El Centro Del Pueblo Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos Saturday

is hosting a Dia de los Muertos and mariachi festival this weekend. Entrance is free. The festivities are located at their headquarters at 1157 Lemoyne Street. The event runs from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Chair of the Board of El Centro del Pueblo Conrado Terrazas reports that there will be 16 altars on display, twice as many as last year. They will honor the departed loved ones of members of the center’s staff and local members of the community.

There will also be 15 vendor booths, as well as food for sale to benefit El Centro del Pueblo’s December toy drive.

For the first time, the Dia de los Muertos celebration is combined with the Echo Park Mariachi Festival. There is “a great lineup of entertainment,” says Terrazas, including a 16-piece mariachi band of elementary and middle school students.

This group, Premier Mariachi, will play two sets between 4 and 6 p.m. “They are so cute,” says Terrazas, but play “even better than some adults.” The group helps promote the new music education program at

There will be other groups playing live music as well as a puppet show and a performance by El Centro del Pueblo’s drill team. In addition to the outdoor attractions of the altars, vendors and entertainment, an art exhibition is scheduled for indoors. All sales of the art will benefit the toy drive as well.

Terrazas says visitors will be “amazed” at the floral display of 150 bunches of marigolds and coxcombs. El Centro del Pueblo will also be offering non-partisan voter registration for anyone who attends.  

The event is co-sponsored by Assembly member Gil Cedillo, State Senator Kevin De Leon, Council President Eric Garcetti and the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council.