Best Dia De Los Muertos Events In Orange County

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead has a history spanning to more than 3,000 years and is celebrated in Mexico and the states, including Orange County. It is a celebration to honor the deceased by building private altars, decorating sugar skulls and celebrating the lives of those who have passed. Take a look at the events taking place in the Orange County area this year.

Price: $4 for each flower branch to decorate your altar.
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When: Saturday, Oct. 27

The Catholic Diocese of Orange will hold its annual Day of the Dead event beginning with Mass at 2 p.m. Bishop Brown will officiate the outdoor celebration, which is a tribute to the dead. The event will include a procession, Eucharist, praise and altar blessing. Families are encouraged to set up their altars prior to the main Mass event.

Price: Free
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When: Saturday, Nov. 3

The family friendly, community-organized event is run entirely by volunteers of the El Centro Cultural de Mexico and Calacas Inc. This year's events will include "Chilenos," a skit by the Santa Ana youth, Bolivanos, mariachi and Aztec dancers before the La Catrina procession and lighting of the candles. The night continues with many more performances after the candle lighting from popular local Southern California groups. For altar reservations, contact the organizers with the given information above. The event begins at 1 p.m. and is expected to end at 10 p.m.

Price: Free
Click here for a calendar of events.
When: Saturday, Oct. 27

The event begins at 11 a.m. with sugar-skull decorating, arts and crafts for kids. An Aztec dance group will perform at 2 p.m., performing for free to the public to celebrate the day together. A community altar will be set up for the public to pay respect to the deceased, but come early to snag your spot.

Price: Free/$8 university parking
When: Wednesday, Nov. 7

With a special altar display, a grand procession, dance performances and food provided for all, it is safe to say the CSUF group is planning to throw an event bigger than previous years. The procession at 10:30 a.m. will kick off the event and is expected to last until 7 p.m. Artist Daniel Martinez will hold workshops and a crafts area. The event is family friendly and hails hundreds of locals throughout the day. Candles are given to people after the special dance performances for those that wish to pay respect to the deceased.

Price: Free
Click here for a calendar of events. 
When: Sunday, Nov. 4

Thanks to a grant from Target, admission to the museum is free Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event runs until closing time and will include live performances as well as arts and crafts for the kids. The Nicholas Endowment sponsors a free Family Festival from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the kidseum portion of the Bowers Museum. The festival will focus on the Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead for the local community.

Elle Toussi is a freelance writer covering all things Orange County. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.