All Under One Sky, Hollywood Forever Holds Its 27th Día de los Muertos

In two weeks the lawns and lanes of Hollywood Forever will fill with altars carrying photographs of the dead. The cemetery on Santa Monica Boulevard will hold its 27th annual Día de los Muertos on Saturday, October 24, from noon to midnight, according to Hollywood Forever’s event page. The theme is “All Under One Sky,” or “Bajo un Mismo Cielo.”

MyNewsLA reported that organizers describe the theme as a focus on shared experiences of love, loss, memory, compassion and hope across cultures and borders. The holiday honors the dead through altars, food and music, and its roots lie in Indigenous traditions in Mexico and elsewhere in Mesoamerica.

The Lineup

The official Día de los Muertos site lists DannyLux, Trish Toledo, Tropa Magica and Los Shadows on the music bill, along with DJ Que Madre, DJ JOAQU.N and DJ Dro Barlo. MyNewsLA identified DannyLux as a Mexican-American singer-songwriter, Tropa Magica as an East Los Angeles group and Los Shadows as a San Diego indie band. The music plays on the Muerte y Tradición Stage, and the bill also includes Aztec dance groups, folklórico companies and two bandas.

Time Out noted that last year’s event dropped musical performances in favor of showings of Disney’s “Coco,” so this year brings a live lineup back to the grounds that hosts Geese for three nights this week. Organizers say the lineup and schedule are subject to change at any time, and set times were not published.

Altars, a Procession and a Cathedral Show

The program includes an altars exhibition, a ceremonial procession, a Children’s Plaza with hands-on art activities, a Cathedral Art Exhibition and arts, crafts and food vendors. MyNewsLA reported that the community altars will carry photographs, mementos and traditional offerings for ancestors and loved ones, and that the show inside the Cathedral Mausoleum will feature work by invited artists.

The altar contest pays $5,000 for first place, $3,500 for second and $2,500 for third, according to the event site. The costume contest pays $1,000 to the winner and $500 to the runner-up.

How Entry Works

Admission is sold in three entry windows, noon to 4 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m., and the event site says guests may stay past their window. Time Out lists the noon window at $30 (ages 5 to 12 at $27), the 4 p.m. window at $41 and the 7 p.m. window at $36. The official site does not post prices, so confirm the cost at the point of sale on TicketWeb.

Anyone 5 and older needs a ticket. Hollywood Forever’s page says the event runs rain or shine, with no refunds or exchanges.

Practical Details

Saturday, October 24, noon to midnight, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90038. Tickets are sold through TicketWeb, linked from ladayofthedead.com. The event site lists parking at the Paramount Lemon Grove Structure, 900 N. Van Ness Ave., the Paramount Van Ness Structure, 783 N. Van Ness Ave., the Paramount Gower Structure, 801 N. Gower St., which opens at 3 p.m., and the Hollywood Production Center, 1149 N. Gower St. More parking details are emailed to ticket buyers before the event.