c: Latincouver
Why You’ll Want to Be at Burnaby’s First-Ever Día de los Muertos Celebration
For the very first time, Latincouver is bringing Día de los Muertos (a.k.a. Day of the Dead) to The Amazing Brentwood Mall Plaza on October 18 & 19, 2025, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. And it’s not just a festival, it’s a heartwarming, colourful, soulful fiesta of remembrance and joy.
Think: sugar skulls, marigold petals, music that gets your hips moving, art that whispers stories, and family-friendly magic. All by donation.
What is Día de los Muertos?
- Not spooky, but spirited. Día de los Muertos is less about scares and more about celebrating life. It’s a beautiful tradition from Mexico and Latin America honouring those who’ve passed on, calling them home, remembering their stories, and celebrating their presence in our lives.
- Symbols everywhere you look. From ofrendas (altars) with photos, candles, favourite foods, to marigolds (said to guide spirits), papel picado banners dancing in the breeze, and sugar skulls (calaveras) representing joyful remembrance.
In short, it’s a joyous reunion with memory, love, and heritage, not a day of darkness.
Live Performances & Local Magic
Catch Latin music, folkloric dance, and vibrant shows that make the plaza pulse with life. You’ll hear rhythms you’ll want to snap your fingers to, and see movement that tells stories.
Workshops You Can Jump Into (Register in Advance!)
- Sugar Skull Decorating (Oct 18): design your own calavera with icing, glitter, beads.
- Papel Picado Crafting (Oct 18): snip tradition into paper banners that flutter with character.
- Marigold Flower Making (Oct 18): create those glowing orange blooms believed to guide spirits.
- Storytime: Tales from Día de los Muertos (Oct 19): folktales, legends, and wisdom wrapped in storytelling.
- Mini Ofrenda Building (Oct 19): build a tiny altar of memory and meaning.
Eats + Market + Community Vibes
Find Latin flavours to savour, discover handcrafted treasures in our marketplace, and connect with Latin artists and vendors. It’s like stepping into a colourful, fragrant scene right from Mexico.
c: Latincouver/Gilly Wong
How You Can Be More Than an Attendee
- Bring a photo or memento of a beloved one to include in a communal altar or share in community remembrance.
- Dress in colour. Think floral prints, butterflies, papel picado motifs, but come as you are.
- Invite family and friends, kids, grandparents, neighbours.
- Share stories. A favourite recipe, a memory, a laugh, talking about someone helps make them alive again in spirit.
Mark your calendar! Let’s transform The Amazing Brentwood into a glowing tapestry of life and memory. Come with your heart open, your hands ready to craft, and your feet ready to dance.
Festival Schedule
Day 1 – Saturday, October 18
Main Stage Performances
| Time | Performance | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. – 12:02 p.m. | Welcome – MC Gera | Opening remarks and event introduction |
| 12:02 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Mexico Vivo | Dance performance showcasing Día de los Muertos cultural expressions |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | TEE DJ | Live DJ set with Latin-inspired rhythms |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Casa Meshiko | Music and culture from Mexico, including an Aztec ceremony |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | TEE DJ | Groove session between live acts |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Los Grandes | Norteño band performing energetic hits and classics |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | TEE DJ | High-energy mix to keep the crowd moving |
| 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Mariachi Los Dorados | Authentic mariachi ensemble closing the day with traditional songs |
Workshops
| Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Sugar Skull Decorating | Hands-on activity to decorate calaveras with colourful designs |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Sugar Skull Decorating | Second session for participants to join in creating their skull art. |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Papel Picado Crafting | Create traditional cut-paper banners used in Mexican celebrations. |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Marigold Flower Making | Craft vibrant cempasúchil flowers symbolizing remembrance |
Day 2 – Sunday, October 19
Main Stage Performances
| Time | Performance | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. – 12:02 p.m. | Welcome — MC Gera | Opening remarks for the second day |
| 12:02 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Calpulli Cemanahuac | Indigenous dance group presenting traditional Mexican rituals |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | TEE DJ | DJ interlude with festive Latin beats |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Las Primas de Naolinco | Folkloric music and dance from Veracruz, Mexico |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Nahualli Folklore | Traditional Mexican dance celebrating folkloric heritage |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | TEE DJ | Musical set to maintain the festive energy |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Tren al SUR | Live Latin rock/pop band performance |
| 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | TEE DJ | Closing DJ set before the finale |
| 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Mariachi Tabasko | Closing performance celebrating Mexican music traditions |
Workshops
| Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Storytime: Tales from Día de los Muertos | Family-friendly storytelling featuring legends of the Day of the Dead |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Mini Ofrenda Building | Learn to build small altars to honour loved ones who’ve passed away |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Catrina Self-Makeup Workshop: Ritual of Colour and Memory | Explore the symbolism of the Catrina through a makeup and cultural experience |
Getting Here
By car
From Hwy #1, take Exit 29 for Willingdon Avenue N to the corner of Lougheed and Willingdon. There are over 2000 designated surface and underground parking stalls, including accessible and family spaces.
SkyTrain
Via the Millennium Skytrain line, disembark at Brentwood Town Centre Station.
By bus
Take the #9, 25, 123, 130, 134, 136. For more information on public transit schedules and routes, please visit Translink’s Trip Planner.