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Arts & Entertainment

Dìa de los Muertos Celebration

This fall, at a time of year when the veil between the living and dead is thought to be at its most diaphanous, the North Shattuck Association will host a Dìa de los Muertos Celebration.  The community is invited to gather on Shattuck Ave. between Rose and Vine Streets in Berkeley on Wednesday, November 2, 5-9PM.

Celebrating those who have passed on, this year’s altar, or ofrenda, is being created for and by community members who may bring photos or stories of their loved ones, candles, breads, or flowers to add to the altar.

Coinciding with Off The Grid, the Gourmet Ghetto’s weekly food truck festival, the Dìa de los Muertos Celebration offers mariachi music by Con Permisso, free skeletal face painting 5-7:30PM, DIY art projects for kids and adults, a wine & beer garden, and a contest for the best grown up costumes and giant papier mâché heads. Prizes will be awarded at 7:30PM.  Judges are Heather Hensley, North Shattuck Assn. and Lisa Bullwinkel, Another Bullwinkel Show.

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After the judging, Cuatli Mitotiana Mexica Aztec Dancers perform and then lead everyone in a sidewalk candle light procession through the district for about an hour following along a path of strewn marigold petals.  A separate children’s Halloween costume contest will be held earlier in the week on Halloween, Oct. 31, 4PM at Epicurious Gardens, 1511 Shattuck Ave.  Prizes at that costume contest are a free scoop from Lush Gelato.

Gourmet Ghetto restaurants will create a special Ghoulish Gastronomique menu that will be served from Thursday, October 27 through Wednesday, November 2 for the entire Halloween/Dìa de los Muertos weekend.  You may find deviled chicken, one-eyed monster pizza, creepy crepes, or ghoul’s eye soup on their menus.

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The Gourmet Ghetto is six blocks north of Downtown Berkeley BART. For more info visit www.AnotherBullwinkelShow.com.

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