The Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery will be hosting its annual Dia de los Muertos community street festival on Saturday in downtown Stockton.
The four-block street celebration will be located at the intersection of Sutter and Market streets and will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year, the heritage center will have a community altar on the main stage that will be dedicated to all the victims of COVID-19 and residents are encouraged to bring a photo or item that belonged to their loved ones to place on the altar.
Dia de los Muertos, also referred to as Day of the Dead, is a multi-day lively celebration where people gather to remember their loved ones who have passed away and pay their respects in various ways.
People celebrating the Day of the Dead believe that the border between the spirit world and the real world comes down and people who have passed away can reunite with their loved ones to eat, drink, dance and celebrate once again.
Two central components of the celebrations include ofrendas, also known as home altars, and the offering of food.
The event in Stockton will also have more community altars, mariachi, a folkloric dance group, Latin soul band, classic cars, Aztec dancers, a children’s activity section, street art and face paintings.
In addition, there will be food and cultural vendors that will be selling homemade arts and crafts items.
