The City of Long Beach recently announced the grand marshals for the Día de los Muertos Grand Parade, with First District Councilmember Mary Zendejas, a trio of community organizations and a local mariachi musician tasked with leading the holiday festivities.
Taking place Saturday, Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the parade will go down Pine Avenue beginning at East Third Street towards East Shoreline Drive. The celebration will feature a variety of cultural performances and decorative floats, with appearances from several City departments and community partners.
In addition to Zendejas, the following people and organizations will also serve as grand marshals during the Día de los Muertos Grand Parade:
- Long Beach Latino Employees Organization – Open to all City of Long Beach employees, this nonprofit began meeting monthly in 2015 and discusses topics such as professional development, health and arts and culture. The organization also plans various community events and annually offers scholarships to Long Beach students seeking post-secondary and non-traditional education.
- Latinos in Action California – This Long Beach-based organization strives to empower Latinos through its objectives of solidarity, respect and action, while working to create a more equitable society for marginalized people.
- Julian Torres – Born in Hawthorne, Torres is an acclaimed mariachi artist, becoming the first mariachi performer signed to the prolific Death Row Records. Torres has been a purveyor of cultural music traditions through concerts around the world, performing at venues like The Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Sabado Gigante.
- Centro CHA – Originally founded in 1992, this nonprofit serves Long Beach’s Latino community through various community programs, ranging from immigration legal services to student safety initiatives.
For those who want to enjoy the festivities but are unable to attend, a feed of the parade will stream live on ABC7’s digital channel and be shown during the ABC7 Los Angeles on-air broadcast at 10:30 a.m. the following morning.
Accompanying the Day of the Dead parade will be the two-day Arte y Ofrendas Festival, taking place Nov. 2 and 3 at Marina Green Park (386 E. Shoreline Dr.). The family-friendly festival will include cultural arts and crafts, live music and local food and drink vendors. Tickets are $20 per day for adults, $12 per day for kids and can be purchased online.
To learn more about the Día de los Muertos Grand Parade, residents are encouraged to contact the First District Council Office by emailing district1@longbeach.gov or calling 562-570-6919.
