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PHOTOS: 24th Street Theatre hosts Día de los Muertos festival

Karen Bass and Jack Black attend a celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday with members of the community.

By Jason Goode
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(Photo by Jason Goode)

On November 2, a dimly lit crowd celebrates Día de los Muertos at the 24th Street Theatre in South Los Angeles. In this crowd one could spot Representative Karen Bass and actor Jack Black speaking together offstage before addressing the crowd individually about the event’s significance and the importance of getting out to vote.

The celebration included traditional elements of Day of the Dead such as papel picado, which are intricately created colorful paper designs, and calaveras de azúcar, also known as sugar skulls. Pictures of loved ones, candles and marigolds are other common features of these celebrations that were present at the 24th Street Theatre on Wednesday. These festivities are a time to come together to remember friends and family members that have passed and tell their stories.

The group Danza Azteca Huitzilopochtli dance in their traditional attire. With feathered headdresses, their faces painted to represent skulls and rattling shells by their ankles, coinciding with the beating of a drum, they perform in a makeshift cemetery to a crowd of Angelenos.
The group Danza Azteca Huitzilopochtli dance in their traditional attire. With feathered headdresses, their faces painted to represent skulls and rattling shells by their ankles, coinciding with the beating of a drum, they perform in a makeshift cemetery to a crowd of Angelenos. (Photo by Jason Goode)
A marigold flower and a LED candle sit in a makeshift cemetery of wooden crosses where families decorated altars with flowers, candles and personal items.
A marigold flower and a LED candle sit in a makeshift cemetery of wooden crosses where families decorated altars with flowers, candles and personal items. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Representative and mayoral candidate Karen Bass speaks about how marvelous it is to have this event in person after it was online last year. She also encouraged those who haven’t to get out and vote.
Representative and mayoral candidate Karen Bass speaks about how marvelous it is to have this event in person after it was online last year. She also encouraged those who haven’t to get out and vote. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Vendor stalls lining the street were selling a multitude of items from food like arroz con leche (rice pudding) to jewelry and light-up toys for children.
Vendor stalls lining the street were selling a multitude of items from food like arroz con leche (rice pudding) to jewelry and light-up toys for children. (Photo by Jason Goode)
[One-sentence description of what this media is: "A photo of a vaccine site on USC campus" or "Gif of dancing banana". Important for accessibility/people who use screen readers.]
A crowd gathers to take photos with Jack Black next to an altar adorned with pictures of loved ones and offerings which commemorate the lives of those who have passed away. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Jack Black, a member of the producers circle of the 24th Street Theatre, spoke at the event. In his speech, he detailed the 24th Street Theatre’s impact on him and encouraged the crowd to vote in the upcoming election.
Jack Black, a member of the producers circle of the 24th Street Theatre, spoke at the event. In his speech, he detailed the 24th Street Theatre’s impact on him and encouraged the crowd to vote in the upcoming election. (Photo by Jason Goode)
[One-sentence description of what this media is: "A photo of a vaccine site on USC campus" or "Gif of dancing banana". Important for accessibility/people who use screen readers.]
A group performs the Danza de los Viejitos, a folk dance from Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. (Photo by Jason Goode)
An attendee dressed as La Catrina watches performances from the back of the crowd.
An attendee dressed as La Catrina watches performances from the back of the crowd. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Families and children wait in lines to ride the ferris wheel and carousel just south of the performance stage.
Families and children wait in lines to ride the ferris wheel and carousel just south of the performance stage. (Photo by Jason Goode)

For additional information and context regarding Día de los Muertos, La Catrina and marigolds, check out our Annenberg Media Interactive. For information about Danza Azteca Huitzilopochtli and Danza de los Viejitos feel free to check out these links that give further details about these particular dances.

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