Gloria Molina Grand Park is hosting a 10-day Día de los Muertos celebration showcasing more than 16 altars honoring departed loved ones through Monday, Nov. 2.
The free annual event began with an opening day celebration on Oct. 24, featuring live music, cultural performances and activities. Visitors can continue to view the altars throughout the exhibition, which also includes a closing night ceremony on Sunday
This year’s theme is “The Power of One — It Starts with One. One Becomes Many,” exploring how individual stories and memories become part of a community’s shared history.
Crista Campos, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s marketing manager, said the altars created by artists, families and community organizations each share a story that contributes to the larger celebration.
“We’re looking at this as weaving stories together, where we’re looking at our ancestors to guide us through this tradition,” Campos said. “They were the ones who have met the people we haven’t met.”
The altars were curated in partnership with Consuelo G. Flores, an artist and Día de los Muertos educator who has worked with the park for several years.
The artists include Antonio Rael, ARza and Yvette Esparza, Celina Jacques, The East LA Stitchers (TELAS) and the Family of Gloria Molina, The Fremont Healthy Culture Hub, an initiative of LA Commons, the East Los Angeles Women’s Center, Generaciones en Acción, LA Pet Altar, presented by German Shepherd Rescue of OC, Gian Flores Norte, Jessica Monares, LADWP – Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, The Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, Rock Rose Gallery, Inner City Cultural Center Legacy Project, Rose Portillo and The Wall Las Memorias.
The event also introduces its first mentorship program, bringing together eight emerging artists with experienced altar makers to learn about the tradition and the artistic process behind creating an altar. The mentees created personalized shoebox altars that are included in the park’s community altar.
Campos described the small-scale altars as miniature versions of traditional displays, featuring details such as “papel picado,” photographs, pan de muerto, miniature marigolds and other mementos.
“Just think about it as what an altar looks like in present, but on a smaller scale with their own style,” she said.
The mentorship program was open to emerging artists interested in learning about altar-making. The park’s programming department selected participants based on a review of their backgrounds, interest in learning about the tradition and availability to participate in the program, Campos said.
The eight selected artists are Alison De La Cruz, Aden Jovel, Melanie Polanco, Daisy Carlene Villaseñor, Katherine Illaria Delgado, Maricarmen Solis, Angelina Rios-Galindo and Rockee Armendariz.
The community altar also gives visitors a place to honor their own loved ones. People can bring copies of photographs or other mementos to add to the display and share their memories with others.
Campos said the celebration offers a way for people to connect with their culture and for others to learn about a tradition they may not know well.
“Combining someone who is coming from a different country, someone who is looking to learn something new and curious about culture from different countries, and seeing how Los Angeles takes this and makes it their own is something that is very unique to Gloria Molina Grand Park,” she said.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, a small vigil honoring pets that have passed will also be held. Visitors will be able to bring a photo of their pet and add it to the altar.
The opening day celebration was held as part of the 10th annual “Grand Ave Arts: All Access” event. Hosted by composer, vocalist and educator Anaís Azul, the program included performances by El Río, Mariachi Arcoiris and Grupo Bella.
Visitors could also take part in sugar-skull decorating, face painting, paper weaving workshops and portrait sessions. Local youth from A Place Called Home also created artwork for the performance stage, while the Ohtli Yollotl Curanderismo Collective offered traditional spiritual cleanses.
The celebration will conclude with the Noche de los Muertos closing ceremony from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. The event will include live music, cultural performances, a vendor market and family activities, with Los Negrete Fam among the performers.
Although the performances and special activities take place on designated days, visitors can view the altars throughout the exhibition. The installations are open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 2.
Gloria Molina Grand Park is located at 200 N. Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit grandparkla.org or follow @grandpark_la on social media.
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos
WHEN: Public viewing of Altars through Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Closing Night Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 1, 3 to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Gloria Molina Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
INFO: grandparkla.org