In a celebration of life, Downtown Chula Vista Association is holding its 3rd Annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration Saturday, Oct. 28 from 3-8 p.m. The event is free, bringing the community together in tradition to honor departed loved ones while embracing the joy that life brings.
Taking place in the heart of Downtown Chula Vista, the Dia de los Muertos Celebration will be filled with a community altar, an altar contest, dance performances, a Catrin and Catrina Ensemble Contest for cash prizes, food vendors, and themed photo opportunities throughout the neighborhood. Toward the end of the evening, a special screening of Guillermo del Toro’s “Book of Life” will be played in Memorial Park starting at 7 p.m.
“Dia De Los Muertos is an important day to the Downtown Chula Vista community, and we want to honor the holiday the best way we know how,” said Dominic Li Mandri, district manager of the Downtown Chula Vista Association. “With dance performances, delicious food, an ensemble contest and of course a community altar, we hope that everyone will want to join us and celebrate the lives that have passed but also the culture that continues to thrive.”
At the core of the cultural tradition is the community altar, a symbol signifying love and remembrance.
Li Mandri said since starting this event, it has grown, with an estimated 10,000 attendees last year.
“This year we are expecting a larger crowd,” he said. “And we are expecting more applicants to our competitions and festivities that we host at Memorial Park. We have everything from a catrín and catrína competition. Volunteers and participants will be building their altars, where they can come by and drop off their ofrendas or offering, which are tributes to passed loved ones or family members that are no longer with us. The essential theme of the event is to bring the community together to commemorate their lost loved ones and place that in downtown so they can create those new memories. We encourage Chula Vistans and South Bay residents to come downtown to not only peruse the amazing displays, but also to check out ‘The Book of Life’ that we will be showing in Memorial Park. It is a cherished tradition and event that brings entire families together to celebrate departed loved ones while enjoying the joy that life brings.”
Along with the community altar, there will be chances to win cash prizes by participating in the contests hosted by the Downtown Chula Vista Association.
This year’s altar contest will feature three different categories: best altar created by school/students, best altar created by the public, and best overall altar.
Winners of the contest will win cash prizes. Guests are encouraged to dress up in traditional Catrin and Catrina attire or put their own twist on the traditional look. Those with the best and most creative looks will take home a cash prize ranging from $100 to $500. The categories for the contest includes best youth (12 and under), best catrín (male), best catrína (female), and best couple.
For more information, visit downtownchulavista.com.
