A celebration of life

9 ways to celebrate el Día de los Muertos around San Antonio

Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, San Antonio

The final days of October will offer several opportunities for people to celebrate life and their dearly departed.

Courtesy city of San Antonio

The Halloween season in San Antonio offers more than just haunted houses, hayrides, and costume parties. Many people will also be taking part in Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, paying tribute to deceased friends and family by creating ofrendas (altars), filled with photos, personal effects, marigolds, and even pan de muerto (bread of the dead).

This fall, there are many large festivals and smaller, more intimate observances of el Día de los Muertos around San Antonio. Here are a few to check out:

Mission San José ofrendas
Daily through November 2 from 9 am to 5 pm
Visitors to the historic Spanish mission have a chance to view ofrendas made by descendants of the original settlers of the South Side missions. 6701 San Jose Drive, free admission.

Briscoe Western Art Museum
Through November 4, museum hours
This downtown museum is inviting community members to contribute copies of photos of lost loved ones and personal offerings for an altar that will focus on honoring influential figures in Western art and the American West. Additionally, Día de los Muertos-themed crafts are available for those who would like to participate on the afternoon of October 27. 210 W. Market St., museum admission varies.

Day of the Dead Festival and River Parade
October 25-27, times vary
La Villita will be the place to be for San Antonio’s annual Day of the Dead Festival and River Parade. A nearly 39-foot tall Catrina (skeleton doll) statue — the largest in the United States — will easily capture the attention of festival attendees. There, they can enjoy music, food, an artisans market, ofrendas, a colorful exhibit of alebrijes, or “spirit animals,”and artistic workshops for the whole family. Texmaniacs, Los Navaira, and Ballet Folklorico Sol de San Antonio are headlining the musical acts. On the evening of October 25, people will line up along the River Walk to see elaborately decorated floats with altars, catrinas, and costumed riders during the river parade. Parade seating at Arneson River Theater reserved, free admission to La Villita.

Muertos Fest
October 26-27, times vary
This two-day annual Dia de los Muertos festival will feature 80-plus original altars, and five music stages spread across Hemisfair. Visitors can also enjoy an art market, food, workshops, and a traditional procession each early evening. Scheduled musical performers include the recently reunited band Girl in a Coma, La Santa Cecilia, Santiago Jimenez, Piñata Protest, Jesse Borrego y Tribe, and Mariachis Campanas de America. 434 S. Alamo St., free admission.

Market Square
October 26-27, 10 am to 6 pm
Visitors to Market Square will enjoy plenty of Día de los Muertos activities and scenes, including Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession, a display of dance and storytelling that will happen 1-2 pm each day. Visitors may also check out themed altars that will be visible across Market Square daily though November 3. 514 W. Commerce St., free admission.

Rinconcito de Esperanza
October 28 to November 2, times vary
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center will present its annual Dia de los Muertos program, complete with traditional marigolds, community altars and offerings, face painting, food, music, and more. Attendees may bring flowers, candles, and reprinted photos of lost loved ones they wish to honor. Additionally, members of MujerArtes Cooperativa de Esperanza will hold their yearly Día de los Muertos exhibit and sale of hand-crafted art works. Visitors are also invited to join a short procession from Rinconcito to the Alázan-Apache Courts development and back. 816 Colorado St., free admission.

Pullman Market's Muertos at Mezquite
October 31 to November 3, times vary
The newest culinary destination at Pearl is kicking off its own Dia de los Muertos program with Muertos at Mezquite. It'll feature delicious bites and drinks inspired by Sonoran regional cuisine, live music, DJs, face painting, costume contests, a celebration of life brunch, and more. Pullman Market will also showcase its first Día de los Muertos ofrenda at the Mezcaleria beginning October 23. 221 Newell Ave., free admission.

