Cabañas hosts Day of Dead mural
“Tzompantli makuili,” an installation linked to Day of the Dead celebrations created by artist Manuel Marín, can be seen at the Instituto Cultural Cabañas as of Saturday, October 29, noon.
The works consists of a “mural” made up of 1,000 “paper skeleton sculptures,” as well as a structure featuring dozens of wood-crafted skulls. The work will be up until January 1, 2017.
Tlaquepaque’s Festival de Muertos
Tlaquepaque is fast becoming the Guadalajara metropolitan area’s “go-to” spot for many things related to Day of the Dead festivities.
The suburb’s sixth Festival de Muertos runs from Saturday, October 29 through Wednesday, November 2 and encompasses several events with great opportunities for photographers.
An exhibit of Dia de Muertos altars will run on all five days of the festival at the Centro Cultural El Refugio.
A parade of catrinas takes place Saturday, October 29, 7 p.m. on Calle Hidalgo from Avenida Revolución to the Jardin Hidalgo in Tlaquepaque centro. Meanwhile, a “gala” of catrinas is scheduled Tuesday, November 1, 7:30 p.m. in the Patio San Pedro of the cultural center.
The now famous “Procesión de novias” (Newlyweds parade) featuring couples in macabre costumes will be on Wednesday, November 2, 6 p.m., leaving from the Plazoleta.
Children may participate in the ”Pinta tú calavera” (Paint your skull) activity with singer/artisan Paco Padilla by reserving a space at (33) 3635-4838.
Crowds flock to downtown market
The traditional Day of the Dead market is filling the sidewalks around the perimeter of the Morelos Park in downtown Guadalajara, culminating November 2 on Dia de los Muertos). Around 80 vendors sell pan de muerto (special bread), papel picado, papier-mâché dolls, clay miniatures depicting of all manner of food, and the iconic molded skulls made of almond-flavored sugar paste. It’s the place for Dia de los Muertos paraphernalia, and where you can find all the necessary items to construct an ofrenda, or altar to remember a deceased loved one.
Family traditions persist at the market, commonly referred to as the Feria del Carton. Many vendors recall helping their grandparents work at the market as children. Traditions now collide, however, as Halloween masks and grinning sugar candy skeletons rub shoulders at many of the stalls.
The Day of the Dead market is located at Calzada Independencia Norte and Juan Manuel and is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
City marathon’s new relay option
Runners of all levels are busy signing up for the 32nd Guadalajara marathon, set for Sunday, November 6, with the start gun to be fired at 7 a.m. At least 3,000 entrants are expected this year. A new option for 2016 is the “Carrera de Relevos” (Relay Race) which allows teams of four to each run one-quarter of the marathon course (10.55 km). Like competitors in the individual men’s, women’s and wheelchair races, members of teams that enter the relay are eligible for prizes, commemorative t-shirts and medals for finishing the course.
In a bid to attract more spectators from their homes, entertainment zones will be set up at 16 points along the 42-km marathon route, with music and activities for children.
Runners can go to maratonguadalajara.org for online sign-up, as well as a list of physical locations for inscriptions. The fee is 400 pesos.
This year’s total marathon prize money is 927,000 pesos ($US49,250).
Robotic dinosaurs at Octoberfest
Guadalajara’s annual Fiestas de Octubre enters its penultimate weekend offering all the usual attractions of a Mexican-style “state fair.”
This is a great place to take kids, as you will find a plethora of mechanical and children’s games, themed pavilions and special children’s shows. Abundant food and drink is a major feature of the fair. Kids will also love the animatronic dinosaur exhibit, which is free of charge on Mondays to Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. At all other times the cost is an extra 50 pesos per person, in addition to the 30 pesos Fiestas entry fee (15 pesos for children).