Day of the Dead keeps ghostly events going

ROSEMARY PONNEKANTI; rosemary.ponnekanti@thenewstribune.com
Last updated: October 31st, 2008 12:48 AM (PDT)

Tonight might be the American celebration of all things ghostly, with a macabre emphasis on putting on ridiculous costumes, visiting strangers’ houses and consuming way too much sugar.

But on Sunday, it’s a whole other party: Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican celebration for All Saints’ Day, Nov. 2, the Day of the Dead. Yes, there’s sugar, but dolled up as tiny skulls. Yes, there’s dressing up – as your favorite dead person (great-auntie Mary, say, or Elvis Presley.) And yes, there’s walking the streets, but as part of a grand parade that also features enormous papier-mché skeletons, live music and communal festivity. Dia is so much more than costumes and candy – it’s art, tradition and honoring the dead with grace and humor. And it’s all free! Here’s the guide to how and where to party Dia-style this weekend in Tacoma.

TODAY, SATURDAY

Two Vaults Gallery: Its annual Dia show includes traditional and contemporary art: shrines from Chanda Castillo, paintings by Susie Cowan, sculptures and masks from Chris Bivens and more; noon-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, also 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays and noon-8 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 15; 602 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma; 253-759-6233, www.twovaults.com.

Mad Hat Tea Co.: Some Dia-themed art is still up on the walls of this downtown cafe after its early Dia de los Muertos celebration last week. Look for paint works by Matt Eklund and Dave Davison, a small sculpted skull by Laura Eklund and a nice range of $5 skull magnets; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 1130 Commerce St., Tacoma; 253-441-2111, www.madhattea.com.

SUNDAY

Tacoma Art Museum: The museum’s fourth annual Dia community festival, in partnership with Centro Latino, is free and features local artwork, plus stuff you can do yourself. Fulgencio Lazo has created a giant tapete (sand painting) on the lobby floor, while upstairs in the atrium community members have made ofrendas (altars to the dead) and the community art space is filled with Dia-based work for the local Students’ Art Competition. Activities include decorating sugar skulls and making papel picado. There’ll be folkloric dance at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and live music at 4:30 p.m., plus Mexican food for sale; noon-6 p.m. Sunday; free; 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.com, www.myspace.com/diademuertos_tacoma.

Sixth Avenue Parade: The fourth annual Dia de los Muertos parade, organized by the 6th Ave. Merchants Association, wends its way around Sixth Avenue, beginning and ending at Masa. Participants dress as their favorite dead person and hold aloft giant papier-mché skeletons, also in costume! There’s a funky band and hot drinks afterward in a heated tent behind Masa. Parade meets at 6 p.m. Sunday at Masa, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma; free; www.on6thave.com.

Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568

Originally published: October 31st, 2008 12:48 AM (PDT)