USA Today names Dia de los Muertos Festival in Birmingham top 10 nationally (slideshow)

Day of the Dead 2016
Dia de los Muertos Festival in Birmingham 2016

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The Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival in Birmingham was recognized last week by USA Today as one of the top ten Day of the Dead celebrations in the country.

According the the Bare Hands Gallery website, the event was founded 12 years ago in November 2003, as a Día de los Muertos commemoration installation at Bare Hands Gallery by artist Tracy Martin in honor of her father, noted civil rights photographer James “Spider” Martin, who died earlier that year. Spider’s memorial was eagerly embraced by a small group of artists and friends, and thus began the celebration at Bare Hands every November 2 that grew with each passing year, becoming a cherished cultural celebration of life — and death — in Birmingham.

This year’s November 2, 2016 event was held at Cahaba Brewing to an enormous overflowing crowd. Bham Now was there with Larry O. Gay, one of Birmingham’s most creative photographers, to capture the event.  

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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