By N. Bradford
A month-long celebration of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, will be held at all Brazoria County Library branches, including Pearland West and the Tom Reid Library beginning Oct. 3.
Plans for “Dia do Los Muertos: A Month of Remembrance” began as a partnership between the library system and the Brazoria County Historical Museum and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
The traditional Dia de Los Muertos involves honoring ancestors and the cycle of life. In Mexico, families gather in local cemeteries to share food, music and memories to celebrate their ancestors.
Entries are being accepted now and will close Sept. 15 for the Sugar Skull Decoration Contest to be held at local library branches. Libraries will provide a blank template for decorating a paper sugar skull as a take-home craft with instructions.
Winning entries will be displayed in a Día de los Muertos exhibit hosted at the Lake Jackson Historical Museum, 249 Circle Way, Lake Jackson, which is planning a Family Fun Day on Oct. 21 with live performances, crafts, face painting and food trucks.
In addition, the Center for the Arts and Sciences at 400 College Blvd. in Clute will host a VIP event Oct. 6 featuring cultural performances and a juried art exhibition. Submissions are being accepted now online at bcfas.org. For more information, call the center at 979-265-7661.
In Freeport, a Día de los Muertos Altars display will be available to the community at the Freeport Historical Museum. On Nov. 2, which is All Souls Day, Freeport Main Street will host a traditional Día de los Muertos Procession at 6 p.m.
To wrap up events, the Brazoria County Historical Museum will host Dia de los Muertos School Showcase, a display of winning student artworks with a reception for students to be held on Nov. 3.
For more about the events and organizations hosting Dia de los Muertos: A Month of Remembrance, visit www.diadelosmuertosbc.com