Myrtle Beach area residents and visitors can join in celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the most popular holiday of the year in Mexico, on Saturday, November 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the Art Museum hosts a Free Family Day. This is the tenth annual festival hosted by the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum. Dia de los Muertos promises to be a fun-filled occasion for all ages.
In pre-Hispanic times, the day was observed with a simple feast for the returning dead; after the Spanish conquest in the 15th century, the day was encompassed into the holiday called All Souls’ Day. Homes would be gaily decorated and the deceased loved ones’ favorite foods would be prepared, along with special treats such as candy skulls inscribed with the names of the deceased or special breads shaped like ghosts or bones.
The museum’s celebration will give visitors a chance to sample traditional breads and Mexican hot chocolate, be entertained by Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara and traditional Mexican dancers under a tent and enjoy music provided by Charles Pineda and indulge in traditional Mexican foods provided by Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant. An altar in the main reception room will honor the deceased artist Jose Guadalupe Posada.
Workshops and demonstrations will be offered in the art of making papel picado (paper banners), decorating sugar skulls, calavera masks with BB&T Bank, paper flowers, calavera puppets and shadow boxes. Youngsters of all ages can enjoy traditional storytelling and face painting, and a chance at breaking the treat-laden piñata. Visitors of all ages can participate in lotería (Mexican bingo) and help paint a Jose Guadalupe Posada-inspired mural.
All events and activities are free. For more information, call the Museum at 843-238-2510 or visit www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org.
All Day Events
-An altar in honor of deceased artist Jose Guadalupe Posada
-Family workshops for paper flowers, calavera puppets, shadow boxes, calavera masks, papel picado (paper banners) and sugar skulls
-Sampling of traditional breads & Mexican hot chocolate
-Face painting
-Lotería (bingo)
-Music
-Children’s literature display
-Videos
-Authentic Mexican food by Fiesta Mexicana
– Jose Guadalupe Posada -inspired mural
Scheduled Events
-Day of the Dead lecture (12 N) (Reception Room)
– Jose Guadalupe Posada lecture (12:30 p.m.) (Reception Room)
-Folk tales and storytelling (12:45) (Outside Tent)
-Roving Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara (1 – 3 p.m.) (Inside and Outside Tent)
-Traditional Dancing with Grupo de Dansa Tradiciónes (2:15 p.m.) (Outside Tent)
-Children’s piñatas (2:50 p.m.) (Front Lawn)
* Schedule is subject to change
The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is a wholly nonprofit institution located across from Springmaid Pier at 3100 South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. Components of Museum programs are funded in part by support from the City of Myrtle Beach, the Horry County Council and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.