Celebrate Día de los Muertos and Halloween with the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture on October 25 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM!
Traditionally, Día de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1 & 2, but we are celebrating a little bit early this year as part of Canton’s Phantoms in the Park. This program is for ages 3+.
When you stop into the museum, you can participate in decorating the ofrenda, making traditional papel picado, coloring Día de los Muertos and Halloween activity sheets, learning how to make paper masks, creating paper pumpkin and bat decorations, and playing Lotería, the traditional Mexican game of chance (similar to Bingo).
Details:
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: In-person at 3 E. Main St., Canton, NY 13617 or virtually on Zoom (link will be e-mailed at registration)
Pricing: Cost of attendance is $5.00 per person, or free with paid Museum Admission ($5.00 each). Children 5 and under are free.
Pre-registration is recommended.
Register online, call the main office at 315-386-8133, or e-mail carlene@slcha.org
STLC Chamber’s Phantoms in the Park:
The STLC Chamber has planned a variety of activities and events starting at 12:00 PM, including a costume contest, a “Touch-a-Truck” event, painting and carving pumpkins, and more. SLCCHC will be participating in the Trick-or-Treat Parade on Main Street beginning at 1:00 PM. For a full schedule of events for Phantoms in the Park, contact the Chamber at (315) 386-4000 or info@slcchamber.org.
SLCCHC’s Spooky Family Craft Day:
Halloween & Día de los Muertos Themed Crafting & Coloring Station:
A family-friendly crafting & coloring station for all ages will be set up in the Gallery. Coloring sheets will be available in a variety of difficulty levels and themed to either Halloween or Día de los Muertos. Participants can sit and color or take coloring sheets home with them. Paper bat & pumpkin table decorations and paper mask kits will also be available at the crafting station.
Decorate the ofrenda in the Silas Wright Historic House:
An ofrenda, or altar, is a traditional offering that many people make in their homes to honor their loved ones who have died. Every ofrenda includes the four elements: water, wind, earth, and fire. Water is left in a picture so that spirits can quench their thirst. Papel picado represents the wind. Earth is represented by food, especially bread. Candles are often left in the form of a cross to represent the cardinal directions, so the spirits can find their way. The most common ofrendas have three levels to represent heaven, earth, and the underworld. With more elaborate ofrendas, you can find up to seven levels.
Play Loteria:
Loteria, or “Lottery,” is a traditional Mexican board game of chance, similar to Bingo! The game originated in Italy in the 15th Century and was brought to New Spain (modern Mexico) in 1769. In the beginning, Loteria was a hobby of the upper classes, but eventually, it became a tradition at Mexican fairs. Loteria will be set up in the Gallery for you to play.
Make Papel Picado:
Papel picado, or “punched paper” banners, is a traditional Mexican decorative craft made by cutting elaborate designs into sheets of tissue paper, which are often used to decorate altars for Día de los Muertos.