This weekend brings two seperate Day of the Dead celebrations to Los Angeles.

Over by Boyle Heights on the 6th Street Bridge (where West L.A. and East L.A. meet, per the promoters) is Festival de la Gente, a two day super festival “with live music, art exhibits, teatro performances, storytelling, arts and crafts demonstrations, traditional latin-American and international cuisine, and a Dia De Los Muertos Car Show.”

And reserved only for Saturday is Dia De Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever, where you’re encouraged to build your own shrine to honor the dead, indulge in Mexican food, and observe a Day of the Dead procession in the midst of the century old graveyard.

Since I plan on heading to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery festivities, I was glad to stumble upon these tips from seasoned Day of the Dead Head “Pico and the Man”:

1) Parking is a bitch, this is actually the worst parking event I’ve ever been to, so go early and be prepared to walk a bit.
2) The altars are pretty cool in the daylight but even better in the dark
3) The food lines can get long so eat first, then walk around

…photo by Del Scorcho of last year’s Dia De Los Muertos…

Saturday, October 27th, 4pm-11pm
Dia De Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.

Saturday-Sunday, October 27th and 28th
Festival de la Gente
6th Street Bridge (Whitter Blvd. and S. Boyle Ave.), LA, 90023
.