For the first time in Gloria Molina Grand Park‘s history, the opening festivities of its annual “Day of the Dead” celebration will take place over two days: Saturday and Sunday, October 19–20, 2024.
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos begins on Saturday, October 19 from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. with live poetry recitals, music performances, Día de los Muertos-inspired workshops, face painting, delicious food trucks and bilingual art activities for all ages alongside a beautiful collection of altars (known as ofrendas) created by professional artists and local organizations.
On Sunday, October 20, Angelenos and community members can participate in the inaugural Los Angeles Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival, a free daylong event produced by park community partner The Navarro Group, from 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., filled with more live music, a spectacular parade, mouthwatering concessions and engaging arts and crafts activities to complement the altars on display in the park.
The 2024 Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos spans a total of 15 days, from October 19 – November 2. Saturday, October 19‘s experience will coincide with the highly popular Downtown L.A. event Grand Ave Arts: All Access, in which the park is participating with its community partners ALOUD, Lil’ Libros, KTNQ 1020 AM and Self-Help Graphics. The park for everyone, powered by The Music Center, will be a unified space where visitors can explore to pay reverence at the altars. Parkgoers can also contribute to the community altar that will depict Angelenos’ commitment toward peace and goodwill.
Sunday, October 20‘s inaugural Los Angeles Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival will be held in Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Block 4, between Broadway and Spring Street. The free daylong event will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; the parade will launch at 7:00 p.m.
To cap off the 15-day Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos, the park will partner with the GuadaLAjara Film Festival (GLAFF) for the second consecutive year to present a free outdoor film screening on Saturday, November 2, from 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. in the park’s Block Three between Hill Street and Broadway. The community is invited to experience a cinematic journey that honors loved ones and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Mexico; free tickets are available at glaff.org/program. GLAFF is dedicated to identifying, nurturing, and empowering Latin American and BIPOC filmmakers across generations, with a focus on fostering creativity and building bridges between the U.S. and Latin America.