Franklin Pickup Window closing early

The pickup window will close at 5 PM at Franklin Avenue Library today (Tuesday, December 10). Please go inside to pick up your holds from 5-8 PM. 

Adventure Pass temporarily shut down in 2025

Due to software issues affecting all libraries using the service, the Iowa Adventure Pass program will temporarily shut down in 2025. Any reservation already made for 2025 will be honored, but we encourage anyone with a current reservation to print those passes immediately. Customers can still make new reservations for passes that must be used by December 31, 2024. The service will return at a later time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Day of the Dead with the Des Moines Art Center

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Program Type:

Arts & Crafts, Take & Make
Please note you are looking at an event that has already happened.

Program Description

Event Details

Celebrate Day of the Dead with the Des Moines Art Center

What is Day of the Dead? Day of the Dead is a holiday that is celebratory, yet respectful of death, and has been practiced in parts of Latin America for centuries. Families honor their ancestors and the recently deceased with commemorative altars filled with offerings of flowers, photographs, pan de los muertos (the traditional bread of the day), candles, sugar skulls, toys, and other personal items. During this festive time of year, it is believed that souls of the departed return to enjoy reuniting with their families.

 

Pick up your own Day of the Dead Activity Kit including:

  • Materials and instructions for creating tissue paper flowers and decorative frames
  • Learn about the significance of the monarch butterfly in Mexican culture
  • Milkweed seeds for you to grow for monarchs to eat
  • List of Latinx authors for related reading
  • And more!

     

Free Day of the Dead Activity Kits will be available for families wishing to learn more about the tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed. Kits will be available at local Des Moines Public Library branches (Central, East, Forest, Franklin, North, and South) on Monday, October 25 through Saturday, October 31, pickup during open hours while supplies last.