Pearl
Saturday, November 2 from 5-9 pm
Pearl’s main Dia de los Muertos celebration features seven altars displayed around the campus including at Hotel Emma, Pullman Market, and a community altar under Pearl’s shade structure. There will also be a showcase of altars by Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Hawthorne Academy, and the Mexican consulate; a Tzompantli art installation with 30 hand-painted skulls by artist Regina Moya; and two large alebrijesby artist Mauro de la Tierra made of recycled materials. Additionally, there will be a Catrin and Catrina costume contest, kids’ art activities, face painting, a procession around Pearl, and performances by the University of Incarnate Word student mariachi and by musician Azul. 303 Pearl Pkwy., free admission.

San Antonio Cultural Arts
Saturday, November 2 from 6-9 pm
SACA’s Dia de los Muertos event involves plenty of culturally rich remembrance activities, murals by young local artists, refreshments, and a short procession to nearby Trinity Convenience Store and back. 2120 El Paso St., free admission.

san antonio day of the dead dia de los muertos holidays

Movie Review

Mufasa: The Lion King has pride-worthy graphics, but story falls flat

Photo courtesy of Disney

Sarabi, Mufasa, and Rafiki in Mufasa: The Lion King.

The 2019 “live action” remake of The Lion King had two big things going for it: People’s love for the original 1994 animated film and a filmmaking style that made the completely CGI film appear photorealistic. The new prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, has the second element to lean on, but it must win moviegoers over with some familiar characters in a whole new story.

The origin story of Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) is broached by having it be told to Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), the daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé), by Rafiki (John Kani), Timon (Billy Eichner), and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), the first of a series of unnecessary decisions in the film.

As the film tells it, a young Mufasa is on his way to a new home with his parents when he’s washed away by a flash flood. Lost and alone, he’s discovered by Taka (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.), who convinces his mom, Eshe (Thandie Newton), to take Mufasa into their pride, although Taka’s dad, Obasi (Lennie James), is less welcoming.

Mufasa, who proves himself to be brave and daring, and Taka, who's loyal but somewhat weak-willed, grow from cubs into young lions, and their adventures together eventually grow to include a young Rafiki (Kagiso Ledika), as well as Sarabi (Tiffany Boone) and her hornbill companion, Zazu (Preston Nyman). They’re also menaced by a pride of white lions led by Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), who waste no opportunity to threaten the other lions’ way of life.

Directed by Barry Jenkins and written by Jeff Nathanson, the film — like its 2019 predecessor — has absolutely gorgeous visuals. Using a mixture of real locations and computer generated imagery, Jenkins and his team created a world that feels fully immersive. Everything from the water to the grass to the animals looks like it actually exists, which is an amazing accomplishment and should be celebrated as such.

But the level of detail on that side of the film only increases the level of disappointment with the story. Given the chance to create something new, the filmmakers instead seem to treat the film as just a way to introduce every significant symbol from the original story. You would have thought having young versions of familiar characters would be enough, but instead they go overboard with references, including the creation of a certain location that is patently ridiculous.

Nathanson also overloads the plot with characters and twists. Mufasa’s rise from a nobody to king is faced with multiple obstacles, way too many for what should have been a much simpler story. And Lin-Manuel Miranda’s streak of great music in Disney films ends here, as none of the four songs he contributed work very well. Some are undone by odd phrasing by the performers, and others look strange coming out of the mouths of the characters, but either way, the songs just don’t connect.

The voice performances neither elevate the film nor take away from it. Pierre (Rebel Ridge) and Harrison (Waves) are rising stars in actual live action films, but their appearances here are negligible to the impact of their characters. Mikkelsen (Rogue One) is known for playing great bad guys, and he’s okay here, but nothing to write home about. The rest of the performers don't offer anything special to their roles, including Beyoncé and her daughter, Blue Ivy.

For those who are only looking for “Oh, that’s where that came from!” moments, Mufasa: The Lion King may fit the bill. But for anyone who may want something more than a version of nostalgia, especially from a visionary director like Jenkins, it serves as nothing more than two hours of pretty vistas.

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Mufasa: The Lion King is now playing in theaters.

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