Events all weekend
By Sebastian Miño-Bucheli
Nov 1, 2024
Updated Nov 1, 2024
With Halloween having come to a close, the start of November marks the time when the community gets to remember and celebrate loved ones who have passed. Day of the dead, Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos is a two-day holiday celebrated throughout Latin America.
Since the holiday has pre-Columbian origins and is also tied to the Catholic tradition of All Saints Day, each country celebrates or grieves for their loved ones a little differently. That’s also the case on the Coastside.
At Pacifica’s Oceana High School, the Black & Latino Student Union will host their second annual Dia de los Muertos “Trunk-n-Treat” event from 4:30-8 p.m. on Nov. 1. The union reminds folks that this is a free opportunity to enjoy live music, see altars, participate in other activities and buy meals from food trucks.
At Skylawn Memorial Park, there will be a two-day celebration from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Veronica Alvarez, managing partner of operations at Skylawn, chapel service will begin at 10 a.m., followed immediately by the presentation of the altars. Families are encouraged to bring their homemade altars to Skylawn to celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
During the presentation of the altars on both Saturday and Sunday, Father Jose Corral will provide a blessing. The event also features live mariachi performers, an Aztec dance troupe, sugar skull crafting, face painting and local artists.
In Half Moon Bay, Ayudando Latinos A Soñar, or ALAS, will set up a community altar at Mac Dutra Plaza across from City Hall to which the public can add tributes. Victoria Sanchez De Alba, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said ALAS will be especially remembering the seven farmworkers who were killed in the 2023 mushroom farm shootings.
The public is also invited to participate in a Catrina, an elegantly dressed skeleton procession on Main Street at 5:30 pm on Nov. 2, and see other live performances like Xiuhcoatl Aztec Dance, Mariachi Media Luna, Ballet Folklorico Tonantzin and a DJ set by Cumbiatron. The event is free and performances will take place in ALAS’ new cultural center at 507 Purissima St. from 3-9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.
“Join us for a vibrant, family friendly celebration with activities for all ages,” said Sanchez De Alba.
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