Día de Muertos Potluck, Art Display, & Celebration – October 30

Friday, October 30
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Channing Social Hall and Courtyard
First Unitarian Church of Dallas

The turning of the seasons teaches us: all that dies is not lost, but transformed.

Join Earth Centered Spirituality for our most popular and meaningful event of the year, honoring the depth and joy of Día de Muertos while uplifting the beauty of Mexican culture. Together, we will celebrate life, memory, and community through food, art, music, and ceremony.

🖌 Community Art Display
You’re invited to create a mini-ofrenda out of a cereal box (or other medium) before the event to add to our collective art installation. Click here for details & instructions.

What to Expect

🧡 Potluck Dinner
Bring a dish that reminds you of a loved one who has passed, try making a traditional Mexican dish, or support a local Mexican-owned restaurant by picking up food to share with the community (tamales, enchiladas, and tacos are usually available in bulk and sides of rice, beans, and elotes are popular!)

Notes for potluck:

• Please do not bring serving utensils. We will provide utensils for you to use.
• There will not be access to electrical outlets. We will not be able to plug in crock pots. Please bring food heated and ready to serve.
• Please plan to take any leftover food with you at the end of the night. It makes cleanup difficult when we are left with leftovers.
• Labels will be provided at the event. Please plan to label your dish with any dietary notes like vegan or vegetarian.

🧡 Ceremony
Earth Centered Spirituality group leader Milton Durazo will share his experience with Día de Muertos from growing up in Mexico, teach us about the spiritual meaning of the holiday, and lead us in songs and chants in Spanish.

🧡 Crafts for All Ages
Make your own maracas and sugar skull masks!

🧡 Traditional Mariachi Band
We are thrilled that the incredible Mariachi Damas de Tejas will be joining us again. If you attended last year, you know that means to bring your dancing shoes and prepare to be amazed! (They are an acclaimed all-women mariachi band who recently performed the National Anthem at a Dallas Wings game.)

🧡 Copal Blessings to Ancestors
Led by Amy Martin, we will offer fragrant copal smoke and blessings, honoring our beloved ancestors and welcoming their presence among us.

🧡 Fun Surprises
Expect a few extra delights throughout the evening—this will be a night to remember!

Get Involved

🦋 Pay What You Can

This is a pay-what-you-can event. Contributions are deeply appreciated and will help cover the cost of the mariachi musicians and event supplies. Sending your support with your RSVP before the event allows us to reserve the band in advance and ensure this joyful tradition comes alive for our community. (Recommended contribution is $15-20 per person.) Click here to contribute.

(Contributions are entirely optional. Your presence is what matters most. Please join us whether or not you’re able to contribute.)

🙌 Volunteers Needed – Sign up here.

We already have many group members who have committed to help lead and manage many of volunteer teams. It is our goal to make sure that all volunteers are also able to participate in the majority of the evening’s festivities. The more people we have helping, the easier it will be. We need help with setup on the evening of Thursday, October 29 and throughout the event on Friday, October 30.

*Parking – Please do not park in the YMCA parking garage, they close early on the weekends and you will not be able to get your car out after the event. You may park in the spaces along St. Andrew’s and in the back parking lot east of the courtyard (accessible by St. Andrew’s.)

A note on the name of the event: Día de los Muertos is commonly used for this holiday, especially in America, as it is the back translation of Day of the Dead from English into Spanish, However, Día de Muertos is more commonly used in Mexico and most native Spanish speakers find it to be the more natural-sounding and authentic phrase. Both are correct – we chose to use Día de Muertos.

Join “Spiritual: Earth Centered Spirituality” in Realm to RSVP & stay connected.