By Lookout Staff

October 20, 2021 -- Fourteen-foot-tall sculptures of the famous bonneted skeleton, "La Catrina," will greet visitors to the Promenade as part of a Día de los Muertos celebration Saturday, October 30.

Hosted by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., the traditional Mexican cultural celebration of life and death will feature a mix of live entertainment, art installations and family-friendly activities from 5 to 10 p.m.

"La Catrina" by Jose Guadalupe Posada

Festivities include papel picado arts and crafts and face painting by Lil' Bitter Pixie, as well as booths offering goods from more than 30 local Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) vendors with Angel City Market and Market Exchange initiated by the 18th Street Arts Center.

A diverse lineup of performers will take the Promenade Main Stage near Arizona Avenue at 5:30 p.m. hosted by Normz la Oaxaqueña of Cumbiatón LA.

Performers include the Santa Monica Ballet Folklórico, which will provide a traditional blessing and dance performance, and students from Santa Monica High School Latinx clubs, who will describe the importance of Día de los Muertos traditions.

Other performers include Ballet Folklórico Flor de Mayo, Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Mariachi Perla del Oeste and DJ Funky Caramelo, and DJ Sizzle Fantastic of Cumbiatón LA, who will host a dance party to conclude the day’s events.

The celebration features sculptures by Los Angeles-based Mexican artist Ricardo Soltero of "La Catrina," one of Día de los Muertos’ most recognizable figures.

Created by Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada, the figure stems from Mexican social satire and has become a staple of the holiday tradition.

"Soltero’s iconic La Catrina sculptures range up to 14 feet in height and welcome guests to the Promenade in brightly colored traditional Mexican attire inspired by Day of the Dead traditions, Mexican icons and embroidery," Downtown officials said.

Soltero is the director and stage-set designer behind the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the United States, which takes place annually at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

The sculptures will be on display throughout three blocks of the Promenade beginning Friday, October 29 through November 2. Altars created by local organizations and artists will also be on display from October 30 to November 2.