Día de los Muertos at the National Portrait Gallery Brings Music, Dance and a Community Altar to Sunday Evening

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery holds its annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Sunday, November 1, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., according to Hola Cultura's guide to the holiday in Washington, read this run. The evening is part of the November 1-2 observance in which families welcome the spirits of deceased loved ones with altars adorned with marigolds, candles, photographs and offerings.

The program lists live music by Son de Fandango and Mexican folk dance performances by the D.C. Folklórico Dance Company, along with art workshops and outdoor video art projections by MasPaz and Gauche, according to the guide.

Visitors can also create calaveras and papel picado to decorate the community altar at the gallery, according to Washingtonian's weekend guide read this run, which lists the event as free with registration encouraged. The Portrait Gallery celebration is one of several Día de los Muertos events across the District on Sunday, alongside gatherings at the Wharf and Congressional Cemetery covered separately by this station.