Evergreen’s Day of the Dead Celebration
Celebrate Día de Muertos with food, music, live performances and family fun activities.
Join us on October 30 from 10am - 3pm for Evergreen’s celebration of Mexican and Latin American culture with activities for children and adults alike. Evergreen's Day of the Dead celebration takes place at the Sunday Artisan Market and incorporates traditional Mexican and Latin American celebrations, fun family activities and delicious food and drink.
At Day of the Dead, you can enjoy live music and traditional dances on our main stage as part of Evergreen’s Cultural Performing Arts Series presented by Bank of America, understand the ritual of creating an altar or “Ofrenda”, take part in sugar skull face painting, play in the Children’s Garden and more.
Our Sunday Artisan Market will merge with our Feed Your Soul Food Court, where we are featuring chefs and artisans from the Mexican and Latin American community. Food, shopping, performances - there will be something for everyone! Stop by Brickworks Cider's sampling station to try their new and delicious Ponche Mexicano (traditional Mexican fruit beverage served warm). They will also be sampling their Lime Margarita cider and non-alcholic apple juice.
At Día de Muertos, people from diverse backgrounds can have conversations about the importance of rituals, food, culture, and diversity. Let’s celebrate the cultural diversity of our city at Día de Muertos together!
Event Details
Día de Muertos takes place all over Evergreen Brick Works! See the activities below for their times and locations.
Mercado de Artesanos | Artisan Market
The Sunday Artisan Market highlights Mexican and Latin American craft artisans. Here’s the list of vendors that you can expect to see there:
- Tej Essentials
- Mariana Aramburu
- Somi
- Molly B’s Gluten Free
- 3DE Creations
- Blooming Crafts Toronto
- Maye Ornelas Illustrations
- Pedacito
- Talis
- Fashion Monsters
- Everly
- CC Spicy
- Coralia Fashions
- Made With Love by Mia
- Drop Tha Bomb
- Big Spice
- Green Meadow Metier
- Ezra’s Dragon
- Borojo Crafted Designs
- Pre&Peri
- Buankissed
- Asiri’s Treasures
- Glyph Productions
- The Wounded Healer
- Artesano
Location: Pavilions
Time: 10am – 3pm
Mezcal Tasting
Mezcal, a word of origin Nahuatl, means cooked agave, the raw material for this ancestral drink. Mezcal is essential in the offerings of the Day of the Dead for being the favourite beverage of our loved ones. Numerous stories connect Mezcal with the Day of the Dead celebrations. Join us to listen to some of them while enjoying a Mezcal tasting guided by Yvette Astorga, Mezcal Promoter and Educator.
Location: Pavilions
Time: Seatings at 1pm and 2pm
Tickets will be sold ahead of time on October 22 & 29 during the Saturday Farmers Market at the Sipping Container. $18 per ticket - cash only.
Tickets will also be sold on October 30 at Day of the Dead. $20 per ticket - cash only.
Feed Your Soul Food Court
Drop by the Feed your Soul Food Court to celebrate Mexican and Latin Food produced with local ingredients! Tamales, carnitas, arepas, churros and nopales are just some of the delicious foods that you might find. Here’s a list of food vendors that you can expect to see there:
- Pimenton
- Tapioca Toronto
- Mad Mexican
- Tienda Movil
- Panchos Bakery
- I Love Churros Food Truck
- Don Tito (food truck)
- ChocoSol Traders
- Mayan Pantry
- Titas Mexican Food
- Cuban Thing
Location: The Pavilions
Time: 10am - 3pm
Pan de Muerto recien horneado | Pan de Muerto fresh from the Brick Oven
Drop by Pancho's Bakery to purchase the best Pan de Muerto Toronto has to offer, freshly baked by expert baker and owner of Pancho’s Bakery Señor Adalberto Aguilar Lopez (Padre).
Location: The Pavilions
Time: 10am – 3pm
Ofrendas | Day of the Dead Altars
The ofrenda, meaning "offering", is an essential part of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Ofrendas are set up to remember and honour the memory of their ancestors, where people are encouraged to bring offerings that remind you of those dear to you that have passed away. The altar, like many other rituals of Dia de Muertos, will be part of our celebrations throughout the day, as we are creating moments for sharing stories and celebrating the significance of this wonderful event.
There will be a few ofrendas throughout the Pavilions as well as a Community Ofrenda. Help us build this community altar together! Bring flowers, especially marigolds, photographs of family members that have passed or any special memento. Everyone will contribute to the altar. In the process, we will learn about its significance and share stories.
Location: Pavilions
Time: 10am - 3pm
Musica y Danza | Live Music and Dance
Our Pavilions will be buzzing with an exciting array of music, dance and storytelling. These performances bring communities together by creating something big through the arts and sharing Día de Muertos customs to this multicultural country.
The performances are an installation of Evergreen's Cultural Performing Arts Series, presented by Bank of America.
We strive to contribute to our society by educating our communities artistically and to make our society feel proud of living in a country where all cultures are welcome. We celebrate the richness of cultural diversity within the society and reaffirm community and culture.
Location: Pavilions, Main Stage
Time: 10am – 3pm
Programa | Program:
11am | “Bailando Forever”
“Bailando Forever” is a dance group dedicated to showing the folklore of all Latin-American countries. Their seniors' group has been established in Toronto for more than 9 years under the umbrella of Davenport Perth Community Health Centre and now under the direction of The Mexicans Folk Ballet.
11:30am | Cuenta Cuento | Story Telling
12pm | Arts & Crafts Workshop
Join us for a workshop run by Casa Cultura Mexicana that focuses on the traditional Mexican craft of ‘papel picado’ (intricately carved paper banner decorations). Materials will be provided!
1pm | "Mexico Amigo" Mariachi Band
Featuring authentic costumes and instruments, the "Mexico Amigo" Mariachi Band provides a vibrant view of Mexican folklore and culture.
2pm | The Mexicans Folk Ballet presenting A Chilango on the Day of the Dead
In the Mexicans Folk Ballet’s dance, they show that even though Mexicans play around with the idea of death, they respect, celebrate and value both death and life.
The Mexicans Folk Ballet is a Mexican dance company established in Toronto since 2012 under the direction of Jorge Zarate Tristan, with the main purpose of share and promote Mexico’s culture, traditions and folklore through dance. Their work is based on the cultural heritage of Mexico, and how they can enrich and share it with the Canadian and international community.
Actividades para niños | Children’s Activities
Join us for Weekend Nature Play in the Children’s Garden at our Day of the Dead celebration.
Learn more about Weekend Nature Play.
Location: The Children's Garden
Time: 10am – 3pm
Calavera Catrina | Skull Face Painting
Drop by faceART’s face-painting booth and be transformed into a calavera (skull) for the celebration! La Catrina has become the referential image of death in Mexico, and it is common to see her embodied as part of the celebrations of Day of the Dead. Designs ranging from $5-$20. Payment methods: EMT and Cash.
Location: Pavilions
Time: 10am – 3pm
This event is made possible with the help of our community partners: Mexican Folk Ballet, ChocoSol, Mezcal People and Pancho's Bakery.