Rose Hills Dia De Los Muertos Cultural Festival

Disclosure:  This post is brought to you by Rose Hills Dia de los Muertos.  All thoughts and content are my own.

If you have never checked out a Dia de los Muertos celebration in Southern California, make this the year you start.  Make no mistake, even though Dia de los Muertos translated is Day of the Dead - it is a unique cultural event that respectfully remembers those who have passed while it celebrates and honors the rich traditions and heritage with all generations.  I'm thrilled to share about Rose Hills Memorial Park's 4th Annual Dia de los Muertos Cultural Festival on Sunday, November 3, 2013 from 11am-5pm.  It is FREE!  There will be good food, arts & crafts area for kids, a vendor area featuring Dia de los Muertos themed arts and crafts, performances and entertainment including Paso de Oro's Aztec dance group, local dancers from Tierra Blanca Dance Company, Mariachi Trompetas de Mexico, and a special closing performance by the band Cambalache.  Best of all and my personal Dia de los Muertos favorite - Families are invited to create their own altars and enter the community altar contest!  Dia de los Muertos is deeply personal and undoubtedly beautiful - love fuels the creativity.  

The celebration also includes an art exhibit inside the SkyRose Chapel showcasing the talents of various local artists who will be sharing some of their Dia de los Muertos artwork!  Internationally renowned local artist Yolanda Gonzalez is 2013 Rose Hills Dia de los Muertos featured artist!

For more information, visit Rose Hills Dia de los Muertos Facebook / Rose Hills Day of the Dead

The Art Of Chris Galaviz: Dia De Los Muertos Masks

What started out as a project for my husband's Public Speaking class has propelled into a full-on business venture.  This mask was originally made for me because we celebrate his Mexican heritage on the Dia de los Muertos holiday.  The mask came out absolutely stunning and since we are raising funds to fund my new camera - he decided to offer 10 to insure delivery for the holiday.  The mask itself is paper mache and hand painted/drawn.  You will have the option of choosing the design and color scheme.  Your mask does not have to look like mine and it can even be male.  

If you are interested, you can purchase directly from his shop or on my Instagram starting at 12pm.

Instagram instructions:  When the picture above goes "live" on my Instagram, leave a comment with your email address.  If you are one of the first five, you will be invoiced from theartofchrisgalaviz@gmail.com and emailed to complete your order.

10th Annual Noche de Altares in Santa Ana, CA

This will be our 3rd year attending Noche de Altares in Santa Ana.  It's an amazing Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead celebration in Orange County.  Santa Ana Art Walk happens to fall on the same night as Noche de Altares.  There is so much to see and do so we make a family day/night out of it.  I always encourage friends and family to check it out.  My friend Ariana came to visit last year specifically for California Halloween / Dia de los Muertos fun!

Here are my tips for Noche de Altares:

• Get there early!  Especially if you want to find good parking.  Noche de Altares starts at 1pm and it gets BUSY!
• Bring cash!  Almost all the street vendors only take cash.  
• Wear comfy shoes and bring a jacket/hoodie/coat.  Southern California weather has been weird, it does get cooler at night.
• Bring your camera!  
• La Catrina starts her procession at 4:30pm.  You do not want to miss the lighting of the candles.
• Bathrooms - GCAC, OCCCA and Santora Arts Building are your best bet.  
• I suggest checking out the altars in the day and again at night.  Trust me, there is a difference!  

El Centro Cultural de Mexico & Calacas Inc. proudly present
10th Annual Noche de Altares
Saturday, November 3rd, 2012
4th and Birch Streets,
Santa Ana, CA

Free/Gratis

Schedule of Events
1:00 pm – 1:20 pm              Santa Ana Youth Skit/Kids Cumbia Class
1:25 pm – 1:55 pm              Chinelos
2:00 pm – 2:40 pm              Centro Ballet Folclorico
2:45 pm – 3:25 pm              Mariachi de Santa Ana High School
3:35 pm – 4:20 pm              Son del Centro
4:30 pm – 5:10 pm              Olmeca

4:30 pm Sunset              
La Catrina begins Procession & Lighting Candles

5:20 pm – 6:10 pm              Santaneros
6:20 pm – 7:10 pm              Banda Estrella de Michoacan
7:25 pm – 8:20 pm              La Misa Negra http://www.lamisanegra.com
8:35 pm – 9:30 pm              La Santa Maria http://www.lsmmusic.com



Here is a compilation of art shows from galleries we love:  

Siempre Es Hoy at OCCCA
Curated by Sol Art Gallery
6-11pm

Bringing Out The Dead Group Show at GCS Santa Ana
7-11pm

Note*  GCS is located on street level at the Santora Arts Building.  There is a basement level that is home to The ARTbar and several other galleries.  Santora Arts Building is gorgeous, it is also home to Santa Ana College Arts Gallery on the 2nd Floor.  There are also other galleries on the 2nd Floor.    

Tony de los Reyes at Grand Central Art Center
Border Theory
www.tonydelosreyes.com
7-10pm



Shops: The ARTbar / Librería Martínez / The Road Less Traveled Store
Food: Memphis at the Santora / Lola Gaspar / Playground / Gypsy Den / Chapter One

Downtown Santa Ana

Here's a map I made of the areas for Noche de Altares and Santa Ana Art Walk.  Enjoy!

View Noche de Altares / Santa Ana Art Walk in a larger map

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  We love Santa Ana Art District and support Noche de Altares and Santa Ana Art Walk.