Día de los Muertos Celebration
The Oshkosh Public Museum is excited to host a free community Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, October 29th!
Día de los Muertos is an uplifting celebration of lost loved ones and their lives. The celebration invites the spirits of the deceased to return home with feasts of their favorite foods, music, and to be close to their friends and family.
People remember their loved ones who have passed in different ways: maybe it’s through keeping a photograph of them on their desk, or playing their favorite song, or placing flowers on their grave. For those who celebrate Día de los Muertos, constructing ofrendas (altars) help celebrate the legacies of family, friends, and ancestors. The personalities of deceased individuals blend with longstanding traditions, and items such as cempasúchil (marigolds), velas (candles), calaveras (skulls), favorite food, and personal effects of the dead are included in ofrendas. Ofrenda construction brings people together to remember the joy, humor, and impact their loved ones brought to the world.
Anyone interested in contributing to our community altar to honor someone who has passed may do so by submitting a high-resolution scanned photograph of that person. Please include the person’s name in your email to museum_info@ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Photos should be clear and not depict images that may be considered inappropriate (such as nudity, dangerous activities, or drug use). By sending a photo, you are giving the Oshkosh Public Museum permission to print and use that photo for purposes associated with this event. Please note files must be less than 10MB.
Join us at the Museum for this uplifting celebration and learn more, Saturday, October 29th from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and at the Time Community Theater to see the family movie “Coco” for free!
On the grounds of the Museum, visitors can share in this traditional celebration by viewing the community altar, making crafts, and watching performances by Ballet Folklórico Xanharati dancers and mariachi. Downtown, visitors can go to free showings of Disney Pixar’s “Coco.” This family movie will be shown at the Time Community Theater; Spanish language matinee at 2 pm, and an English language showing at 7 pm. All events are free and open to the public.
Table opportunities for organizations providing services to the Spanish-speaking community are available at this event. Please reach out to Kate Stel, OPM Marketing Coordinator (920-236-5763) to reserve your table before October 17th.