Day of the Dead event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday features music, dance, art 

The free Día de Muertos Community Celebration on Oct. 25 at the Eiteljorg Museum includes two Catrina Parades. File image.

INDIANAPOLIS – Beautiful music, exciting dance performances and cultural presentations are highlights of the annual Día de Muertos Community Celebration, jointly organized by the Eiteljorg Museum and Arte Mexicano en Indiana. The annual event takes place 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 25, a free admission day at the Eiteljorg.

Observed in the U.S., Mexico, Latin America and elsewhere to remember loved ones who have passed on, Día de Muertos also is known as Day of the Dead. All day Saturday at the Eiteljorg, visitors can enjoy dance and music performances – including mariachi groups – and cultural presentations onstage outdoors under The Sails, shop from vendors in the Mercado (marketplace), and try art-making activities inside.

Among the free event’s beloved traditions are the Catrina parades, featuring elegantly dressed models adorned in festive attire. The Desfile de Catrinas, presented by Mujeres Conectadas, will parade through the museum’s main hall at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Desfile de Catrina All Saints Parade, presented by Laura Uhls and JL Collab, will proceed through the outdoor performance area at 3 p.m. A complete schedule of the day’s performance groups and times is at this link.

The free Día de Muertos Community Celebration on Oct. 25 at the Eiteljorg Museum includes two Catrina Parades. File image.

Inside the Eiteljorg, the Community Art and Altar Exhibit features elaborately decorated ofrendas (altars) created by local organizations. Visitors can spend time with these artworks and add a note for a departed loved one to the large community ofrenda, which is designed by artist Fernando Lozano. The altar exhibit is open daily, now through Nov. 2, in the Ruth Lilly Community Art Gallery. Admission to the gallery is free.

In the community gallery, guests also will experience two sets of works by a digital and traditional artist based in Indianapolis, Jesus “Chuy” Sanchez Jr. Not of this World is a collection of paintings that blend the sacred and the everyday. Sugar Skull Inspired Calaveras is a collection of painted skulls that pay tribute to the artist’s family and friends who have passed.

On Oct. 25, if Día de Muertos guests park in the White River State Park underground garage, the Eiteljorg can validate their parking.

The free Día de Muertos Community Celebration is jointly presented with Arte Mexicano en Indiana and Nopal Cultural. Other sponsors are Citizens Energy Group, Centier Bank and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. The Consulado de México en Indianápolis is a partner in the event. The Eiteljorg extends its thanks to Eduardo Luna, the co-organizer of the event.

The free Día de Muertos Community Celebration takes place Oct. 25 at the Eiteljorg Museum. Cempasúchil, or marigolds, are part of the tradition of the holiday, also called Day of the Dead. File image.

About the Eiteljorg
For more than 36 years, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Indianapolis and scenic White River State Park. The Eiteljorg Museum explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Media Contacts
Bryan Corbin
Public Relations Manager
317.275.1315
bcorbin@eiteljorg.com

Katie Warthan
Director of Communications and Marketing
317.275.1317
kwarthan@eiteljorg.com

Tabby Fitzgerald
Digital Marketing Coordinator
317.275.1388
tfitzgerald@eiteljorg.com