La Vista Memorial Park, National City will celebrate Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, Friday, Nov. 2 5-9 p.m.
The event started in 2009 when General Manager Luisa McCarthy realized the park didn’t partake in the celebration of Día de los Muertos. “I wanted to celebrate the passing of my father,” McCarthy said. “So the owner of La Vista and I decided to initiate the first annual event to honor our deceased. For the first time I honored my father with his alter. I loved it so much I decided to share the experience with the rest of the families that have their loved ones laid to rest at La Vista.”
Día de los Muertos is a holiday that focuses on the gathering of family and friends to pray and remember those friends and family members who have died. There are many traditions connected with the holiday and many of them will be offered at the park. Those traditions will include a dance platform featuring modern dance rituals, as well as traditional historical dances, hip-hop and fire dancers, stilt walkers and an alter contest.
“Traditions connected with Día de los Muertos include building private altars,” McCarthy added. “[We] honor the deceased using sugar skulls, favorite foods and beverages of the departed and marigolds. It also includes visiting graves with these gifts. Some family members get really creative in decorating their altar.”
There will also be different types of art including woodcarving, photo art, Repujado (pressed metal art) and face painting along with carnival games, a Mexican Lottery and Mad Bull rides.
“Little did I know the tradition of Día de los Muertos was being celebrated within our industry in Hollywood,” McCarthy added. “The cemetery is called Hollywood Forever and it is the largest celebration of its kind in California. This year we decided to get involved with Hollywood Forever to learn creative ways to enhance La Vista’s Día de los Muertos event and at the same time help them by volunteering in their event. It is a win-win situation for both cemeteries and also it is good to support and help each other.”
The Día de los Muertos event is free to the public as is the entertainment. Local vendors will supply the food, which will include tamales, papusas, Tijuana-style hot dogs, roasted corn and Mexican candy.
La Vista Memorial Park is located at 3191 Orange Street in National City, adjacent to Plaza Bonita. For more information contact Luisa McCarthy at 619-787-9560.
