"Dia de Los Muertos" at La Cosecha (Washington, DC)
Are you up for a Dia de los Muertos celebration? I have been waiting for DC to host something like this and am so excited about this upcoming weekend’s festivities! Vamos (let’s go)
I hear your question…
”What’s Dia de los Muertos?”
Día de los Muertos is Spanish for “Day of the Dead”— it’s not a scary day; it’s a celebration of life and death. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated all over Latin America with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). It’s a day when family and friends honor and celebrate the lives of their loved ones who’ve passed with comida (food), ofrendas (offerings), flores (marigold flowers), hand-painted decor, and more.
La Cosecha, Union Market District’s new contemporary Latin marketplace, will host its first annual Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) celebration, happening Thursday, October 31 through Saturday, November 2, 2019!
La Cosecha partners Serenata, Peruvian Brothers, Mosaico, FILOS Bakery, ArtTepuy, Arcay Chocolates, and NOVA BOSSA will highlight the traditional Mexican holiday with food, drink, and retail specials, tarot card readings, and family-friendly activities like face painting, a screening of animated favorite Coco and much more.
“Coco” Movie by Disney Pixar (Photo Credit: People’s World)
WHEN: Thursday, 11am-10pm | Friday + Saturday, 11am-midnight | Sunday, 11am-6pm
WHERE: La Cosecha, 1280 4th Street NE, Washington DC
WHO: You, your friends, family, and boos (see what I did there?!? *wink wink*)
SPECIALS:
Take a sip at Serenata, Daniella Senior’s Latin-inspired cocktail bar, serving up its specialty drink, “La Catrina,” named after the iconic Día de los Muertos symbol. The $14 cocktail is a mix of mezcal, apricot fig syrup, elderflower, palo santo bitters, and activated charcoal.
Luxury lifestyle retail shop NOVA BOSSA will give away two copies of coffee table book “La Pulqueria” to the customers in the best costumes.
Get 10% off all products from Venezuelan artisan crafts brand ArtTepuy, from 4-6 pm on Friday, November 1.
ENTERTAINMENT:
Bring the kids out for a special screening of Oscar-winning animated favorite Coco on Saturday, November 2 from 1-3pm.
On the same day (Saturday), enjoy kids’ face painting and stop by all weekend long for a tarot card reading.
FOOD:
FILOS BAKERY: Guests can pay homage to lost loved ones at a traditional Día de los Muertos altar, erected at FILOS Bakery by owner Francesca Arienzo, who calls the holiday her “favorite tradition.” FILOS will also be serving up pan de muerto (“bread of the dead”), starting at $5 for a mini portion, and going up to $30 for a large order (eight slices).
Take your bread home in a handcrafted Mexican basket -- mini ($15), medium ($35), large ($55) -- and make it even more special by adding a bouquet of cempasúchil (Mexican marigolds), known as flor de muerto ("flower of the dead"), to your order for an additional cost. “My mother always tells me, ‘When I die, I want you to bring colorful flowers and happy music. I want to leave this planet celebrating with you,’” says Arienzo. Combo deals, including pan de muerto, a basket and/or cempasúchil bouquet, range from $10 to $70, based on size (mini through large). Place orders 24 hours in advance at info@filosbakery.com.
ARCAY CHOCOLATES: Indulge your sweet tooth at Arcay Chocolates now through Saturday, November 2, with limited-edition Día de los Muertos-themed chocolates and cookies. Receive 10% off when you shop from 5-8pm on November 2.
MOSAICO: Mosaico Street Food + Market has created a Mexican-inspired hot dog, topped with festive extras like esquites (corn salad) and more.
PERUVIAN BROTHERS: D.C.’s favorite sibling duo, the Peruvian Brothers, have whipped up an authentic chicken stew -- “Aji de Gallina” -- featuring their signature pulled chicken in an aji amarillo (yellow pepper) sauce, served out of cauldron with a smoky, dry ice effect, for $15. Or, snag a quinoa salad ($6) topped with a Día de los Muertos “rose” fashioned from an avocado.
A traditional Día de los Muertos altar. (Photo credit: La Cosecha)
Snag a quinoa salad ($6) topped with a Día de los Muertos “rose” fashioned from an avocado from Peruvian Brothers. (Photo credit: Peruvian Brothers)
The pan de muerto (“bread of the dead”) and cempasúchil flower bouquets from FILOS Bakery. (Photo credit: Channing Foster)
…y mas (and more)!
For event updates and more info, please be sure to follow La Cosecha on Instagram at @lacosechadc. For more details on the event, visit: https://lacosechadc.com/events/event/dia-de-los-muertos-at-la-cosecha/