𝗗𝗜́𝗔 𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗠𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: Aztec Dancers Lead Ceremonial Blessing at Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, CA — Saturday, November 1, 2025 — The Santa Monica Pier hosted a solemn and culturally significant moment on Saturday as members of the Indigenous community led a Día de los Muertos blessing and procession, marking the start of a two-day program honoring tradition, remembrance, and collective memory. The procession began at the west end of the Pier, where Danza Azteca Kalpoli Atlachinoli dancers — dressed in traditional regalia — offered ceremonial movements before guiding participants toward the historic Merry Go-Round building. The dancers emphasized that this was not a performance, but a ceremony — a sacred act of honoring ancestors and memory — reaffirming the spiritual nature of their presence at the Pier. Inside the Merry Go-Round, visitors moved through an immersive installation featuring marigolds, papel picado, and community-created ofrendas honoring loved ones. Local artistic contributions added personal narratives and reflections connected to Santa Monica’s cultural history. The two-day Día de los Muertos activation at the Pier included free activities and opportunities for public participation, inviting families, residents, and visitors to engage with the holiday’s traditions while reflecting on the meaning of remembrance within the community. Santa Monica Closeup continues documenting public events of cultural significance.

𝗗𝗜́𝗔 𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗠𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪: Classic Car Lineup Draws Spectators at Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, CA — Saturday, November 1, 2025 — Several classic cars — including gleaming Chevy Impalas and vintage Ford models — rolled onto the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday afternoon as part of the 6th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration, turning the boardwalk into a temporary open-air exhibition of Southern California car-culture heritage. Spectators paused along the Pier’s parking lot to photograph polished chrome, custom paint, and low-slung profiles that reflected the cultural traditions long intertwined with Chicano and Mexican-American communities. The classic lineup became one of the most visually striking elements of the two-day program. The Día de los Muertos activation — held November 1 and November 2 — once again invited the public inside the historic Merry Go-Round to view and contribute to ofrendas honoring loved ones. The community-focused installation is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. Saturday’s programming included a traditional Aztec blessing at the west end of the Pier, followed by a parade to the Merry Go-Round building, Ballet Folklorico performances, multiple live music sets, and family-friendly activities throughout the evening. The classic cars remained on display as dancers, families, and visitors moved between performances, blending automotive pride into a cultural celebration rooted in memory, art, and tradition.