Día de los Muertos around Santa Cruz County

With all the hullabaloo over Halloween, it’s easy to overlook the wonderful Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos. The “Day of the Dead” comes from an impulse that is sadly lacking from Halloween celebrations — that is, to remember those loved ones, friends or family who are no longer among the living. The beautiful thing about Muertos — besides the glorious calavera-inspired art and the amazing ofrendas that come out of it — is its insistence that grief and sorrow do not have a monopoly on our memories of those who’ve passed before us. This is a time, after all, of gratitude and even joy. 

Locally, Día de los Muertos has been an occasion for big public events for years, and this year is no different. Pajaro Valley Arts, the South County arts organization, has been a stalwart in honoring the event. This year, PVA’s annual “Mi Casa es Tu Casa” show is subtitled “Rooted in Remembrance,” and it’s an artistic nod to the humanity of the holiday, featuring deeply personal displays on loss and memory. The show is ongoing, but on Sunday, there will be a reception for “Mi Casa” with live performances and dance, from 1 to 3 p.m. (Note: This is the last show at PVA’s longtime home on Sudden Street in downtown Watsonville. The organization is moving from the old Victorian to its new space in the Porter Building on Main Street.) The following Sunday, Nov. 8, artist Amalia Mesa-Bains will give a talk on the artistic expressions of Day of the Dead at the Porter Building at 280 Main St. 

Also on Sunday, Watsonville Plaza will be the site of the return of “Calles Libres (Open Streets),” a public street festival taking place locally for the first time since before the pandemic. This year, Calles Libres will have a Día de los Muertos theme, from noon to 4 p.m. 

Elsewhere, the Quarry Amphitheater at UC Santa Cruz is hosting a free Día de Los Muertos Ceremonia on Sunday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., complete with a community altar welcoming mementos and photographs from the public. 

At Chanticleer Park in Live Oak, the Muertos to the Park event takes place Saturday, featuring live entertainment, vendors and Muertos-themed displays, from 4 to 8 p.m. (with a free screening of the Pixar classic “Coco” at 6:30 p.m.). Also Saturday, Branciforte Middle School hosts a Día de Los Muertos celebration with the group Senderos and the sights and sounds of Oaxaca. 

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