Dia de Muertos – Day of the Dead Parade and Celebration

The 2024 Dayton Dia de Muertos Celebration will take place Saturday, November 2nd at the Main Library (215 East Third Street) from 12 pm to 5 pm. Although there will not be an outside street parade this year, there will be a joyful celebration inside featuring art, music, and dance as we join together to remember our loved ones. 

The Dayton Metro Library is creating multiple altars around the Main library. The community is growing a Community Tree of Life so we can remember the people in our lives who are no longer here. We would love to share the names of any loved ones or important people who you think we should honor.  The physical tree with names, photos, and stories will be presented during the Dia De Muertos festival.

The event is free, and family-friendly. Catrina face painting sessions (sign up day of the event) will be from 12-2 pm, followed by a small parade in the library, to visit the community altars around the library. Following the procession,  Orgullo Mexicano and Troupe Roja will perform in the Eichelberger Auditorium.

The event on November 2nd is part of a larger Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In the weeks before the celebration, there are numerous workshops at branch libraries, where members of the community are able to build memorial altars (offrendas), learn to do traditional Catrina (sugar skull) make up, or create a Dia de Muertos mask. The detailed calendar of events can be found here.

Dia de Muertos is a unique and colorful holiday observed across Mexico, the southwestern United States, Latin America and right here in Dayton, Ohio. During Dia De Muertos people reminisce on the lives of loved ones who have died by creating and sharing ofrendas (Day of the Dead alters), food, sugar skulls, papel picado banners, processions, calaveras (skulls) music, traditional dance while wearing sugar skull painted faces and bright costumes. Note: Día De Muertos is usually celebrated November 1-2