El Panteón Returns to the Latino Center of Art and Culture

The Latino Center of Art and Culture (LCAC) is kicking off its 12th Annual El Panteón de Sacramento (in honor of Day of the Dead) the last weekend in October. From Thursday, October 28 to Sunday, October 31, the centuries-old tradition will be recognized on the grounds of the Latino Center of Art and Culture and feature the recreation of a candlelit Mexican cemetery and chapel accompanied by live performances, entertainment, food, activities and culture for the entire family

“Every year since we launched El Panteón 12 years ago, we bring something new and fresh to this experience in an effort to show children and families the cultural importance of this event in many areas of Mexico and Latin America,” explained Vidal Beltran, El Panteon’s event Producer.

The celebration will feature dozens of altars created by community members in remembrance of their ancestors and loved ones. Bathed in the light of the moon during evening hours and filled with drifting fragrances of copal and cempasuchil - marigolds, or ”flower of the dead”- one will immediately feel that El Panteón is a place of remembrance with the presence of those who have passed.

“If you think the movie ‘Coco’ is magical, wait until you come visit El Panteón,” said Vidal. “It will be a spiritual experience full of music, food, and tradition. You will feel transported to the states of Michoacán and Oaxaca in Mexico during this time of year.”

A major highlight will be the return of the annual “Noche de Ofrenda” (Night of the Offerings), the in-person community procession into the site, on Saturday, October 30 at 5:30PM. This will feature a 24-piece orchestra, traditional dance groups, and “vaqueros” and their trained horses. Noche de Ofrenda is a contemplative ceremony and night of reflection that connects communities to traditions and highlights indigenous practices during a contemporary celebration.

Other activities/performances include:

• The Lico Music Academy, a 24-piece orchestra (Los Angeles, CA)
• Live Traditional Acoustic Music
• Ballet Folklorico
• Mojigangas (giant puppets)
• Food and drinks
• Arts and Crafts
• Art workshops inspired by Mexican folk art will be available and open to all ages.

12th El Panteón de Sacramento: De Raíces a Tradiciones
The Latino Center of Art & Culture 2700 Front St., Sacramento, CA 95818
Thursday-Sunday, October 28-21 1, 2021
Thursday and Friday – 6:00 -10:00 p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday – 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. 916-446-5133

We are grateful for our funders for making this event possible – the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Sacramento County’s TOT Grant, and the Sacramento Office of Art and Culture. Thanks also to our sponsors the Ford Motor Company Fund, SMUD, Los Rios Community College, the Catholic Store, ReMAX, and Never Miss A Meal Production.

For more information about El Panteón de Sacramento visit the Latino Center of Art and Culture. Watch our video from our event last year and make sure you follow LCAC on Facebook, as well as Instagram.

ABOUT DIA DE LOS MUERTOS:
Rooted in 3,000-year-old Aztec and Nahua cultural beliefs in the cyclical nature of life, Día de los Muertos is a contemporary Mexican festival during which the souls of the departed are believed to leave the world of the dead and reunite with their loved ones for a single evening. After building altars to share memories and activities the dead once enjoyed in life, participants come together to celebrate their lives with food, drink, music and dancing. Día de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience and honors the contributions ancestors have made to their families and to the community.

ABOUT LCAC:
Founded in 1972, the mission of the Latino Center of Art and Culture is to foster the artistic, economic and cultural development of Sacramento’s Latino community by presenting, exhibiting, and providing excellent artistic programs and services to Latino artists, Latino organizations and Latino families. In this way, we actively seek social justice for marginalized and underrepresented Sacramento communities.