New Brighton will channel Mexico this weekend as traditional Day of the Dead festivities come to the Wirral for a two-day celebration.
The event, which is in aid of Deaf Active, a Merseyside-based organisation built to help improve the lives of the D/deaf community, hopes to bring local people together with cultural entertainment and food from various local venues.
Martyn Green, a board member of the New Brighton partnership CIC, said: “New Brighton is a significant part of the Wirral. We see ourselves as having a close working relationship with Liverpool City Centre and the surrounding towns and cities.
“However, New Brighton’s got a rich culture of entertainment and social events. So, whether that be fireworks night, Christmas, the farmer’s market, Easter, for example, we never shy away from an opportunity to do something that celebrates family and the community.”
The Mexican holiday celebrates and remembers loved ones, with the belief that souls of the dead visit the living. This traditionally takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November.
Martyn said: “My understanding of the Day of the Dead itself, obviously, this is primarily a Mexican celebration of life, as much as it is of death, and it’s a time to remember those who aren’t with us anymore and to celebrate their lives in a curious but respectful fashion.”
The New Brighton partnership CIC is a group formed by several local businesspeople and those who have New Brighton’s best interest at heart, and attempt to make it a better place for its residents, businesses and its tourists. It is a voluntary group that contacts the seaside town’s restaurants and businesses if they would like to get involved with the events.
Martyn also said: “We are overwhelmed with the response. We now have nearly 20 local businesses that are putting some form of entertainment on, or discounts, or a family event during the course of the weekend. So, from a commercial perspective, it’s been extremely well received.
“However, just from the local residents, we have had many, many people who have said that they are interested or are going to the event on our Facebook page.”
In honour of the celebrations, Liverpool John Moores University Master’s student, India Parsell, is creating a piece of live art for projection onto multiple walls in and around New Brighton. The piece will be unveiled during the course of the weekend.
The town is seeing a rise in popularity with its art, and throughout the suburb, you will find art installations and murals.
Martyn Green said: “New Brighton’s very much going through a Renaissance at the moment in terms of its regeneration and it’s fair to say that one of the key elements that has helped New Brighton to see its position rise in the community is art.
“However, there are some spaces within New Brighton that are not yet covered with art, and we see those areas as an opportunity to create live projection art. And, obviously, Day of the Dead gives a great opportunity for us to embrace permanent installation.”
@merseynewslive New Brighton is hosting a weekend celebration for the Mexican traditional holiday for Day of the Dead. Read more about it in our bio! #news #liverpool #wirral #newbrighton #dayofthedead
