Longest-Running Dia De Los Muertos Festival Celebrates 36th Year

AUSTIN, TX — The Mexic-Arte Museum — dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the collection, preservation and presentation of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture —invite the community to the 36th Annual Viva La Fida Parade and Festival, Austin's largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. The free event scheduled Saturday, Oct. 26, will feature a Grand Procession, the Education Pavilion with hands-on art activities and artist demos, and a celebration with traditional foods, local artist and retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, live music and performances throughout the day.

Dia de los Muertos is a Latin American tradition celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November, where families and friends gather to remember the lives and legacy of loved ones in a celebratory fashion, rather than through mournful expression. The origins of Dia de los Muertos dates back to the pre-Columbian era and the belief that death is a transformation and a continuation of life. From those beliefs came the modern tradition of commemorating the dead with altars decorated with sugar skull, flowers, photos, favorite foods and other memorabilia. Families and friends gather and through music, song and storytelling, remember those no longer on earth. The Mexic-Arte Museum's Viva La Vida Fest honors the tradition, but has created an event that also creates new expressions as unique as the city that hosts it.

Viva La Vida Fest takes place Saturday, Oct. 26 with its Grand Procession through the streets of downtown Austin from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. and Festival from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. at 100-200 block E. 4th, St., Austin, TX 78701.

For more information, please visit the Mexic-Arte Museum website.