Many places, many ways to celebrate
Día de Los Muertos is Wednesday, but the celebrations and observations already are underway in San Antonio. Here’s a guide:
Hemisfair: The Día de Los Muertos festival at Hemisfair, popularly known as Muertos Fest, includes live music by Los Lobos, Santiago Jimenez, Piñata Protest and many more acts. But the heart of the festival is an exhibition of 75 community altars. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday, Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo. Free, muertosfest.com.
River Walk: Spiritlandia features the Modelo Music Festival, which includes performances by Bobby Pulido today and VF7 on Saturday. There also are plenty of free activities, including an artisan market, food trucks, face painting, a calavera exhibit and altars. Music festival: 6-11 p.m. todaysaturday,
La Villita, 418 Villita, $40, dayofthedeadsa.com. Free community events: 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and 3-5 p.m. Sunday, La Villita.
Market Square: The celebration includes altars and processions,
and mariachi and ballet folklorico performances. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, kids can trick-or-treat at participating stores. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 514 W. Commerce St. Free,
marketsquaresa.com.
Mission Marquee Plaza:
The theme for the celebration presented by the city’s World Heritage Office is the cycle of life and death. It starts with a display of altars created by descendants of those who once lived at the missions, at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mission San José granary, 299 Woodhull, followed by a drum and dance procession from there to the plaza. The festivities there include a native blessing of community altars, live music, face painting, artisan vendors, food trucks and a screening of “Book of Life.” 3-10 p.m. Saturday, 3100 Roosevelt. Free, Facebook: @Missionmarqueeplaza.
Centro Cultural Aztlan:
The center’s 45th annual exhibit marking Día de los Muertos is titled “La Muerte Es Parjea II” and features works created by couples. It opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, which will include complimentary pan de muerto, an arts and crafts market, and performances by El Tallercito de Son, Liza Ybarra and Cantares de Mi Tierra. Through Nov. 10, 1800 Fredericksburg, Suite 103. centroaztlan.org.
Pearl, 303 Pearl Parkway: The festivities include stilt walkers, puppets, art installations, children’s activities and live music by Tish Hinojosa. There also will be a number of altars by artists and institutions, including “Marigold Passage,” an immersive work by sisters Manola and Maria Ramirez. Altars displayed Tuesday-nov. 6; programming 5-9 p.m. Wednesday. Free, atpearl.com.
Plaza Guadaulpe: The Guadalupe Dance Company, Dance Academy and Mariachi Academy are performing “La Vida de los Muertos.” The dance production explores the Día de los Muertos tradition. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1327 Guadalupe. Free, guadalupeculturalarts.org.