The second annual Before I Die NM Festival, six days of death positive events to discuss mortality and plan ahead, is expanding from its Albuquerque origins to include Santa Fe and Belen, New Mexico. The festival will take place October 30 to November 4, 2018 in multiple locations.
The 2018 Before I Die NM Festival will celebrate the rituals and meaning of Dia de los Muertos. Day of the Dead celebrations start the evening of October 31 and end on November 2. Related activities include a party in a cemetery on Halloween, lessons from the animated film Coco, a free cremated remains committal in two Catholic cemeteries, and attending the colorful Marigold Parade and Festival in Albuquerque's South Valley.
Other Before I Die NM Festival events include:
- Death Cafés and "Millennial Morticians with ABQ Brews";
- End-of-life speakers, panel discussions and workshops;
- Movies at the Guild Cinema and couples playing The Newly-Dead Game®;
- Yoga for grief and kids memorialization activities;
- Tours of a casket building workshop, the Office of the Medical Investigator, a crematory and cemeteries.
Most events are free or low-cost. Learn more about the growing list of Festival activities and register online for events at www.BeforeIDieNM.com.
Why Death Discussion Festivals?
"Humans have a 100% mortality rate, yet less than 30% talk about their final wishes. That's bad news for 70% of those faced with making expensive decisions under duress of grief. The Before I Die NM Festival starts these important conversations," said festival coordinator and pioneering death educator Gail Rubin, CT.
Death discussion festivals are growing across the United States. The first Before I Die Festival in Albuquerque drew 600 participants at 22 events over six days in 2017. Similar festivals have been held in Indianapolis, IN and Louisville, KY. San Francisco hosted the Reimagine End of Life festival in April 2018, drawing 10,000 attendees to 175 events over seven days.
New Mexico organizations that want to host a Before I Die NM Festival event can submit suggestions through the contact page at www.BeforeIDieNM.com.
Before I Die NM Festival attendees can enter a drawing to win two full body burial plots in La Puerta Natural Burial Ground, located 15 miles south of Belen, NM, as well as other valuable prizes. "Before I Die" walls will be set up for people to express their thoughts and wishes.
Festival Sponsors
The Before I Die NM Festival is made possible by:
- A Good Goodbye - Death educator Gail Rubin puts the "fun" in funeral planning. AGoodGoodbye.com
- EternityGardens.com - Giving families looking for a final resting place for cremated remains guidance on the range of options available for people and pets. EternityGardens.com
- National Guardian Life Insurance Company - For more than 100 years, one of America's most successful and highly rated independent mutual life insurance companies. NGLIC.com
- FRENCH Funerals and Cremations - Albuquerque's largest and oldest family-owned funeral service company. FrenchFunerals.com
- EstatePros - Your expert resource for property organization, distribution and administration. EstateProsNM.com
- Zia Trust - The Advisors' Trust Company®. ZiaTrust.com
Partners include La Puerta Natural Burial Ground, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of New Mexico, Guild Cinema, Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, Children's Grief Center of New Mexico, Compassion & Choices NM Action Team, and LifeIZShort.com.
Part of the sponsorship proceeds from Before I Die NM will be donated to charitable partner Fathers Building Futures (www.FathersBuildingFutures.org). A portion of sponsorship fees may be tax-deductible as charitable donations. Festival sponsorship opportunities are still available by calling Gail Rubin at 505-265-7215.
Join the Festival mailing list here.
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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 ABQ 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 400 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.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.