For some, Halloween has become just another tiresome occasion to help you part with your money, with strange and ugly objects and rather sad attempts at spooky decorations. So, forget Halloween! Time for something way cooler: the Fiesta de los muertos!

photos: JasonW

La Galerie Végétale is a large unusual space in the 10th arrondissement that sells beautiful flowers, but the owners wanted to do more with the place than just that, so they have opened it up to artists and staged regular exhibitions and performances. For Halloween this year they have joined forces with kids toy shop La Piñata just next door to concoct a ten-day Fiesta de los muertos with objects, toys, paintings, clothes, workshops… all in their airy sales space.
On the 1st and 2nd November they’ll be celebrating the day of the dead with extra special events, with an altar dedicated to Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Expect disguises, artist performances, masks to buy and more…

This spooky market will remain in place until 8th November, and during the festival the sale of flowers continues as eve, but in a newly-converted space at the front of the shop (formerly their offices).

Below you’ll find a few photos of the colourful spectacle that awaits you. To see the photos more comfortably, go to the slideshow at the bottom, press the play button and then click the four little arrows bottom right (starts fullscreen mode).

The Galerie Végétale  is at 29 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010 Paris (here). Open Tuesday – Thursdays from 10am – 2pm and 3 – 7pm, and from Friday – Sunday from 10am – 2pm and 3 – 8pm. Closed Mondays.

‘El dia de los muertos’ continues until 8th Noember 2009.

Official site: www.lagalerievegetale.com