This year’s festival’s theme is Hecho con Amor/Made with Love in honor of our partnership with Mexico and our upcoming exhibition, Festin de Sabores – an intimate look at the richness and complexity of Mexican cuisine.

Join us for MOLAA’s annual Day of the Dead Family Festival! This year will be bigger and better than ever with over 36 merchants, nine delicious food stations, beer & wine, and sweets for the kids and the kids at heart. Live performances and tunes spun all day by DJ Caveman. There will be a face-painting station, a children’s sugar skull workshop, and a printmaking station. Come dressed in all your Day of the Dead regalia and enter to win prizes in our onsite Catrina/Catrine costume contest with live judging at 2 PM and a grand prize of $500.00! You don’t want to miss this!  

11:30 AM

Neiya Arts is a Contemporary Folklorico Dance Group based out of the Long Beach/ Carson area and founded in 2015 to preserve and diffuse Mexican culture and traditions. Neiya Arts adds an element of history and storytelling, allowing students to understand the dance and build appreciation. It bridges the past to the present, enabling students to connect with music, dance, history, culture, art, and their stories. They provide a positive outlet for students to grow, express their creativity, and showcase their talents.

12:30 PM

Ballet Folklorico Nueva Antequera was founded on October 2, 1999, by Miriam Lopez and Raul Cortes, born in Oaxaca. The Ballet’s cultural work and artistic merit have inspired over three generations of Oaxaqueños to appreciate their traditions and value the importance of their cultural legacy. This has also motivated them to excel in their personal lives, families, and society. For 23 years, Nueva Antequera has performed in numerous venues in California such as the Lobero Theater of Santa Barbara, The Aztec awards in Century City, The Autry Museum, The Getty Museum, The Bower Museum, The Molaa Museum of Long Beach, The LACMA Museum, The Ford Amphitheater, The Day of the Dead of Hollywood Forever, Pershing Square of LA, The Guelaguetza Festival in the cities of San Diego, Oxnard, Fresno, Las Vegas, Bakerfield, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Santa Monica, Washington DC, Phoenix AZ, Denver CO, and Los Angeles; as well as multiple workshops and small performances in local schools, colleges and with cultural organizations of the community.

2:00 PM

2023 Festival Dia de los Muertos Catrina/Catrin Contest Judging and Sponsor Recognition, ALL Finalists will be called to the main stage, holding their assigned numbers.

Anyone may enter. Costumes must be family friendly. Participants must sign a photo release form to qualify.

• 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Check-In for Participants will receive an entry voucher.

• 2:00 p.m. ALL Finalists will be called to the main stage holding their assigned numbers.

• 2:30 p.m. JUDGING AND ANNOUNCEMENT of winners.

Winners will be announced at 2:30PM and must be present to receive their prizes.

2023 Mini Ofrenda Presentation

3:00 PM

ASOSAL, Folkloric Ballet of El Salvador was created since the initiation of our organization, which has allowed us to have hundreds of young people who have participated throughout the years. The last 16 years have been under the artistic direction of Mr. Saul Mendez, a former member of the National Folkloric Ballet of El Salvador.

4:00 PM

Danza Azteca Xochipilli performs the ancient traditions of the Aztec people in their colorful program, combining authentic music, story, and dance. This 45-minute program includes a traditional Aztec opening ceremony, the Friendship dance, and a dance dedicated to Azteca Chichimec people. The crowd will be invited to participate onstage with the dancers and learn words in Nahuatl, the ancient Aztec language. Anecdotes and stories of the Aztec culture are told in alternating Spanish and English. Dance occupied an extraordinary place in the Aztec culture. It had a spiritual meaning and was performed to enhance one’s connection with ometeotl (duality of man god and woman god) and nature. 

Please Enjoy Complimentary Bicycle Valet by our Community Partner Healthy Active Streets!

Healthy Active Streets (HAS) was established in 2014 as Empact Communities with the goal of leveraging the bicycle as a tool to empower youth, communities of color, women, and other disenfranchised groups. HAS is based in Long Beach, where people of color are disproportionately injured and killed while using active transportation, and disproportionately suffer from the health impacts of pollution, largely due to their zip codes. (https://www.facebook.com/healthyactivest/)

Food Vendors:

Sponsors: