Every year, the Bay Area Latin American community gathers their calaveras (sugar skulls), papel picado (pecked paper) and cempasuchil flowers to build altars and remember their loved ones on Nov. 1-2.
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is an ancient celebration born in central Mexico that commemorates people who have passed, but live on through memories. Here is a list of events in the Bay Area if you want to celebrate or learn more about the holiday:
A paper mache skeleton grins at passersby on 24th Street during the Day of the Dead in San Francisco. (Sara Bloomberg/KQED)
San Francisco
Festival of Altars
Where: Potrero del Sol Park, 2827 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco, CA 94110 When: Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.More information
Catrinas y Catrines at SF Symphony (Brandon Patoc/SF Symphony)
San Francisco Symphony: Día de los Muertos Community Concert and “Coco” Screening
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94102 When: “Coco” will be screened on Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and November 2, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. The Día de los Muertos Community Concert is Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.More information
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts: Cultivando Tiempo
Where: Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St., San Francisco, CA, 94110 When: Nov. 2 from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.More information
Festival in the 2017 Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. (Tiffany Camhi/KQED)
East Bay
The Union Council: 24th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival
Where: Fruitvale Village, 34th Avenue Oakland, CA 94601 When: Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.More information
The Xocolate Bar: Día de los Muertos Chocolate Tasting
Where: The Xocolate Bar, 1709 Solano Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707 When: Nov. 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.More information
Traditional sugar skulls and candles are used in every altar of the Day of the Dead. (Sara Bloomberg/KQED)
Oakland Ballet Company: Luna Mexicana
Where: Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94162 When: Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.More information
Ehrenber Cellars
Where: Ehrenber Cellars, 346 Earhart Way, Livermore, CA 94550 When: Nov. 1 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.More information
A Traditional Mexican altar for El Dia de los Muertos celebration. (Tiffany Camhi/KQED)
North Bay
Napa Valley Latino Heritage: El Día de los Muertos Napa Celebration
Where: Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Napa, 1515 Pueblo Ave., Napa, CA 94558 When: Nov. 2 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.More information
Day of the Dead San Rafael: Día de los Muertos
Where: Albert J. Boro Community Center, 50 Canal St., San Rafael, CA 94901 When: Nov. 2 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.More information
Day of the Dead Celebration (Courtesy of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose)
South Bay
The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Where: Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way San Jose, CA 95110 When: Nov. 3 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.More information
“Día de los Muertos Celebration” by San Mateo County Parks
Where: Friendship Park, 290 Huntigton Ave., Redwood City, CA 94063 When: Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.More information
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