This year, Austin’s largest and longest-running Day of the Dead event features a grand procession and street festival (from Congress to San Jacinto) with artist vendors, live music, food trucks, and community altars. Art activities for children and families will also be available in the neighboring Frost Bank Tower Plaza, where the public will have an opportunity to take pictures with parade props, including large-scale moving sculptures and mojigangas. 

Additionally, the festival grounds have expanded this year to include Brazos Hall, where the public can enjoy even more vendors, face painting, lively performances, and a costume contest. On the Brazos Hall rooftop, the Members’ Cocktail Lounge will spotlight handcrafted specialty beverages for Museum Members and patrons.

Mexic-Arte Museum remains open during the exhibitions of Icons & Symbols of the Borderland (main gallery) and Community Altars: A Celebration of Life (annex gallery).

The 2016 event is co-sponsored by the City of Austin.

Visit the official Viva la Vida website here: mexic-artemuseumevents.org/viva

PARADE
Parade staging: 10:00 am
Parade launch: 12:00 noon
Route: The parade will gather on 5th street between I35 Northbound Frontage Road and Waller Street, traveling west on 6th street to the festival location at 4th and Congress.
Admission: FREE
Special Parade Component: An homage to Mexico’s most popular singer, the late Juan Gabriel AKA “El Divo de Juarez”

FESTIVAL
Street Location: 4th Street between Congress and San Jacinto
Featuring: Vendors, live music, costume contest
Indoor Location: Brazos Hall (1st floor), 204 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
Featuring: Food trucks, lowriders, face painting, outdoor decorations, dance performances, photo booth
Time: 12:00 noon—8:00 pm
Admission: FREE

EXHIBITIONS
Icons & Symbols of the Borderland and Community Altars exhibitions
Location: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX, 78701
Time: 10:00 am—6:00 pm
Admission: $5.00

EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Location: Frost Bank Tower Plaza, 401 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701
Time: 12:00 noon—6:00 pm
Admission: FREE

CALL FOR PARADE PARTICIPANTS & VOLUNTEERS
Participants are needed for all sections of the parade, including pre-Columbian, Mexico Lindo, Juan Gabriel, and Austin Weird. People of all ages dressed in skeleton costumes, families, university groups, portable altars, noise makers, chihuahuas, Aztec dancers, samba dancers, Ballet Folkloricos, and colorfully decorated cars will gather and assemble in a joyful procession.

To participate in the parade, register here: http://bit.ly/vivaparade
To register for a volunteer shift, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/vivavolunteer

CALAVERAS AUSTIN MURAL
Mexic-Arte Museum is celebrating the Day of the Dead with hand-painted calaveras (skulls). Beginning on September 12, calaveras can be purchased to be painted on the Mexic-Arte Museum 5th street exterior wall. Name space below the painted calavera is available for purchase (10 character limit). A $35 purchase secures a hand-painted name below one calavera on the Calaveras in Austin public mural.

Painting of the mural will begin October 10, 2016.
You can purchase a calavera here: http://bit.ly/2dh8mCB

Visit the official Viva la Vida website here: mexic-artemuseumevents.org/viva

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