Families and Visitors of All Ages Are Invited to Join this Community-Wide Celebration
Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at four different Santa Paula locations, including the California Oil Museum, the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum, the Santa Paula Art Museum and Santa Paula Cemetery. This free, family-friendly event is a day filled with traditional craft making, music, Aztec and folklorico dancers, storytelling, and altar installations. Dia de Los Muertos attire is encouraged!
Visitors can begin at any of the four locations and proceed to the rest in any order. Pick up a Dia de Los Muertos passport (available at all locations) and collect a stamp at each of the participating sites to be entered into a free raffle drawing. The address, hours and activities for each organization vary and are listed below.
Please visit www.santapaulaartmuseum.org/diadelosmuertos for more information and for a full schedule of events.
California Oil Museum
1001 East Main Street
10 am – 4 pm
The California Oil Museum will showcase traditional elements and rituals associated with the Day of the Dead ofrenda, or altar. Learn about the time-honored ofrenda and start a home altar of your own by designing a nicho. These portable shrines to an important figure or loved one are a Latin-American folk art tradition that combines elements from Roman Catholicism, mestizo spirituality, and popular culture. Also enjoy Dia de los Muertos storytelling, coloring stations and the museum’s newest exhibit, Full Steam Ahead, featuring historical stories set along the Southern Pacific Railroad from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.
Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Ave.
11 am – 5 pm
The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum, also known as “The Ag,” will feature fun and interactive displays, including vintage tractors in its Dirt on Tractors exhibit and Ag Air, which showcases aviation in agriculture. Kids can also create monarch butterfly crafts, learn about the symbolism of the Monarch butterfly, bring something to add to our community ofrenda, and hear spooky tales told by professional storyteller Evie Ybarra.
Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center
117 N. 10th Street
12 pm – 4 pm
The Santa Paula Art Museum will feature multiple exhibitions of art, including California scenes in Golden State Splendor, portraits by Latino artists in the De Colores Art Show, and a video installation entitled Landscape of Dreams by Christian Berger. Families can explore the museum by participating in an “I Spy” activity and create traditional crafts, including paper lanterns, La Catrina and El Catrin headpieces, sugar skulls and musical instruments. Guests will also enjoy lively music and folklorico dancing performed by Xavier Montes, Inlakech Cultural Center, and local youth at 2:00 p.m.
Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery
380 Cemetery Road
12 pm – 5 pm
The Santa Paula Cemetery will hold a day of festivities where visitors can build an altar (ofrenda) at a loved one’s gravesite, or contribute to the community altar. Participate in a procession lead by Aztec Dancers and a blessing by Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Enjoy Mariachi music, have your face painted, decorate a sugar skull, and enjoy the folklorico dancers. Spend the day with family and friends while you celebrate the life of your dearly departed.