Downtown Chula Vista Association is holding its Dia de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2, from 3-8 p.m. This family-friendly community event features live music, food, art, and cultural displays along Third Avenue and in Memorial Park.
DCVA District Manager Dominic Li Mandri said the Association is happy to bring back this annual celebration.
“This is our fourth annual Dia de los Muertos celebration and this year the event will contain much of the programs that we have had in the past, but every year we look to improve and enhance the program to create a larger draw and a bigger excitement for the South Bay Community,” said Li Mandri. “This year, we are going to have our community alters throughout downtown. Our community alter will be between Davidson Street and Third Avenue. This year includes an Ofrenda Competition, asking different members of the community to bring out their offerings and engage in the competition. We will also be having our Carin & Catrina Ensemble contest, encouraging participants to dress up and see who has the most intricate costumes. We will also have live music and dance performances at four different locations this year. We are going to have a car show by Impalas Car Club SD, kids crafts, vendors in a type of market atmosphere brought by Las Jefas Market, which will be on Park Way. We have different photo opportunities throughout the night.”
Li Mandri said the Association will be working with businesses that will be setting up their own alters so attendees can participate in the activities and festival goers can pursue different options with alters up and down the block.
“We are promoting this as a downtown centric community event, and we expect this year to be bigger and better,” he said. “We really love how the community engages in this event and the Downtown Cula Vista Association loves putting on this event for the community.
One of the most anticipated features of this celebration is the incredible work of three local artists, each who will be decorating four traditional Catrinas, symbolic representations of the holiday’s embrace of life and death. These Catrinas will be showcased throughout Third Avenue, celebrating both tradition and creativity.
A familiar name in Chula Vista and throughout the region, muralist and designer Josue Baltezar is known for his community driven projects and is a big believer that art should be inclusive and accessible for all. For the Dia de los Muertos celebration, Baltezar will harness his deep-rooted passion for storytelling to craft intricate Catrinas that reflect the voices of the Chula Vista community. Josué’s Catrinas will weave a narrative honoring the traditional elements of the holiday and serving as a canvas for community dialogue and cultural pride.
“Although I was born in Mexico, my family moved to Chula Vista when I was 6 years old. To see traditions like this being part of the community in which I grew up is really special. I’m excited to create something that will be part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration, and hope that people are inspired by the artwork.” he said.
