Welcome from the team
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
The team from the Hilton Playa Del Carmen greets the 240 guests. The event begins with an open-air cocktail party.
The ofrenda
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
The hotel's 3,247-square-foot central garden features the traditional ofrenda, a display of offerings to welcome the departed.
Incense adds atmosphere
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Fabulous food
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Hilton staff is busy preparing food for both live and ghostly guests.
Made by hand
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Several dishes are made by hand using traditional methods.
The day's bread
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Breads--particularly the pan de muerto--are a fixture at Day of the Dead celebrations.
Service with a smile
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
A server welcomes guests.
Ofrenda display
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Marigolds are traditional flowers for the ofrenda. Their vibrant color and pungent scent are believed to help guide spirits.
Pan de muerto
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Pan de muerto--the pan dulce traditionally baked for Dia de Muertos.
Ofrenda offerings
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
More traditional ofrenda items: candles and sugar skulls, or calaveras.
Tamales on the ofrenda
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Freaky faces
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Professional artists are on hand to paint guests as catrinas and catarines--elegant skulls.
Music, music!
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
A mariachi band serenades guests.
On to the ballroom
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Guests move into the newly renovated 6,500-square-foot ballroom.
Space shifting
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
The ballroom is transformed with a decorated ofrenda, a "night sky" complete with "stars," and colorful tablescapes topped with sugar skulls.
Let's dance
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
The ballroom features mojigangas (giant dancing puppets), alebrijes (mythical creatures) and storytellers on stilts, roaming about the room.
A long view
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Into the night
Photo courtesy Hilton Playa Del Carmen
Guests party on into the night.
