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For Immediate Release
Joyful & Exciting Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Event Downtown on November 2nd
Redwood City, CA - October 23, 2007 - A special Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) activity will be held Downtown on Friday, November 2nd. The event begins at 6 pm with a procession from the Main Library ( 1044 Middlefield Road) taking participants to beautiful Courthouse Square.
There, the community will enjoy a variety of dance performances, food, art, crafts for kids, and demonstrations of how to make the famous “sugar skulls.” Dias de los Muertos is a joyful commemoration of ancestors and a celebration of the continuity of life. Such celebrations in Mexico go back to the indigenous peoples such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mexica, Maya, P'urhépecha, and Totonac. Similar rituals by these civilizations have been observed for up to 3,000 years, and are today taking place in over thirty countries from Europe and Asia to Africa.
Leading up to this event, the Library will host a very special free presentation on October 25 th at 7 pm featuring author Mary Andrade speaking about the books she has written regarding Dias de los Muertos. The delicious pan de muerto/Day of the Dead bread will be served. This program is sponsored by the Friends Of the Library.
On November 2 nd at 6 pm, the Dias de los Muertos event features:
- A procession beginning at the Downtown Library, and ending at Courthouse SquareF
- Dias de los Muertos artwork from the students of Redwood City Schools
- Dance performances by Casa de La Cultura, Quetzalcoatl, Gente Activa presenting: "Los Viejitos y La Pina,” and Mexico Vivo Infantil Ballet Folklorico with Michoacan state
- Live music by Carlos Sandoval y su Trio Versatile
- A three-shelved table "altar" where people can leave pictures, flowers, breads, trinkets, etc., as a way to express their remembrance and commemoration (this will be set up by 3 pm on November 1st)
- Demonstration by a sugar skull artist
- Face painters will transform kids’ faces; skull cookies and pan de muerto will be available for decoration.
The entire community is invited to join with friends, family, neighbors, and new friends at Redwood City’s beautiful new Courthouse Square for this exciting cultural event. This event is sponsored by Redwood City and its Public Library, Parks Recreation and Community Services Department, and Civic Cultural Commission.
Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Take a look at the variety of City webcams at www.redwoodcity.org/webcam, and subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter and other City documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov.
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Contact:
Chris Beth
Parks Superintendent
650-780-7253
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