Oceanside, Ca - Day of the Dead at Mission San Luis Rey Oct.

Cost: Free.
Call (760) 757-3651
mslrdiadelosmuertos.com

Oceanside, Calif.--Mission San Luis Rey de Francia ( Mission San Luis Rey) in Oceanside is celebrating its heritage as the King of California Missions (there's a Queen, too!) with Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, a Mexican cultural event. The festival of fun includes mariachi bands, ballet folklorico dancing groups, Aztec entertainers, elaborate alters and great, free entertainment that attracts over 20,000 people in possibly the largest Dia de Los Muertos celebration in California.

This will be the third year that the mission plays host to this 11th annual event honoring of the deceased. Interactive arts and crafts activities and an exciting mini-carnival, 75 diverse vendors, traditional food, chalk alters, and a custom low-rider display from the Siempre Car Club provide lots of things to experience. The highlight is the traditional alters in their trunks commemorating loved ones who have passed.

Mission San Luis Rey is one of California's 21 missions built between the mid 1700's and early 1800's by Spaniards hoping to establish a foothold in Western North America. While their attempts to create self-sustaining communities didn't succeed, the Spaniards did make an impact, introducing trees, wine stock, plants, some animals and a lifestyle that shaped California's existence today. The mission is renovated and is mostly a replica of the original mission that stood in the same spot.