Day of the Dead: a time to remember lost loved ones

Petaluma pays tribute to the dearly departed during the 15th annual El Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, featuring art exhibits, altars, poetry, music and dance kicking off Oct. 3 and continuing through Nov. 8.

Day of the Dead is a ritual celebration from Mexico and Latin and South America in which the spirts of the dead loved ones are invited to visit the living as honored guests. Observed in Mexico on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, the tradition reflects the believe that death is part of life, and so, instead of sadness, its a time of remembering and rejoicing.

The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 with a reception at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum for Viva La Vida!, an art show curated by Israel Escudero featuring the work of Latino artists from around the Bay Area, a community altar honoring the memory of lost loved ones and traditional altars. The opening reception will have music, food, refreshments and a lecture on Day of the Dead. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. The museum is located at 20 Fourth St.

There will also be a Day of the Dead art reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 at Aqus Cafe Foundry Wharf, 189 H St. There will be food and a no-host bar. Back House Gallery at Heebe Jeebe also holds an opening reception for an art show featuring the work of Marc Schmid. The reception is from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 3 at 46 Kentucky St.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, St. Vincent de Paul Church hosts a Day of the Dead opening ceremony from noon to 4 p.m. in the church plaza, located at 35 Liberty St. There will be music, traditional dance and food at the ceremony, along with a Health Fair as part of Health Week of the Americas.

The Taste of Mexico: Molé Tasting and Contest takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Vaca Family Ranch, 2478 E. Washington St. Celebrity judges will decide who makes the best molé, which is the world for a number of Mexican sauces made with a number of different ingredients, including chilis, spices, nuts, day-old bread and sometimes, chocolate.

Tasting attendees will also get to sample the molés and have a chicken dinner. There will also be live music.

Tickets to the tasting and dinner are $15 adults, $5 children ages 5-12. The event is a fundraiser for Petaluma’s Day of the Dead celebration.

For details and to purchase tickets, visit petalumamuseum.com.

The Petaluma Museum hosts a Mezcal Tasting & Food Pairing fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 15. Mezceal, which is considered a cousin of tequila, is derived from a different species of agave plant than tequila. The event is a guided tour of several mezcals paired with small plates created to compliment each spirit. For ticket information, visit petalumamuseum.com.

Poetry of Remembrance, an evening of bilingual poetry, takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Petaluma Museum. The event includes readings by local poets and community members, along with a potluck dinner.

Santa Rosa Junior College’s Petaluma campus presents Day of the Dead festivities at its LumaFest event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17. The open house features Aztec dancers, mariachi and ballet folklorico, along with a lecture comparing the Quinceñera with Aztec coming of age rituals. There will be workshops for making sugar skulls, tissue paper flowers and papel picado (perforated paper decoration), along with the creation of a community altar, an art contest and an art display with a Dia De Los Muertos theme.

Admission is free. The public is welcome to attend. The Petaluma campus is located at 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway.

A Sacred Circle Dance with Joan Rawles-Davis in honor and remembrance of lost loved ones will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 530 C St.

The Mail Depot will have a Day of the Dead art show opening with a reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22. There will be live music and food at the reception. The Mail Depot is located at 40 Fourth St.

The Petaluma Library will have a bilingual story time for kids ages 2 to 5 at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24. There will be stories, song and poetry. Admission is free. The library is located at 100 Fairgrounds Drive.

LandPaths is co-sponsoring a new event this year called Lunada from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 24. Lunada features dance, food, music, Aztec dancers and stories of ancestors told around a campfire. Overnight camping is optional with reservations made in advance.

LandPaths is located at 2478 E. Washington St. For details, call 544-7284 or visit landpaths.org.

A Day of the Dead worship service begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 25 at Unitarian Universalist of Petaluma, 825 Middlefield Drive. Those attending are asked to bring a photograph to honor a loved one who has died.

The Petaluma Library presents a concert with Trio Nuevo Amanecer at 2 p.m. Oct. 31. Admission is free.

The traditional Candlelight Procession with Giant Puppets takes place from 2 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 1.

The processions starts at Water Street Bistro and ends at the Petaluma Museum. Festivities include live music, Ballet Folklorico de Petaluma Paquiyollotzin, Aztec dancers, food, art vendors, face painting, art and altars. Admission is free.

For more information on Petaluma’s Day of the Dead events, visit petalumamuseum.com.