Lansing Día de Muertos celebration

Lansing’s 27^th Día de Muertos celebration runs Friday (Nov. 3) through Sunday (Nov. 5) at the former Blockbuster store in the Lansing Mall, offering free fun for the whole family in recognition of the traditional Mexican holiday, which honors loved ones who have passed away. The store will be decorated with marigold flowers imported from Mexico; papel picado, or traditional Mexican cut-paper folk art; and giant calaveras, or decorative sugar skulls.

The celebration begins 4 p.m. Friday with a blessing of community-made ofrendas, or offerings for the deceased, which will be on view throughout the weekend. Attendees are welcome to add a photo or note to a loved one. In addition, there will be sugar-skull-decorating sessions each day while supplies last, and Casa de Rosado Galeria and Cultural Center’s “¡Calaveras!” exhibition, featuring whimsical figures of skeletons joyously living life made by Michigan-based Hispanic and Latinx artists, will also be on display at the store.

Participants can drop off entries for the sugar-skull-decorating contest on Friday, with winners announced and prizes awarded 5 p.m. Saturday. Also at 5 p.m. Saturday are dance performances by Ballet Folklorico de Mi Terra and El Grupo Fiesta and a Catrin and Catrina sugar-skull costume contest with a $100 prize. Visitors can enjoy complimentary Mexican hot chocolate and pan de muertos, a sweet yeast bread.

For more information about all of the weekend’s happenings, visit facebook.com/casaderosado.