Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
NOVEMBER 1-2, 2022
Tuesday, November 1st | 5:00PM - 9:00PM
Wednesday, November 2nd | 5:30PM - 9:30PM
Santa Monica Pier pays tribute to the cultural tradition of Dia de Los Muertos – Day of the Dead– with a two-day public art installation taking place from November 1st through November 2nd, 2022. The second annual Santa Monica Pier’s Dia de Los Muertos Celebration honors people, places, and ideas that are important to Santa Monican’s through free, family-friendly programming. Presented in partnership with the City of Santa Monica, Pico Youth & Family Center, and Mariasol, Santa Monica Pier’s Dia de Los Muertos Celebration is a community-oriented space located inside the Merry Go-Round building, inviting Pier-goers to contribute to the community altar as well as to view the altars made by local artists, Sylvia Sanchez and Daniel Alonzo.
This year, we will also be bringing back Letters of Life, an art installation where we ask members of the community to share their favorite Pier memories, photographs, and anecdotes of family and friends who have passed. These memories will decorate our space via our digital murals that surround the historic 100-year-old Carousel and will be displayed over the course of our celebration.
Submission for Letters of Life is now closed.
We want to thank everyone who shared their stories and photographs.
Tuesday, November 1st | 5:00pm - 9:00pm | Merry Go-Round Building
5:00pm Merry Go-Round Doors Open | 5:15pm Face Painting | 7:00pm Ballet Folklorico
Guests can stroll through the Merry Go-Round building to view several art installations, including the transformation of the 100-year-old Carousel, which will be draped in marigolds and papel picado! Enjoy the traditional dance of Ballet Folklorico brought to you by local Santa Monica business, Cabeza de Vaca Cultural School. Honor a loved one who has passed and participate in this year’s communal altar by contributing your own personal photograph.*
Be sure to stop by Soda Jerks to grab a cup of hot chocolate to enjoy during the two-day celebration.
*We encourage participants to use copies of photographs rather than originals, frames will not be provided. Individuals are responsible for removing their frame(s) at the end of the celebration. SMPC is not liable for any damages that may occur.
Wednesday, November 2nd | 5:30pm - 9:30pm
5:30pm Blessing at the west end of Pier | 5:45pm Procession from west end to Merry Go-Round Building | 6:15pm Merry Go-Round Doors Open | 6:20pm Face Painting
6:30pm Ballet Folklorico | 7:00pm Mariachi | 9:15pm Closing Remarks
Guests will experience several art installations and live performances like ballet folklorico by Grupo La Rosa by Maria A. Villalobos & Parents, and be serenaded by a Mariachi group during this celebration. The event of reflection and remembrance will start with a blessing led by the indigenous Tongva community at the far West End of the Pier, face painting hosted by our partner Mariasol and Ms. Brown’s Artistry, followed by a vibrant and colorful procession led by Aztec dancers from the west end to the Merry Go-Round building. We encourage you to dress up in your favorite Día de los Muertos fashion to take part in our community walking procession. Honor a loved one who has passed and participate in this year’s communal altar by contributing your own personal photograph.*
Be sure to stop by Soda Jerks to grab a cup of hot chocolate and The Albright for some incredible tamales to enjoy during the two-day celebration.
*We encourage participants to use copies of photographs rather than originals, frames will not be provided. Individuals are responsible for removing their frame(s) at the end of the celebration. SMPC is not liable for any damages that may occur.
Meet the Artists
Artists Daniel Alonzo and Sylvia Sanchez provide the vision for this year’s Dia de los Muertos at the Pier. For the past many years, the duo has assembled award-winning altars at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Daniel Alonzo is a second-generation Santa Monica Native and highly respected muralist, best known for his “Whale of a Mural” that adorns the south side wall of the underpass at Santa Monica’s 4th Street and Ocean Park Boulevard. Sylvia Sanchez introduced the magic of her spectacular altars to the Pier in 2021, giving a special nod to the memories of people who have had a special connection to the Santa Monica Pier, and to Santa Monica, throughout its 113-year history.
“This year in the Merry Go-Round we will have a small altar dedicated to Nick Gabaldon, the first Mexican/African American surfer whom I had heard stories of ever since I was a young boy,” notes Daniel Alonzo, “and we will have other altars to honor the Marquez and Reyes families, as well as Arcadia Bandini, who all gifted so much to Santa Monica and its origins.”
“Dia de los Muertos is a two-day celebration of remembrance, honor, respect, joy and beauty,” according to Sylvia Sanchez, “We are not mourning death, we are celebrating life! The first day, November 1, is Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), when we celebrate departed infants and children, who are always so eager and run ahead of the adults before the main event on November 2.”
