Day of the Dead Celebrations Keep With Latino Traditions

Following are some Day of the Dead events open to the public free of charge:

Day of the Dead program, including traditional altars; a lecture on the festival by Dr. Miguel Dominguez, chairman of the Mexican-American Studies program at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and a party. Location: El Centro de Accion Social (Center for Social Action), Central Park, 37 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Information: (818) 792-3148.

GALLERY SHOWINGS OF DAY OF THE DEAD ART:

The Folk Tree, 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, (818) 795-8733. Display of altars by several local artists and Day of the Dead items by anonymous and identified artisans. Through Nov. 5; Monday through Saturday, 11 to 6 p.m. Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

L.A. Photography Center, 412 S. Park View St., (213) 383-7342. Music, traditional foods, works by 25 artists and a pinata for children. Open to public Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m.

Howard Karno’s Books and Gallery, 1229 Santa Monica Mall, (213) 458-1619. Art by J. Michael Walker, plus an exhibit of a traditional Day of the Dead altar. Through Nov. 14; Monday through Friday, 11 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 to 6 p.m., closed Sunday.

Ocumicho Gallery, 1439 2nd St., Santa Monica, (213) 451-8876. Altars and other traditional Day of the Dead art by five artists from Oaxaca, Mexico, where the festival is celebrated more elaborately than any other place in Mexico. Friday through Nov. 3. Friday and Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m. Monday, open to groups by appointment. On Saturday, a special Night of Candles and Calaveras (skulls) party will be held from 9 p.m. until midnight.

Soap Plant upstairs gallery, 7400 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 651-5587. Day of the Dead art. Friday only, noon to midnight.

Sonrisa, corner of 1st and Central in downtown Los Angeles, (213) 687-4122. Day of the Dead art by David Gurney, plus a traditional Day of the Dead altar. Through Nov. 14. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m.