The Day of the Dead at The Hollywood Forever Cementary

Notes from the Organizers

About L.A. Day of The Dead

Dia de los Muertos, also known as L.A. Day of the Dead, held annually at Hollywood

Forever Cemetery in Hollywood California was envisioned to provide an authentic venue

where this ancient tradition could be genuinely observed, celebrated and preserved. Tyler

Cassity, Owner and CEO of Hollywood Forever, along with Celine Mares and Deisy

Marquez conceived this festival of life as a platform which would synthesize creativity as

a means of remembering the departed spirits of our lives. This event has provided a

gateway for those who wish to re-acquaint themselves with their deeply rooted traditions

and profoundly engage with one of the most devotional celebrations for the continuous

cycle of life. This event has grown from a few altars and a little over a hundred guests in

its first year 1999, to the nation's largest Dia de los Muertos celebration with over 20,000

visitors attending each year. The event now includes over 100 beautifully hand-crafted

altars, has four live cultural entertainment stages featuring performers from all over latin

America , world renowned art exhibitions, photo exhibits, art and craft vendors, food and

beverages, volunteers, and a full time production team that works year round to make

each event unique and unforgettable.

About Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Hollywood Forever Cemetery formally known as Hollywood Memorial Park was founded

in 1899 and is located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd , Los Angeles ( directly behind the

famous Paramount studios lot ) Covering over 62 acres and home to Old Hollywood's

most famous immortals, the expansive grounds have played host to Dia De Los Muertos

for the past nine years. Well-known personalities from Hollywood 's past and present are

interred or entombed in the cemetery. Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Tyrone

Power, Cecil B. Demille, Alfred Hitchcock, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Jayne Mansfield,

John Huston, Estelle Getty, Fay Wray, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone, and Lana

Clarkson are just some of the famous names that rest within the gates of Hollywood

Forever. In 1999 the cemetery was named to the prestigious National Register of

Historic Places .

 

What is Dia De Los Muertos ?

Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of Mexico 's traditional holidays reuniting

and honoring beloved ancestors, family and friends. It is an ancient and enduring ritual

when the living commune with the dead. Dia De Los Muertos is celebrated on November

1 and 2 nd in relation with the Catholic holy days all saints day and all souls day. This

holiday is celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the

United States .

The historical roots of this celebration date back to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Meso-

America of the indigenous people, especially the Nahua (Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecas,

Tlaxcaltec, Chichimec, Tecpanec) and others native to Mexico more than 3,000 years.

Traditions involve family members sharing memorable stories that evoke the lives of

their ancestors. Offerings and altars are created to welcome and commemorate the dead.

Altars are created with photos, mementos, fruit, bread, and other favorite things of the

ancestors being welcomed and honored. The artifacts of these altars also provide the

opportunity to teach children about those who came before them.

Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time of celebration on remembrance. It is

also a time to come to terms with our mortality and become aware of the cycle of life and

death. Rather than deny and fear death this event teaches us to accept and contemplate the

meaning of mortality.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery – built in 1899

6000 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038

• 62 Acre site

• Attendance - 20,000 ++

• Over 400 performers

• Over 100 hand crafted altars

• Altar Contest – Create an altar for your beloved – 1st Prize $ 3000

• 4 Live Stages of Entertainment

• Major art exhibit in cathedral featuring works from Ricardo Ortega

• Photo Exhibit

• ViP Suite

• Children's Center - decorating, painting traditional skeletons, calavera face painting

• First Aid Station

• Food and Beverages

• Over 30 art and craft vendors

• Production staff of 21

• 25 Volunteers from UCLA and surrounding community

• 3 dance companies performing – including Tierra blanca dance company. – La

estudiantina calif. dance company, Ballet Folklorico “Xhanat,” dance company, plus Aztec

circle dance companies

• 12 Month Production Schedule

• Off site parking available in three area parking structures surrounding the event – fee

• $ 5 admission for adults and children under 10 are free