballet folklorico presentations
5 p.m.-9 p.m.: Altar exhibits
Nov. 2 is All Souls Day in the Catholic calendar; Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead – was the Mexican celebration of the deceased before Christianity.
Parking will be available at San Agustin Church parking lots. Street closures around the Laredo Center for the Arts will begin at 4 p.m. the day of the event and remain closed until 9 p.m.
For more information, call 956-795-2200 or visit http://lonuevoenlaredo.com/2015/10/celebraran-mexicanos-en-laredo-el-dia-de-muertos/.
Article Link: http://www.lmtonline.com/front-news/article_c1ccf9b6-7da7-11e5-92fc-0b2fb4285e51.html