First Friday Event Celebrates “Day of the Dead”

Lubeznik-Day-of-the-Dead-1November's First Friday @ 5 after-hours open house at Lubeznik Center for the Arts celebrates El Día de los Muertos with art, refreshments from the Hacienda Mexican Restaurant and a modern dance performance conceived specifically for the event by Élan Dance Company.

Day of the Dead (in Spanish, El Día de los Muertos) honors the lives of deceased family members with a blend of Aztec and Catholic traditions including the building of private altars (Ofrendas) decorated with photographs, candles, sugar skulls and flowers. Offerings of favorite music, foods and beverages of the departed are also traditional, either at the ofrenda or the grave site.

Due to its proximity to Halloween, the Day of the Dead is sometimes thought to be a similar holiday, although the two actually have little in common. The Day of the Dead is a time of celebration, where partying is common.

Visitors are encouraged to bring offerings for Lubeznik Center's Ofrenda, which is decorated with colorful skeletons and skulls created by children and adults in the art center's educational outreach programs. On Friday, November 4, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Central), they will host an open house featuring art, music and dance. Refreshments will be available and admission is free. Phone (219)874-4900 for more information or visit www.lubeznikcenter.org.

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