This year, Día de los Muertos kicks off on October 31 and lasts through November 2. Also known as the Day of the Dead, the Mexican holiday honors the memory of lost loved ones. When the weekend arrives, several museums and institutes will be hosting events dedicated to celebrating and commemorating the holiday.

Mexican Cultural Institute 

On Saturday, the Mexican Cultural Institute will host its annual Día de los Muertos celebration. This year’s altar, prepared by D.C.-based artist Enrique Quiroz, will honor the victims of the August shooting in El Paso, Texas, where 22 people lost their lives. The altar will also recognize the lives of prominent Mexican figures who passed away in 2019, like artist Francisco Toledo, humanitarian Miguel León Portilla, and singer José José.

Corazón Folklórico Dance Company, a D.C.-based Ballet Folklórico group, will perform throughout the afternoon, and the event will feature a continuous screening of The Universe Apart, a film about the life and work of Francisco Toledo.

2829 16th St NW, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. FREE, donations encouraged. 

National Museum of the American Indian 

The National Museum of the American Indian and the Smithsonian Latino Center are celebrating Día de los Muertos this weekend with hands-on art creation. Artist Lilia Ramirez will be working with visitors of all ages to build an interactive mural featuring La Catrina, an iconic figure created by artist José Guadalupe Posada that has become a symbol of the holiday.

The festival will feature a traditional ofrenda created by National Heritage Fellow Ofelia Esparza and her daughter Rosanna Esparza Ahrens. Visitors can make their own paper marigolds to place on the altar in memory of their loved ones.

Over the course of the weekend, the event will feature performances by Grupo los Tecuanes, and educational talks on the history of Día de los Muertos by Smithsonian folklorist Cynthia Vidaurri.

4th St and Independence Ave SW, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. FREE.

Arlington Arts Center 

The Arlington Arts Center will be hosting its 16th annual Día de los Muertos celebration, featuring art projects, face painting, and traditional treats like Mexican hot chocolate and pan de muerto. The center will display work from Francisco Loza, an artist whose pieces reflect themes of family and cultural tradition, the environment, and immigration.

On Friday and Saturday, AAC will be projecting multimedia art by Robin Bell and Claudia Olivos onto the side of the building. Their piece, “Fiesta de los Ancestros,” combines color and patterns to represent the historical celebration.

3550 Wilson Blvd, Saturday, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. FREE.

National Portrait Gallery 

The National Portrait Gallery will celebrating Día de los Muertos with music, dancing, and crafts on Saturday night. The event will showcase live performances by Los Gallos Negros, a D.C.-based collective of musicians focused on preserving and promoting musical genres from Mexican and Latin American culture, and Maru Montero Dance Company, one of the premier Latin dance companies in the D.C. area.

8th St NW & F St NW, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. FREE.