RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Sunnylands Center & Gardens will spotlight the creativity of local artists and community groups during its annual celebration of Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.
As many as eight local organizations, from Animal Samaritans to the Cathedral City Boys & Girls Club, will erect altars, or ofrendas, in the gardens as part of the observance of Día de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday that honors the dead. Artists recruited by the non-profit Raices Cultura will decorate and paint nichos, or shadow boxes, for display in the gardens. Drawings, paintings, miniature piñatas, and other works of art from Coachella Valley students also will be on view.
The public is invited to view the artworks free of charge from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 30-Nov. 3. Guests will also find take-home arts and crafts activities attached to display boards throughout the gardens.
Special programming will be offered Friday, Nov. 1, when opening hours will be extended to 9 p.m. for nighttime viewing of the altars and nichos. The public is encouraged to bring flashlights. From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., visitors may participate in a drop-in workshop to create their own Día de los Muertos-themed arts and crafts. The activity is free, and reservations are not required. A free, outdoor screening of the 2017 animated movie, Coco, about a young boy’s journey to Land of the Dead, begins at 6:30 p.m.
Art Flying Aerial, a family-run aerialist studio in Palm Desert, joins the festivities this year. The company will stage a 15-minute, Day of the Dead-themed performance in the gardens each hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Additionally, Desert Oasis Healthcare’s mobile health clinic will be on-site on Friday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering free health screenings, influenza vaccines, and the opportunity to speak with a DOHC primary care provider.
Prior to CV Days of Los Muertos, Sunnylands is offering two Day of the Dead-themed workshops to the public. In the first, on Oct. 23, participants will use flowers and small photo frames to make a “mini-ofrenda” for the home. In the second workshop, ceramic tiles and hand-crafted glass will be used to make a 6×8-inch mosaic skull, or calavera. A registration fee is required for each class. For more information, go to www.sunnylands.org/events.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. Admission and parking are free.
Schedule at a Glance
Wednesday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 3
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – During Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos, an annual celebration at Sunnylands, guests can walk the gardens while enjoying Día de los Muertos art and décor: colorful papel picado (decorative cut paper), art installations depicting traditional Mexican imagery by Art Flying Aerial, nichos (shadow boxes) created by local artists in partnership with Raices Cultura, and ofrendas (altars) designed by local nonprofit organizations.
Friday, November 1
8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Sunnylands will stay open until 9 p.m. for nighttime viewing of the displays and special programming in celebration of Day of the Dead. The altars will be lit at 5:30 p.m.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Desert Oasis Heathcare’s mobile health clinic will be on-site offering free health screenings, flu vaccines, and consultations with a DOHC primary care provider.
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. – A free, drop-in workshop will be available for families to create miniature nichos (display boxes) that honor and celebrate a loved one who has died and to decorate tin foil sculptures to represent Day of the Dead figures.
6:30 p.m. – Pixar’s animated movie, Coco (2017), about a young boy’s journey into the Land of the Dead, will be screened in the West Gardens. Rated PG. Runtime 1 hour 45 minutes.
Saturday, November 2
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Desert Oasis Heathcare’s mobile health clinic will be on-site offering free health screenings, flu vaccines, and consultations with a DOHC primary care provider.
Sunday, November 3
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Art Flying Aerial will stage a 15-minute, Day of the Dead-themed aerial performance every hour. Performances include creative backgrounds, costumes, and routines by local students.
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is a nonprofit operating entity that hosts high-level retreats on serious issues facing the nation and the world. Programs offered through Sunnylands Center & Gardens educate the public about the history of Sunnylands, its architecture, art collections, cultural significance, and sustainable practices.
