There’s Lots to Do at Sunnylands’ Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos Celebration featured image

There’s Lots to Do at Sunnylands’ Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos Celebration

News from: Sunnylands

What’s there to do during Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos at Sunnylands?

Plenty.

Guests can view vibrant ofrendas (altars) and nichos (shadow boxes) decorated by local community groups and artists, write a haiku about grief, enjoy an outdoor screening of the movie, Coco, contribute the photo of a late family member to a community altar, get a free health screening, and watch aerial artists perform in traditional Mexican dress and calavera (skull) face paintings.

This annual, five-day celebration of the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos takes place Wednesday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 2, at Sunnylands Center & Gardens.

The ofrendas and nichos will be on display daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 2, Sunnylands will stay open until 9 p.m. for nighttime viewing of the artworks and for a screening of Coco, an animated 2017 film that celebrates Día de los Muertos.

This year, Raices Cultura, the Coachella-based arts and culture non-profit, is offering the public an opportunity to honor a deceased family member with a contribution to a community altar. People are invited to drop off photos of a loved one (in 5×7-inch frames or smaller) at the organization’s altar at Sunnylands from Wednesday, October 29, through Saturday, November 1, during open hours.

Raices Cultura is one of ten local organizations, including Safe Schools Desert Cities and Animal Samaritans, that will erect ofrendas at Sunnylands.

In addition to the ofrendas, visitors will find nichos and take-home arts and crafts activities attached to display boards in the gardens.

Sunnylands Center & Gardens is located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. Parking and admission are free.

Photo Credit: The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands

Schedule at a Glance

Wednesday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 2

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Stroll the gardens and enjoy colorful papel picado (decorative cut paper), nichos (shadow boxes) and ofrendas (altars) designed by local nonprofit organizations.

Wednesday, October 29

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Guided by local poets, The Wordkeepers, guests will have the opportunity to create their own elegiac haiku, a traditional form of Japanese poetry, surrounding the feeling of loss and grief. The activity is free of charge and reservations are not required.

Friday, October 31

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Desert Oasis Health Care’s mobile health clinic will be on property offering free health screenings to the public and flu vaccinations to DOHC members.

Sunday, November 2

  • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Desert Oasis Health Care’s mobile health clinic returns.
  • 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Art Flying Aerial will stage a 15-minute Day of the Dead-themed aerial performance every hour.
  • 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Guests are invited to decorate their own piñata coffins to take home.
  • 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Ofrendas and nichos will be lit for nighttime viewing.
  • 6:30 p.m. – Pixar’s Coco (2017) will be screened in the West Gardens. Rated PG. Runtime 1 hour 45 minutes.