ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Many people gathered for the celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at Old Town Plaza on Oct. 13.

According to a website devoted to this holiday, Día de los Muertos is a two-day holiday to celebrate the dead, mostly held on Nov. 1 and 2. Families create altars to honor family members who have passed and decorate them with bright yellow marigolds, photos of the deceased and favorite foods or drinks of the one being honored.

This was the first time since 2021 that this event was held in Old Town Plaza. In 2022 and 2023, the event was held at District 56. At the front of the plaza, members of the dance group Kalpulli Xihuacoatl set up an altar for the celebration in relation to this Mexican holiday. Other altars were set up in tents at the event.

Adan Gutierrez, event organizer and captain of Kalpulli Xihuacoatl, said that this was the fourth year that his group partnered with ARTners to do this event. Gutierrez said that he enjoyed how open it was to do this event outdoors compared to the confines of District 56 and that with its visibility from the street, it drew more people to come to the event.

“I really enjoy the open feel, the wind, the sun, the elements,” Gutierrez said. 

In the first half-hour of the event, dancers of the group Nostalgias de Mexico performed Mexican folk dances for the attendees.

There were also murals on display in the middle of the plaza of artwork related to Día de los Muertos.

Many artists had booths set up to display their art, ranging from paintings to graphic tees, among other types of artwork. Sacramento artist Veronica Kovatz Sanchez said this was her third time doing this event and that a lot of her artwork relates to her culture, nature.

“A lot of my artwork can also relate to anxiety and depression that I have experienced in the past,” Kovatz Sanchez said. “So it’s nice to put some of that on canvas and see if other people can relate to it.”

Anna Sissom of Elk Grove attended this event with her two daughters. Sissom said this was the first time she came to this event and also that she was excited to bring her daughters to explore their heritage as they are half-Mexican. 

She also said that they want to expand on the cultural traditions.

“We’re thinking about building our own altar, so I wanted to bring out the girls to see about the tradition and to get inspired,” Sissom said.

Teresa Gutierrez, president of ARTners, said the move to Old Town Plaza gave this event a more “earthy feel” because this event is “spiritual” and helps draw more people to come than in an indoor venue.

“We want to thank the city of Elk Grove and the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center for helping us put on this event,” Teresa Gutierrez said.