El Museo’s annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration returns on Saturday, November 1 with a full day of family-friendly, free programming. Honoring the lives of loved ones who have passed, this beloved tradition invites visitors of all ages to come together and experience the vibrant cultural traditions surrounding Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Enjoy live music and dance performances, art-making workshops, calavera (skull) face painting, and a communal altar.
Community Altar: Ofrenda de Nuestra Herencia
In collaboration with The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, El Museo del Barrio debuts the 2025 Día de los Muertos Community Altar, designed by renowned visual artist Nitza Tufiño. With over five decades as a muralist, printmaker, and public artist, Tufiño is celebrated for her transformative contributions to community-based art in New York, Puerto Rico, and beyond.
The altar will invite the public to honor their own ancestors, and will become a transformative space of remembrance, resilience, and collective healing. It will be on view at El Museo from mid-October through November 21, 2025 during weekend hours (Saturday and Sunday).
Highlights of the Day Include:
- 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM (Meet at El Museo del Barrio) – Join Atl Tlachinolli, a Conchero dance group, for a procession from El Museo del Barrio to Central Park’s Harlem Meer. The group will return to perform in El Museo’s courtyard before blessing the communal altar.
- 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Explore the communal altar Ofrenda de Nuestra Herencia by artist Nitza Tufiño. The altar honors East Harlem Latine community artists and activists and highlights Afro-Mexican and Caribbean spiritual traditions. Join the artist and museum educators to learn more about the symbolic elements of the altar and to add a dedication to your loved ones who have passed.
- 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Join Calaveritas Creativas workshop, to design your very own colorful sugar skull mask.
- 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Inspired by Nitza’s Ofrenda de Nuestra Herencia altar, use mixed media to create a banner commemorating a loved one who has passed. Participants are encouraged to bring a photo of their loved ones to include in their artwork.
- 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Enjoy traditional face painting inspired by vibrant calavera (skull) designs.
- 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Capture the moment with La Catrina y el Catrín in our festive photo booth.
- 1:45 PM – 2:05 PM – Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York (BFMNY) presents a vibrant performance that celebrates Mexico’s cultural richness through a fusion of traditional dances.
- 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM – Experience Danza de Tecuanes San Gabriel (Dance of the Jaguars)—a powerful story of villagers uniting to capture a fierce jaguar, symbolizing a history of resistance and communities defending their land.
- 3:15 PM – 3:30 PM – Experience the lively sounds of Mariachi Sol Azteca from NYC, renowned for their energy, passion, and authentic Mexican spirit.
- 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM – Feel the energy of Danza de los Diablos, an Afro-Mexican tradition from Guerrero and Oaxaca that honors African roots through vibrant masks, lively rhythms, and powerful dance.
- 4:15 PM – Follow the sounds of Mariachi Sol Azteca from NYC as they invite you into El Teatro for our culminating performance.
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – End the day with a captivating performance by Oaxacan singer Nylzher and Mazarte Dance Company blending folkloric music and dance from various regions of Mexico.
Sponsors and Partners:
This program is generously supported by Morgan Stanley, and by a grant from the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, with additional support from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and NYC Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. Special thanks to The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center for partnering on this year’s altar. We are also grateful to the Central Park Conservancy for their partnership on this special event.
