Celebrate Día de Muertos and Halloween with LaGuardia Community College
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (October 23, 2025) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY invites students, faculty, staff, and neighbors to join in a week of Día de Muertos and Halloween festivities, beginning Friday, October 24 and culminating Wednesday, October 29. Events include a Día de Muertos event hosted by Casa de las Américas and a Halloween celebration on the LaGuardia Community Greenway (29th Street between 47th and Skillman Avenues), featuring pumpkin carving and costume contests. The list of events includes:
- Pumpkin Carving Contest: Sign up by October 27 by emailing Daniel Gomolka. Pumpkins are available on a first-come, first-served basis on Friday, October 24 and Monday, October 27, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Events Office (E-Building, E-405), or participants may use their own pumpkins. Bring carved pumpkins to the LaGuardia Community Greenway between 1–2 p.m. on October 29. Entries must be family-friendly and carved (not just painted). LED lights only. Prizes include a harvest basket from LaGuardia’s urban farm, Finca La Florecita. Unclaimed pumpkins will be composted after 3:30 p.m.
- Pumpkin & Ofrenda Crafts Workshop: On Monday, October 27, 2–4 p.m., Casa de las Américas (M-Building, M-144) will host a crafts workshop, where participants can decorate pumpkins, paint Halloween figurines, and design ofrendas—altars honoring deceased loved ones—in celebration of Día de Muertos.
- Costume Contest: Pick out your spookiest costume for a costume contest on the LaGuardia Community Grenway on October 29. Register at the Greenway check-in table by 1:45 p.m. Costumes must be safe, appropriate, and creative. Winners will be selected by audience applause based on creativity, originality, effort, craftsmanship, and overall presentation. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place.
- 4th Annual Día de Muertos Celebration: On Wednesday, October 29, at 12 p.m., Casa de las Américas will host the 4th Annual Día de Muertos Celebration with the unveiling of traditional ofrendas. Attendees will enjoy refreshments including pan de Muertos (traditional Mexican bread) and hot chocolate.
- Halloween on the Greenway: On Wednesday, October 29, from 1–4 p.m. on the LaGuardia Community Greenway (29th Street between Skillman and 47th Avenues), Halloween festivities will feature pumpkin carving and costume contests, live music, performances, community tabling, and refreshments. Hosted in partnership with NYC DOT’s Trick-or-Streets initiative, the event is free and open to the public.
Events are presented in partnership with Casa de las Américas, Crear Futuros, and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC).
For more information, contact Casa de las Américas at casa@lagcc.cuny.edu.
Campus or community groups interested in tabling should contact Nayelli Valencia Turrent, Chief of Staff, at nvalenciaturrent@lagcc.cuny.edu.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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