Mall of America is marking Día de los Muertos this year with Latin Luminos, a 4-day celebration in the Atrium from Friday, Oct. 30, through Monday, Nov. 2. The centerpiece is an ofrenda, the traditional Day of the Dead altar, built by Minnesota artisan Margarita Sandoval. The mall says it uses the holiday's familiar symbols: marigolds, monarch butterflies and themes of remembrance.
The mall's listing invites visitors to "honor loved ones, celebrate life, and reflect on the enduring connections between past and present." That's a quieter note than most of what fills the Atrium, and a fitting one for a holiday about welcoming the dead back for a visit.
Your best bet is to come at noon. Mexica Yolotl, a Minneapolis dance group, performs at 12 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, and again at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. Elba Castillo founded the group, and the State Fair describes it as "a traditional Aztec dance group representing the culture of Mexico." If you've wandered past the Arts A'Fair pop-up performances at the fair, you may have already seen them.
Sunday also brings Manzanita Sol samples. That's Pepsi's apple soda, and the mall says it's available while supplies last.
As for cost, the mall's event page doesn't list admission, tickets or registration. The ofrenda sits in the Atrium, so you can probably just walk up. Check the event page before you go in case anything changes.
