Day of the Dead

Petaluma's Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration begins Oct. 4 and continues through Nov. 4 with altars, music, dance, art, workshops, lectures and activities for all ages around town. The festivities come to a close with a candlelight giant puppet procession on Oct. 27 and a candlelight visit to the cemetery on Nov. 1.

The traditional Latin American holiday, which focuses on honoring deceased loved ones, has become a tradition in Petaluma, thanks to the efforts of the Petaluma Arts Council.

Here is a schedule of upcoming events.

Saturday, Sept. 29

In preparation for Day of the Dead, a Petaluma creativity night will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. The creativity night will be for helping prepare the large puppets for the Day of the Dead procession. Participants may also bring materials for creating a costume based on this year's theme "Wings of Life." Other traditional arts will be taught as well. Admission is a donation for supplies.

Sunday, Sept. 30

Learn to create an altar with the Quintas family from Oaxaca, Mexico. Participants will learn about the elements of an altar and ways to honor, through altar making, loved ones who have died. Also featured will be flower making and papel picado. The event is from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Oct. 4 through Nov. 4

Fine arts exhibts and altars are on display throughout Petaluma. Illustrations of master printmakers Jos?Guadalupe Posada and Manuel Manilla on loan from New World Prints are on display at the Petaluma Arts Center. Visit the Petaluma Arts Center for a map to altars and exhibits around town.

Oct. 6

School-aged students are invited to create a portrait of a loved one who has died, at a student art workshop, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $5. To register, call Colors of Spanish at 782-1084.

Oct. 7

Petaluma's Day of the Dead officially opens with music, dance and food from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 35 Liberty St. The event is sponsored by the Redwood Community Health Coalition and will include a health fair as part of Health Week of the Americas.

Oct. 11

Artist reception for Day of the Dead art show, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mail Depot, 40 Fourth St.

Oct. 13

Introduction to Day of the Dead and an open house from 1-4 p.m. at Colors of Spanish, 55 Maria Drive, Suite 844. The event is designed to introduce residents to the Day of the Dead multi-cultural celebration.

The Petaluma Arts Center hosts an artists' reception for "Alas de Vida/Wings of Life" featuring the works of Bay Area artists and special illustrations of master printmakers Jos?Guadalupe Posada and Manuel Manilla. The reception is from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center.

Oct. 14 and Oct. 21

A "Catrina" hat making workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. Participants should bring small trinkets, photos, buttons, jewelry from loved ones to incorporate into the hat. Admission is $40 plus a $10 materials fee.

Oct. 17

A sacred circle dance with Joan Rawles-Davis of Santa Cruz will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, corner of Fifth and C.

Oct. 19

Guest curator and filmmaker Jim Nikas will discuss the art and imagery of social movements with roots in the 22-year collaboration between Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada and publisher Antonio Vanegas Arroyo. The event is from 7:30 to 8 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Oct. 20

A traditional sugar skulls making workshop will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at the Petaluma Farmers Market harvest festival in Walnut Park, corner of Petaluma Boulevard and D Street. Also featured will be flower making and other traditional activities for the family.

An artists' reception for The Phoebe Washer Foundation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Aqus Caf?Foundry Wharf, 189 H St. The exhibit features 12 previously unavailable prints by Phoebe Washer. Call 778-6060 for information.

A mole and tamale extravaganza featuring a contest, tasting and celebrity judges is from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. The event features live music, dinner, wine and beer. Admission for mole tasting and dinner is $15 general, $5 children ages 5-12. The extravaganza is a fundraiser for the Petaluma Arts Center.

Oct. 26

Poetry of Remembrance: an evening of bilingual poetry will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. The evening features readings by poets and community readers. There will be a potluck dinner. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Oct. 27

The Day of the Dead's traditional candlelight procession with giant puppets starts at 6 p.m. on the river in front of 100 Petaluma Blvd. North and continues to the Petaluma Arts Center for an evening of food, art, music, performance and folkloric dance.

Mariachi Band, Grupo Coyolxauqui, Ballet Folklorico Paquiyollotzin and Windsor Bloco perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Petaluma Arts Center. Food, beverages and folk art will be available for purchase.

Oct. 28

A Day of the Dead worship service will be held at the Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma at 10 a.m. at 518 B St. Those attending are asked to bring a photograph or momento to honor a loved one who has died.

Nov. 1

A candlelight visit to the cemetery to honor loved ones will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The event is by reservation and features traditional music and an honoring procession. Admission is limited. To register, visit the Petaluma Arts Center at 230 Lakeville St.

Nov. 2

The Petaluma Library hosts a bilingual story time for preschoolers at 11 a.m. The library is located at 100 Fairgrounds Drive.

Nov. 3

The musical duo Cascada de Flores performs "The Tree and the Donkey who Wanted to Sing" at 2 p.m. at the Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive. Admission is free.

For more information on Day of the Dead events, call the Petaluma Arts Center at 762-5600 or go online to www.petalumaartscenter.org.