by Corey & Lynn

Want to know how the Mexicans spend All Soul’s Day and celebrate the dead? Some of our amazing friends from the original Green Halloween NYC extravaganza are hosting a dynamic, destination-driven event that demonstrates the “creativity over candy” model deliciously.

The La Calaca Arts Festival, taking place in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Nov 1-4, 2012), conjures themes of life and death, ancient and new, through art, music and culture.

Programming for the festival will take place at venues throughout the city over the four days, including a large interactive art exhibition in Parque Juarez for adults and children. During the day, lectures, workshops and guided tours of traditional altars, costumed processions and decorated cemeteries will be featured – along with installations and performances organized by local artists, non profits, and cultural institutions. In the evenings, visitors will experience the exquisite culinary options in San Miguel, while the world’s largest stringed instrument, the ‘Earth Harp’ is played in the city’s center. A large closing celebration featuring live musicians and performers – both local and international – will culminate the event on November 3rd.

Yep, you read that right. What a sweet treat: America’s Got Talent finalist, William Close (Earth Harp) will be performing for thee days during the event.

Follow La Calaca Festival on Facebook or check out www.lacalacafestival.com

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As seen through the eyes of photographer Peter Ruprecht

Video created by Lynn (www.celebrategreen.net) with Green Halloween’s founder, Corey.

Filmed at our Green Halloween NYC Festival in NYC on Halloween!

As promised, here are some photos from last Friday night’s Green Halloween NYC kick-off party at OpenHouse Gallery.

Check out the amazing food… er, edible art… er, decor by Flavor Palette (sorry – no URL available).

The living and natural decor from grass “tablecloths” to vine (and bicycle wheel) chandeliers…

The stunning performances…

And , of course, incredible costumes (no one does it quite like New Yorkers!)

For more photos, info on the event and the people behind it, check out this article on BizBash.

Thanks to a handful of generous designers and companies, my Halloween in NYC was not only fun, it was eco-fabulous!

Here is what I wore to the Green Halloween kick-off party on Friday night. (Clearly, I need a new pose.)

Wearing (and loving) Lizzie Parker – a Seattle local designer and amazing woman. I’m a huge fan. The outfit was not intended to be a costume, but for this photo I donned a black witch hat, borrowed from my daughter. Also wearing a necklace made of funky, upcycled materials and upcycled guitar string hoop earrings from Etsy. Not in photo – black Lizzie Parker cape and chocolate candy wrapper clutch from Ecoist.

That same night, I also wore “Coffee Couture” – Made by designer Susan Alveshere and loaned to me by A Masquerade in Bellevue, WA. The dress is made of hand-dyed burlap coffee bags (surprisingly un-itchy!), hand sewn coffee bean embellishments, and coffee filters (complete with a coffee filter flower hair clip). With Rainforest Native acai necklace and bracelets, MapleXO upcycled skateboard hoop earrings and bangles, Mohop sustainable wood wedge platform sandals, and Cosabella bamboo tank top. (See the exact dress on the runway here - page 24.)

On Halloween at the Green Halloween NYC family festival (with my mom and I and costumed friend, Leslie Bocskor), wearing rented (reused) dress, necklace and “windswept” mask courtesy A Masquerade.

We’ll be posting more news and photos from our time in NYC, but in the meantime, we’d love to hear from you… What did your family do for Halloween? What did your kids wear? What about you? Post comments below.