Dia de los Muertos

Special Program

Día de los Muertos Celebration

Join us November 1 for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with live music, hands-on art activities, and an up-close look at NHM’s interpretive ofrenda honoring the lives and memories of loved ones.

Date

Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 11 am–3 pm

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Location

Natural History Museum
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Tickets

Free with paid Museum admission and to Members
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Join us as we honor the customs and heritage around Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a cultural tradition observed in Mexico and throughout Latin America to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Enjoy live music, participate in hands-on art activities, get an up-close look at NHM’s interpretive ofrenda (altar) for commemorating the dead, and more. Come together as a community and take part in this celebration of life!

Program Guide

Ongoing Programs | 11 am–3 pm

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda
Get an up-close look at NHM’s interpretive ofrenda (altar) for commemorating the dead. What items do you notice?

Día de los Muertos Floral Display
A beautiful flower arrangement created by our partners Latinx with Plants. Add a message to this piece for someone you'd like to honor for Dia de los Muertos.

Seed Art Installation: Ofrenda to Mitlantequitl – A Journey to Mictlán 
Created by Gerardo Gutiérrez, Artistic Director of Tierra Blanca Arts Center.
This offering uses sacred seeds inspired by pre-Hispanic traditions, with nine circles representing the nine levels of the journey to Mictlán (the Underworld).

Día de los Muertos Vendors
Support local businesses and visit a variety of Latino/a/x vendors.

  • Arte Y Alma Mexicana: Handmade and hand-painted pottery and home decorations from many parts of Mexico. Each item is unique and one of a kind.
  • Latinx with Plants: A small woman of color owned business in Boyle Heights whose focus is to uplift people of color in the plant world. We hope that through plant parenthood, people will be able to deepen their connection with nature and tune into the healing that caring for plants can offer us.
  • Lil’ Libros: Lil’ Libros celebrates cultural diversity and bilingual literature in English and Spanish to ignite the imaginations of children everywhere!
  • Nena's Soap Creations: Artisanal soaps made from scratch and artistic glycerine soap.
  • ShopCherine: An artist worth knowing: face painting, murals and paint parties!
  • The Art of Sketch: Home of unique creations.
  • The Spanglish Kids: Creates culturally inspired children’s apparel and gifts that celebrate Latino culture, bilingual language, and the everyday experiences of growing up Spanglish.
  • Vanechy Artesanal Boutique: Handcrafted Mexican Garments.
  • Yzzka Studio (Handmade Artistry): Yzzka Studio provides handmade jewelry made of stainless steel, sterling silver, gold filled, seed beads, and crystal beads.

Activities | 11 am–3 pm

Día de los Muertos Reflection Activity
Take a moment to reflect on a memory and write a message to someone you'd like to honor for Dia de los Muertos.

Calavera Masks Activity
Color your own calavera (skull) mask for Día de los Muertos. Great for kids!

Timed Programs

11:30 am | Storytime: Huesos
Join our friends from Lil' Libros as they lead a bilingual storytime on the book Huesos. Great for kids!

12 pm & 2 pm | Dance Classes: Maya Blessings & Family Dance with Tierra Blanca Arts Center 
Celebrate remembrance, gratitude, and family through the Maya blessing “Konex, Konex,” honoring Mother Earth, the cardinal directions, and the four elements—fire, water, earth, and wind—followed by a joyful dance to “Un Poco Loco” from Disney and Pixar’s Coco. 
*Each session lasts 30 minutes and is great for all ages.

12:30–2:30 pm | Musical Performance: Mariachi Las Catrinas
Enjoy a Día de los Muertos musical performance with special guests Mariachi Las Catrinas. 

Meet the Performers

Photo of Mariachi Las Catrinas

Mariachi Las Catrinas

A professional mariachi ready to warm your hearts with our passion for Mariachi music!

Instagram: @mariachilascatrinas

Photo of Blanca A. Soto

Blanca Araceli Soto

Blanca Araceli Soto is an award-winning Mexican American actress, director, producer, choreographer, and cultural leader with more than four decades of experience in the performing arts. Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, she studied theater and dance at the University of Guadalajara and has built a distinguished career spanning film, television, theater, and dance in the United States and internationally.

