Bare Hands, Inc.’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) Número 21

Join Bare Hands, Inc. in celebrating life at Día de los Muertos Número 21 on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 and Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 from 4 to 10 p.m. at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark! The Día de los Muertos festival is one of the most intricate Day of the Dead commemorations in the Southeast. From massive art installations, music performances and beautiful costumes, to a procession with puppets, homemade altars (ofrendas) and food trucks, this is an event that you will not want to miss! Gates open at 4 p.m. and attendees will see performances by Premier de America Mariachi, Emilio Crixell & Border Soul, Danza Azteca Xochipilli, Folkloric Dance San Francisco Xavier, a parade led by a procession band and a Frida Kahlo ceremony.

During this Día de los Muertos festival, we celebrate the lives of those that came before us through music, a Memorial Roll Call, a New Orleans-style jazz funeral procession, traditional dancers, an artist mercado, and most importantly, the ofrendas, or memorial altars, created in memory of lost loved ones. Ancient belief asserts that the souls of the deceased come to visit during Día de los Muertos guided by the familiar sights and fragrances of the items on their altars and the sound of their loved ones gathered round. These personal memorials vary from a single photograph of a loved one to an elaborate shrine in honor of them. Attendees are encouraged to bring a personal remembrance item to participate. Guidelines for altars and roll call name submissions can be found on the festival website.

The artist market will have everything from handmade jewelry, sculptures, paintings, glass, ceramics and more for sale from vendors. Those vendors include: Alexander’s Wearable Art, Art By Burx, Art by Macy, Bisutería hand made, Blue Dragon Glass, De La Cruz, Dirtyhands Lab, Dolce Vita Candle Co., Doodle Artventures, Friends Collective, Gypsyqueen Jewelry by Maria, Jda Kuztoms, LA CLAYWORX, Muertenation, Nazar hecho a mano, Skye Apothecary, The Mod Couple and Whimmmsy. Attendees can also get elaborate face paintings done by Elaine TIndill-Rohr, Elyssa Simpson, Nayeli Aleman, Nely Aleman, Kristin Simpson and Wendy Jimenez. There will also be free art activities for kids and kids-at-heart, compliments of the Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama Waldorf School and Magic City Acceptance Academy. The featured visual artist of Día de los Muertos Número 21 is Helga Mendoza, and her artwork will appear on limited-edition festival T-shirts and posters.

Additionally, attendees can indulge in traditional Latin cuisine from El Sázon Casero, El Taquero Reyes Street Tacos, Corazon Mexican Food, Mi Pueblo, Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn Co., Pasteles La MoreliAna Dessert Truck, La Luz Del Mundo Church, Los Valedores, Pollo Goyo, Porky's Pride Smokehouse, Taco Morro Loco, Taqueria Noa Noa, Taqueria Mexico, Taqueria Viva Mexico and Tea Lab. Ice cold Pepsi products, margaritas and beer.

Tickets are on sale now for $15 in advance. Tickets will increase to $20 online and at the gate on Thursday, Nov. 2. Children 12 years of age and younger are admitted free. To purchase tickets and for more information on Día de los Muertos festival, visit www.barehandsinc.org/ddlm.

Gracious sponsors include Rubio Law Firm, Patrón Tequila, Bacardi Rum, Tequila Cazadores, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Buffalo Rock/Pepsi, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, Renewal by Anderson, Mi Pueblo Supermarket, T-Mobile and Latino News.