La Peña Cultural Center at 3105 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley holds its annual family Día de Muertos celebration on Sunday, Nov. 1. Berkeleyside lists it among the week's top Halloween and Día de los Muertos events.
Schedule
- 5 p.m.: Los Cilantros, the restaurant inside La Peña, opens with a special Día de Muertos dinner menu (food and drinks for purchase).
- 5:30 p.m.: Bilingual English-Spanish storytime with a children's librarian from the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, plus crafts and kids' activities.
- 6:30 p.m.: An outdoor Ceremony of the Four Directions and the start of a shared community ofrenda.
- 7:30 to 9 p.m.: Live music and a jam session by the altar, closing with a son jarocho fandango.
What to bring
La Peña invites guests to bring food, candles or photos for the altar, but notes that items stay overnight, so don't bring anything you want back. Musicians are encouraged to bring instruments for the fandango. Local artisans will also sell handcrafted goods.
The event is free, with suggested donations of $10 to $15, or $20 to $25 for families of four or more. RSVP for updates. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For more events, see our Día de los Muertos guide.