 

Her professional acting credits include Disney/Pixar's Academy Award-winning film Coco, Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Matlock alongside Kathy Bates, Doctor Odyssey, S.W.A.T., The Conners, American Horror Story, Shameless, and Station 19, among others. Her film credits also include Good Fortune, directed by Aziz Ansari. A member of SAG-AFTRA since 2014, Blanca has performed in more than 80 theatrical productions, including multiple productions of Josefina López's Real Women Have Curves, earning the Favorite Actress Award at the Fred Awards for her portrayal of Carmen.

 

In 2002, she founded Tierra Blanca Arts Center (TBAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to making the arts accessible to underserved communities while preserving cultural heritage and promoting education, creativity, and personal development.

 

Today, Blanca continues to dedicate her life to artistic excellence, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. Through her work on stage, on screen, and in the community, she remains committed to creating opportunities, elevating Latino voices, and inspiring future generations.

 

Her guiding belief: "Cultural awareness builds stronger communities."

Photo of Gerardo Gutiérrez

Gerardo Gutiérrez 

Born in Mexico City, Gerardo Gutiérrez represents the third generation of a family devoted to filmmaking. Since 1989, he has built an extensive career in film, theater, television, and dance as a director, producer, and cinematographer.

 

Since 1999, he has served as Artistic Director of Tierra Blanca Dance Company and is the co-founder of Tierra Blanca Arts Center (2002), promoting artistic expression and cultural identity.

 

Recognized for his artistic vision and commitment to storytelling that explores profound human and social themes, he has directed productions such as De la Calle, La Mujer que Cayó del Cielo, Todas Somos Luz, and Valentina y la Sombra del Diablo. His work has earned him the People’s Choice Award at the BFA International Theatre Festival.

 

In 2026, he presents his acclaimed production of El Ermitaño for the thirteenth time and brings a presentation of a traditional pre-Hispanic altar to the Natural History Museum.

 

Beginning in 2027, he will expand his cultural mission through a spiritual healing initiative inspired by the power of nature, ancestral wisdom, and traditional practices.

 

Instagram: @laloguti61

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Mariachi Las Catrinas

A professional mariachi ready to warm your hearts with our passion for Mariachi music!

Instagram: @mariachilascatrinas

Blanca Araceli Soto

Blanca Araceli Soto is an award-winning Mexican American actress, director, producer, choreographer, and cultural leader with more than four decades of experience in the performing arts. Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, she studied theater and dance at the University of Guadalajara and has built a distinguished career spanning film, television, theater, and dance in the United States and internationally.

 

Her professional acting credits include Disney/Pixar's Academy Award-winning film Coco, Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Matlock alongside Kathy Bates, Doctor Odyssey, S.W.A.T., The Conners, American Horror Story, Shameless, and Station 19, among others. Her film credits also include Good Fortune, directed by Aziz Ansari. A member of SAG-AFTRA since 2014, Blanca has performed in more than 80 theatrical productions, including multiple productions of Josefina López's Real Women Have Curves, earning the Favorite Actress Award at the Fred Awards for her portrayal of Carmen.

 

In 2002, she founded Tierra Blanca Arts Center (TBAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to making the arts accessible to underserved communities while preserving cultural heritage and promoting education, creativity, and personal development.

 

Today, Blanca continues to dedicate her life to artistic excellence, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. Through her work on stage, on screen, and in the community, she remains committed to creating opportunities, elevating Latino voices, and inspiring future generations.

 

Her guiding belief: "Cultural awareness builds stronger communities."

Gerardo Gutiérrez 

Born in Mexico City, Gerardo Gutiérrez represents the third generation of a family devoted to filmmaking. Since 1989, he has built an extensive career in film, theater, television, and dance as a director, producer, and cinematographer.

 

Since 1999, he has served as Artistic Director of Tierra Blanca Dance Company and is the co-founder of Tierra Blanca Arts Center (2002), promoting artistic expression and cultural identity.

 

Recognized for his artistic vision and commitment to storytelling that explores profound human and social themes, he has directed productions such as De la Calle, La Mujer que Cayó del Cielo, Todas Somos Luz, and Valentina y la Sombra del Diablo. His work has earned him the People’s Choice Award at the BFA International Theatre Festival.

 

In 2026, he presents his acclaimed production of El Ermitaño for the thirteenth time and brings a presentation of a traditional pre-Hispanic altar to the Natural History Museum.

 

Beginning in 2027, he will expand his cultural mission through a spiritual healing initiative inspired by the power of nature, ancestral wisdom, and traditional practices.

 

Instagram: @laloguti61

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