La Catrina, symbol of Dia de los Muertos, with marigold array for ancestral remembrance NYBG, Everett’s Children Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)
Celebration of Memory, Life and Renewal at NYBG: October 3 through November 2, 2026.
Ofrenda and Table of Remembrance
Colorful multi-tiered ofrenda (altar of remembrance) and the table of remembrance, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
For the holiday of remembrance and return, the Garden celebrates the memory of loved ones during a joyful tribute of vibrant, gorgeous artistic floral installations with music and craft programs. Look to celebrate family ancestors and fall’s lush beauty on select days. First, visit the ofrenda (altar of remembrance) near the entrance to the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden.
Ofrenda (altar of remembrance), communing with ancestral spirits, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
Just before the entrance to the journey of joy in the Everett Children’ Adventure Garden, visit the colorful, large multi-tiered community ofrenda (altar of remembrance). There, visitors may share pictures of loved ones and write notes remembering loved ones. Bronx artist from Mexico, Blanka Amezkua, curated the top three tiers of the ofrenda. the large bottom two tiers allow visitors to add their own items of meditation and reflections, either from home or created at the Garden with elements from a nearby Remembrance Table.
Ofrenda with symbolic plants representing the Mexican tradition going back 3000 years, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Signage and remembrance table where visitors leave messages for loved ones during the return, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Photos of remembrance on the ofrenda, messages below to loved ones, Dia de los Muertos at NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Ofrenda detail with symbols, including skulls, candles, sweet bread, foods, Dia de los Muertos at NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
Enter the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden for Dia de los Muertos Fun
The Garden’s celebration of Day of the Dead takes visitors on a journey. Papel picado banners guide guests though a lovely landscape filled with representations of the celebration: marigolds, calaveras, pumpkins, gourds, flowers, spirit guide alebrijes of Mexican folk art that accompany souls.
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
Journey through the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden for Dia de los Muertos
The path leading into Dia de los Muertos interior fun and exhibits, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
Alebrijes lead the way
Alebrjes are friendly spirit guide animals based on wildlife found at NYBG, Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Garden. Signage identifies the animals that lead visitors on the journey (Carole Di Tosti)Alebrijes are drawn by EdgarFlores, known as Saner, a Mexican stteet artist, illustrator,and graphic designer. The signage shows what to look for, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Hawk spirit guide and calaveras, Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Squirrel spirit guide (alebrijes) Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Coyote spirit guide (alebries); yes, there are coyotes at the Garden, Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
Look out for monarch butterflies, calaveras and marigolds
Monarch signage at NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Dia de los Muertos celebration(Carole Di Tosti) Monarchs return to Mexico around the same dates as Dia de los Muertos, NYBG, Everett Chldren’s Garden (Carole Di Tosti)A monarch with signage of its habits and return to Mexico around the Dia de los Muertos celebrations,NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Monarch sunning themselves, Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)
Enjoy encounters with artfully arranged calaveras (brightly decorated skulls and aluminum skeletons)
Calaveras (skeletons) explained as a key feature of Dia de los Muertos NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)Calaveras, Everett’s Children Adventure Garden, Dia de los Muertos, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)How marigolds represent Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)It wouldn’t be Dia de los Muertos without marigolds, NYBG Everett Children’s Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Monarch butterflies, a skeleton, marigolds and a caterpillar, Dia de los Muertos, Everett Children’s Garden, NYBG (Carole Di Tosti)A happy skeleton with monarch friends, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Another view of a calaveras relaxing, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)These playful calaveras remind us not to fear death. Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)
LA CATRINA
The Signage explains the significance of La Catrina, a satire created by Mexican printmaker, José Guadalupe Posada. Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)
Posada created the figure around 1910–1913 as La Calavera Garbancera. La Catrina reminds us that we must not be presumptuous about wealth, status, money, power. Underneath the fine clothes and sophistication we are skeletons.
La Catrina, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)
Views of La Catrina as a key symbol of Dia de los Muertos
A figure of hope and truth, La Catrina reveals death as a part of the life cycle. She is represented expressing joy, humor, and elegance. She manifests the spirit of Dia de los Muertos as families honor their ancestors. La Catrina is a symbol of Mexican pride in its meld of indigenous and European heritage. La Catrina has become a global symbol of Mexican art and traditio
La Catrina close up, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)La Catrina detail, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Side view, La Catrina, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Side view, La Catrina, Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)Dia de Los Muertos, NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (Carole Di Tosti)
November 1st celebrants may join the Dia de los Muertos Parade, led by musicians, dancers and larger-than-life puppets featuring La Catrina, calaveras and monarch butterflies. You will experience live performances, dance instruction, cultural activities, crafts, food offerings and communal remembrance. The parade begins at 2 pm, Sunday, November 1, 2026. November2, 2026 is the last day to bring a photo or other memorabilia and put it on the ofrenda. Make sure you have copies. The Garden will not be able to return it.
Check the Garden website periodically for updates on activities. https://www.nybg.org/
