Southern California communities and cultural venues prepare Día de los Muertos programs

Cultural organizations, municipalities, and community institutions across Southern California are preparing public programming for the upcoming Día de los Muertos observance, which honors deceased relatives and companions with traditional altars, sugar skulls, and pan de muerto.

In Long Beach, the annual Día de los Muertos parade is scheduled to resume on November 1 after being canceled the prior year over community concerns regarding federal immigration operations. In Los Angeles, the Hollywood Forever cemetery will host its annual gathering on October 24 under the theme "Bajo un mismo cielo, under one sky," focusing on immigrant experiences and shared community ties.

Other local programming includes a series of free workshops hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library covering papel picado crafting, paper marigolds, and sugar skull decoration. Additionally, the Los Angeles Zoo is organizing a community altar where visitors can contribute photographs of late companion animals as part of the regional observances.