Day of the Dead fiesta at El Santo this Halloween

If you fancy something a little different this Halloween, El Santo in Glasgow's Merchant City is hosting a Day of the Dead fiesta on Saturday 31 October. The event is split into two parts, so you can choose the one that suits you, or go to both.

The daytime session runs from 14:00 to 17:00 and is aimed at families. Children can get their faces painted in traditional Mexican style and fill in colouring sheets that explain where the tradition comes from. Parents can make the most of the restaurant's special October menu while the little ones are busy. It's a relaxed way to get a feel for the celebration without the late-night crowd.

Once the afternoon wraps up, the venue turns into a Latin fiesta in the evening, with dancers and a DJ. The night is built around Baile Latino, the umbrella term for partner and social dances from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Iberian Peninsula, known for their rhythmic hip movement and close connection between partners. Guests are welcome to come in costume, so if you've already been planning a Halloween outfit, this is a good excuse to wear it. El Santo is a small, sharing-plates restaurant with a bar and dancefloor on Miller Street, so the atmosphere tends to be lively and close.

The tradition behind the party is worth a few minutes of your time before you go. Families in Mexico and among people of Mexican origin elsewhere build altars to remember relatives who have died, decorating them with photographs, belongings, candles, paper banners and the orange and yellow cempasúchil flowers, whose scent and colour are believed to guide the souls back home. Sugar skulls and pan de muerto, a sweet bread, are also common. UNESCO recognised Day of the Dead as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. Although the celebration is traditionally held on 1 and 2 November, some places include 31 October, and altars are often set up from that date. Many people compare it to Halloween because of the timing, but the two have different origins and meanings, so the Glasgow event is a chance to see one of the traditions up close.

You'll find El Santo at 84 Miller Street, G1 1DT, in the heart of Merchant City. If you want to check details before heading over, you can call the restaurant on +44 141 260 0770. Whether you go for the afternoon with the kids, the evening with the music, or both, it's a simple way to spend Halloween weekend in the city.