(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) continues their decades-long tradition of celebrating Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with a free, outdoor community festival on Saturday, November 5 from 3:00pm-5:00pm.

Día de los Muertos is observed in Mexico and throughout the world this time of year, when family and friends gather to remember and honor those who have passed before us. Day of the Dead is not a solemn occasion, but a holiday of joyful celebration.

The Arts Council connects the traditions of this culturally-rich celebration with the Princeton community by building an altar dedicated to loved ones, making sugar skulls, and decorating with Celosia and Cempasuchil flowers.

This family-friendly festival will also highlight folk dance by El Grupo De Danza Folklorica La Sagrada Familia, music by Mariachi Oro de Mexico, and food by El Sabor Oaxaqueño. Mexican folk art will inspire hands-on activities for children to introduce themes of Day of the Dead, such as Monarch butterflies, La Catrina, and Nichos. 

“The Arts Council of Princeton is honored to have hosted our community's Día de los Muertos celebrations for more than 20 years”, shares Maria Evans, ACP Artistic Director. “This year is extra special: we have six large, custom-painted skulls created local artists on display in our parking lot as a pop-up public art installation. We could not pull off this beautiful and meaningful event without the help of the Torres-Olivares family who - every year - make hundreds of sugar skulls, design and build our altar, and help plan the event. We cannot wait to see you for this beautiful and meaningful celebration.”

This community program is generously supported by Penn Medicine Princeton Health and the Princeton University Program in Latin American Studies.

Arts Council of Princeton is located at 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ. Free and open to all. A non-profit organization founded in 1967, the Council fulfills its mission of building community through the arts by presenting a wide range of programs including public art projects, exhibitions, performances, free community cultural events, and studio-based classes and workshops. Arts Council of Princeton programs are designed to be high-quality, engaging, affordable and accessible for the diverse population in the greater Princeton region.