Celebrate Día de Los Muertos with 10 Virtual Events
PHILADELPHIA—In partnership with the Mexican Cultural Center and the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, the Penn Museum’s ninth annual Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration brings the spirit of CultureFest! online, with 10 virtual events expanding access to the vibrant traditions of Mexican culture for people around the world.
Throughout October, CultureFest! Día de los Muertos will offers free downloadable arts and crafts projects for kids, Digital Daily Digs (three-minute talks about one artifact on display), and behind-the-scenes views into the traditions of Pan de Muerto bread and Cartrina face-painting, hosted by the Mexican Cultural Center. In addition, CultureFest! includes:
Oct. 15: Create an Ofrenda Workshop at 5:00 pm. Internationally recognized artist Cesar Viveros explains how to build an altar with photos and mementos to remember a loved one. Free.
Oct. 20: “Museum Insider” talk at 10:00 am, during which museum professionals share perspectives about their careers. As a part of CultureFest!, attendees can chat online with Obed Arango Hisijara, the director of CCATE, which ignites social transformation by empowering the Latinx community. He is an artist, photographer, journalist, university professor, and media producer. This is supported in part by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration. Free.
Oct. 21: World Wonders—After School at 4:00 pm. Aspiring globetrotters ages 5–12 can explore Mexico’s history from ancestral Mesoamerican civilizations to its society today. Pay-What-You-Wish.
Oct. 22: Living Room Lecture at 5:30 pm, an informal, interactive happy hour with Mexican Consul Carlos Obrador. Free.
Oct. 27: At-Home Anthro LIVE! at 1:00 pm. Elementary- and middle- school students can dig deeper into the meaning of The Day of the Dead’s traditional altars, while discovering the symbolism behind each element, along with a hands-on project. Free.
The entire CultureFest! Día de los Muertos line-up can be found here.
In addition, the Penn Museum is open for guests to explore the Mexico and Central America Gallery in person. Timed tickets are available online, social distancing and face coverings are required, and floor markings will guide visitors on a one-way journey through the Museum, which offers multiple hand-sanitizing stations.
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About the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum’s mission is to be a center for inquiry and the ongoing exploration of humanity for our University of Pennsylvania, regional, national, and global communities, following ethical standards and practices.
Through conducting research, stewarding collections, creating learning opportunities, sharing stories, and creating experiences that expand access to archaeology and anthropology, the Museum builds empathy and connections across diverse cultures
The Penn Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. It is open until 8:00 pm on first Wednesdays of the month. The Café is open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm. On Sundays, the Café is open 10:30 am-2:30 pm. For information, visit www.penn.museum, call 215.898.4000, or follow @PennMuseum on social media.