A Free Day of the Dead Brings Music to Green-Wood

Every year Green-Wood hands its Historic Chapel to one artist for a full-scale ofrenda, the altar families build for the dead. This year it is Reposo y Recuerdo by Laura Anderson Barbata: handwoven hammocks made with Mexican artisans using pre-Columbian techniques, papel picado banners overhead, paper marigold garlands, and whimsical skeletons on bicycles and in fanciful hats. Visitors add photos, notes, or flowers to the altar, decorate a calavera, or write a memory on the red ribbon. The chapel keeps the installation daily from 10 AM to 5 PM through November 15; during the celebration the ofrenda is open only from 4 to 5 PM.

The party spreads over the Main Entrance Meadow and the lawn beside the chapel. Craft tables run until supplies run out or the performances begin, whichever comes first. Families with children can do the crafts first, then take the five-minute walk to the chapel and see the ofrenda before it closes at 5 PM. After that the stage takes over with music and dance, and food and drink are sold on site. Día de Muertos closes a three-day observance across Latin America, October 31 to November 2, when households lay out marigolds, candles, favorite dishes, and photographs for the people they are remembering. The lawn stays lively until 7 PM.

Admission is free, walk-ins are welcome, and no names or tickets are checked. Registration only gauges the crowd and carries an optional ten dollar donation to Green-Wood. The R at 25 St is one block from the gate at Fifth Avenue, and that station is stairs-only. The five-minute path to the chapel is uneven with stairs, so wear shoes you can walk in, and a vehicle carries anyone who needs help. Daylight is nearly gone by 5 PM, so bring a small light for the walk back to 25th Street. Admission ends at 6:30 PM, and cancellations go out by Eventbrite email three hours ahead.