By Loretta Fulton

It’s that time of year again when religion and culture come together for a mix of somber and fun events.

Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve), with its costumes and trick-or-treat tradition, and Dia de los Muertos, practiced by indigenous people of Mexico for centuries, come on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, respectively. Also, in some Christian traditions, Nov. 1 is observed as All Saint’s Day and Nov. 2 as All Souls day.

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, is so significant that in 2008 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the day to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“El Dia de los Muertos, as practiced by indigenous communities of Mexico, commemorates the transitory return to Earth of deceased relatives and loved ones,” the UNESCO site says.

Locally, several churches will be hosting trunk-or-treat, a popular alternative to trick-or-treating. And, there will be numerous Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

The Hardin-Simmons University Speech-Language Pathology Department will be hosting a Special Needs Trunk-or-Treat 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, on the HSU campus. The experience is designed for children and families with special needs. For more information and to sign up to help email jill.cowan@hsutx.edu.

Following are some of the trunk-or-treat and/or Halloween events:

PIONEER DRIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
Where: 701 S. Pioneer Drive
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Where: 1333 N. 3rd St., south parking lot
When: 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
Where: 837 Jeanette St.
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST
Where: 602 Meander St.
When: 6 p.m., followed by All Hallow’s Eve service at 8:15 p.m.

SOUTHWEST PARK BAPTIST CHURCH
Where: 2901 S. 20th St.
When: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Details: The festival will include games, candy, music, bounce houses, and a cake walk. Concessions will be for sale.

ABILENE ABSOLUTE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS
Where: 429 N. Judge Ely Blvd.
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Details: The Día de los Muertos & Fall Festival is free and open to the public. It will include a haunted house, trunk-or-treat, The Día de los Muertos Walkway, live music, hay rides, pumpkin patch, and games.

Following are the Dia de los Muertos events:

THE GRACE MUSEUM
Where: 102 Cypress St.
When: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29
Details: The family festival will include at dance performance at 7 pm. By Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz, storytimes with the Abilene Public Library, light refreshments, sugar skulls, face painting, and more. Click here for more information.

CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
Where: 220 Cypress St.
When: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
Details: Just down the street from the Grace Museum, the Center for Contemporary Arts will be hosting its popular ArtWalk, with local artists painting pumpkins throughout downtown, food trucks, art vendors, games, and more. Click here for more information.

ABILENE ZOO
When: 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2
Details: The Dia de los Muertos event will feature live mariachi music, Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz dancers, and animal encounters. This event is included in General Admission and is free for members! Click here for more information and for tickets.

NORTH’S FUNERAL HOME
Where: 242 Orange St.
When: 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2
Details: The free family event will include Ballet Folklorico performances, live mariachi music, cultural displays, and family remembrance activities.

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene