UC Irvine hosts Día de los Muertos event featuring Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas

MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT: UCI’s School of Social Ecology hosts Día de los Muertos, presented by Northgate González Market. This free event, complete with live music, dance, a virtual and physical altar, customary foods, face painting and crafts, will immerse attendees in the rich Mexican tradition of honoring and remembering deceased loved ones.

WHEN/WHERE: 4-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre (bldg. 1, grid D5 on this campus map: https://parking.uci.edu/maps/documents/UCI-MainCampusMap-REV012320-23.pdf)

Registration is available at https://socialecology.uci.edu/webforms/dia-de-los-muertos#overlay-context=.

INFORMATION: Media planning to attend should contact Cara Capuano at 949-501-9192 or ccapuano@uci.edu. Parking in UCI’s Student Center Parking Structure, located near the intersection of Pereira Drive and West Peltason Drive, is complimentary for media who RSVP in advance.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

4 p.m.–Danza Azteca Toyaacan: Based in La Puente, this group performs an indigenous spiritual practice from Mexico that mixes prayer with dancing and singing.

5 p.m. – Sunkist Elementary School baile folklorico, Orange Grove Elementary School mariachi and Benito Juarez Elementary School mariachi

5:30 p.m. – Yelka Gonzalez Vargas: This 21-year-old Cal State Fullerton student writes, records and produces music, including her recently released single “A.M.”

6 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico de UCI

7 p.m. – Mariachi Divas: The critically acclaimed, all-female professional mariachi band provides music for live concerts, commercials, TV and film. A two-time Grammy Award winner, with eight Grammy nominations and three Latin Grammy nominations, the ensemble continues to expand the scope of mariachi music, delighting audiences around the world.

BACKGROUND: “UCI’s School of Social Ecology has the most Latino students (46 percent) on campus, and presenting our Día de los Muertos event is a way of honoring our Latino culture,” said Jon Gould, dean of the school. “It’s a beautiful tradition that helps us embrace our students, educate the community and honor our ancestors.”

People who wish to remember those who have died are encouraged to contribute to a digital altar created to accompany the event: https://sites.uci.edu/diadelosmuertos/altar.

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