Before I Die New Mexico Festival Starts November 3 with a Dia de los Muertos party in an Albuquerque cemetery
Let's talk about death. It won't kill you.
The third annual Before I Die New Mexico Festival, seven days of death positive experiences to discuss mortality and encourage planning ahead for end-of-life issues, will take place November 3 to 10, 2019. Events will be held throughout the state, in Santa Fe (11/6), Taos (11/4), Espanola (11/5) and Albuquerque (11/3, 7, 8, 9 and 10).
There's a funny short online video promoting the Festival and planning ahead on YouTube. Watch it at https://youtu.be/G2pg169Q3mc. "I can't wait to get started!"
Before I Die New Mexico Festival events are free, to encourage as much participation by the public as possible. Learn more about all activities and register online for events at www.BeforeIDieNM.com.
The festival will start in Albuquerque with a Dia de los Muertos celebration at Fairview Memorial Park on Sunday, November 3, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The free family-friendly celebration includes a traditional procession to welcome deceased loved ones, mariachi music, a procession of vintage cars and lowriders, traditional Mexican fare, face painting, an offrenda/altar, flowers, healers, artists, and a host of Dia de los Muertos activities.
Before I Die New Mexico Festival elements include:
- Death Café conversations and behind-the-scenes tours of funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries;
- The lively panel discussion "Millennial Morticians with ABQ Brews";
- A Mortuary Mall with funeral and cremation products and "Before I Die" wall;
- Speakers, panel discussions and workshops on estate planning issues, advance healthcare directives, life after death, death doulas, pet loss, obituary writing, and other end-of-life topics;
- A panel discussion of green burial and eco-friendly funeral options.
Before I Die festivals are part of a growing social movement that fosters reflection about how we as individuals and as a society manage death and dying. This festival has entertaining and educational elements, such as field trips, panel discussions, and Death Café conversations.
The two previous Before I Die New Mexico festivals drew 600 participants in 2017 and 685 in 2018. The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) recognized the 2018 NM Festival with their KIP Award for Best Event. The event is coordinated by pioneering death educator Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist.
Festival Sponsors
The Before I Die New Mexico Festival is made possible by:
Partners include the Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, Compassion & Choices NM Action Team, The Guild Cinema, obituary and eulogy writing service Beloved, mortality-reminder website TheBucket.com, end-of-life planning website LifeIZShort.com, Tractor Brewing Company, the Jewish Federation of New Mexico, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNM.
Part of the sponsorship proceeds from Before I Die NM are donated to charitable partner Fathers Building Futures (www.FathersBuildingFutures.org). The nonprofit provides on-the-job training to formerly incarcerated fathers to reduce recidivism. They make biodegradable and kosher caskets, urns, and other wood products.
Festival Coordinator Gail Rubin is available for interview by calling 505-363-7514. For more information, visit www.BeforeIDieNM.com.
###
Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.
Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.
Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die NM Festival. She also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio and online video spots. Her YouTube Channel features more than 450 videos!
Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.
Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Albuquerque Business First named her as one of their 2019 Women of Influence.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.