Get ready for Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos festival on Saturday, October 26, 2019! Mexic-Arte Museum’s 36th Annual Viva La Vida Festival & Parade features tons of family fun that’s free and open to the entire community. The event starts at noon with a very impressive Grand Procession followed by an exciting street festival that includes hands-on art activities and artist demos, traditional foods, local vendors, a low-rider exhibition, live music and performances throughout the day until 6 p.m.
Watch the Parade: The parade travels west on 6th Street (beginning near 1-35 & Red River St.) then turns down Congress Ave. until it ends around 1 p.m. at at E. 4th St. & Congress. The parade includes dancers, floats, costumes and music that showcases a vibrant mix of traditional, ancient, contemporary, and Austin “Weird”. Click here to read about this year’s parade categories.
Enjoy the Festival: There will be plenty of celebrating on 4th Street between Colorado St. & Brazos St. between 12 – 6 p.m. Take part in a costume contest, listen to live music, get bites from several food trucks, check out a showcase of lowriders, art booths, and more! Don’t miss…
- Educational Activities: Stop by the Mariposa Makers Plaza (on the plaza at Frost Bank Tower) to get crafty with Marigold flower crown making, Monarch Butterfly Mask making, decorating paper sugar skulls, coloring ofrendas, and more!
- Muertos Mercado: Browse over 20 Dia de los Muertos inspired artists, artisans, vendors, and makers! Visit the Muertos Mercado for the perfect addition to your Dia de Los Muertos altar.
- Lowrider Lane: Austin Lowriding presents lowriders, bikes, chrome, and hydraulics with fifteen of Austin’s finest rides. See them in action during the parade and get a closer look at the details at the exhibition!
- Tejano Legends and Freestyle Showcase: Enjoy live dance and vocal performances by many local talents.
- Mexic-Arte Museum: Step inside the Mexic-Arte Museum (419 Congress Avenue) to check out the current exhibition of Dia de los Muertos & Community Altars. Museum admission is $10, and the museum hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
About Dia de los Muertos: Day of the Dead is an important Latin American tradition that takes place on November 1st and 2nd. It is a time when friends and family gather to honor and remember loved ones – not through mourning, but through celebration! The origins of the holiday date back to the pre-Columbian era when death was viewed as a transformation or continuation of life. This storied belief evolved into the modern tradition of commemorating loved ones with altars decorated with sugar skulls, flowers, photographs, favorite foods and memorabilia of the deceased. Family and friends share stories and memories, sing songs, and play music. In Austin, Mexic-Arte Museum has continued some of these traditions, transformed others, and created new expressions to produce today’s Viva La Vida Festival!
–> For much more information about Viva la Vida, please visit the Mexic-Arte Museum website.
