San Diego celebrates loved ones during Día de los Muertos
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- People across San Diego County gathered to celebrate Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, from Nov. 1-2.
The traditional Mexican holiday remembers and honors the dead by leaving them offerings on an ofrenda (altar).
The Downtown Chula Vista Association hosted the fifth consecutive annual Día de los Muertos celebration at Third Avenue and Memorial Park on Saturday.
Chula Vista’s celebration featured ofrendas, marigolds, a lowrider car show, dancers, crafts, food and vendors for those in attendance.
“This event is a celebration of life, of both those who are here and those who are no longer with us, and each year we strive to honor this tradition with respect and joy,” Downtown Chula Vista Association District Manager Dominic Li Mandri said.
Neighborhoods were decorated with large alebrijes sculptures and skeleton figures. Those celebrating painted their faces to resemble skeletons and wore flowers.
“Whether you’re enjoying live performances, savoring delicious food, shopping local, or making crafts with your kids, we look forward to welcoming the South Bay and beyond to join in the celebration,” Mandri said.
Old Town San Diego also hosted their celebrations for the holiday on Saturday and Sunday. More than 35 altares de muertos (altars of the dead) were featured at the historic park. A community ofrenda was located at the Plaza de Armas.
Odulia Millan, a face painter artist at Old Town’s Día de los Muertos event, said the event is so important that even kids are joining in the festivies. Millan has been painting faces for 12 years.
“It’s a nice Mexican tradition for many years, and it’s so nice the little ones are being part of it,” Millan said while painting a child’s face.
The traditional Mexican holiday remembers and honors the dead by leaving them offerings on an ofrenda (altar). (DARREN LAZARUS DLAZ@ATT.NET / Sydney Costales) 
The traditional Mexican holiday remembers and honors the dead by leaving them offerings on an ofrenda (altar). (DARREN LAZARUS DLAZ@ATT.NET / Sydney Costales) 
The traditional Mexican holiday remembers and honors the dead by leaving them offerings on an ofrenda (altar). (DARREN LAZARUS DLAZ@ATT.NET / Sydney Costales) 
The traditional Mexican holiday remembers and honors the dead by leaving them offerings on an ofrenda (altar). (DARREN LAZARUS DLAZ@ATT.NET / Sydney Costales) 
The traditional Mexican holiday remembers and honors the dead by leaving them offerings on an ofrenda (altar). (DARREN LAZARUS DLAZ@ATT.NET / Sydney Costales)
Hundreds of students from more than 30 San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) schools had their artwork displayed in Old Town to honor the holiday.
“We are also teaching them soft skills like confidence, leadership, and the ability to articulate the meaning behind their art,” SDUSD Visual and Performing Arts Executive Director Shane Schmeichel said. “As well as help them connect personal expression with cultural understanding and empower them to be seen as artists in the community.”
“It’s a nice tradition to remember our family that passed away, to be happy that we’re still here and to be happy that we still think about them,” Millan added.
