Villa Parke’s Día De Los Muertos Celebration Bridges Generations Through Traditional Observance

Pasadena’s Villa Parke Community Center will host its 2024 Día de los Muertos celebration on Friday, Nov. 1, featuring community-created “ofrendas,” traditional dance performances and interactive cultural activities on Friday evening.

The free celebration, a centuries-old tradition honoring deceased loved ones, is from 5 to 9 p.m. at the community center.

Performances by Yankuititl Aztec dancers and folkloric dancers from Nahuatzen in Mexico will feature cultural explanations alongside hands-on arts activities organized by the Armory Center.

“Every year I make an ‘ofrenda’ at my home and it is very special to me,” said Ramiro Vega, a “jornalero” and “ofrenda” maker. “It is a tradition that has been passed to me. For me to be able to share this tradition to others in the community, in a community space like Villa Parke so people can learn about this tradition and for the next generation to continue to honor our loved ones is special and important to me.”

The celebration emphasizes accessibility through multiple participation options, according to Jennifer Colby, Public Information Coordinator for Pasadena’s Parks Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS).

“If someone would like to participate but can’t create their own, they can still take part by bringing a picture of their loved one and placing it on a communal ‘ofrenda’ that will be set up there,” Colby said. “If an individual doesn’t have a photo but still wants to commemorate a loved one, there will be a memory tree at the site where they can add the name or a story of their loved one to the tree.”

The event represents collaboration between the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena Community Job Center, and the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department to preserve cultural heritage.

“There’s a lot of collaboration within the community involved for this event,” Colby explained. “They partner with the job center and then members of the local community to create an event that truly reflects the rich tapestry of the Latino culture and tradition. By engaging with a wide range of community members, we’re gathering insight and ideas that help us celebrate our heritage in meaningful ways, which ensures that every aspect of the event both honors and showcases customs and values.”

“Every ‘ofrenda’ is made with love and respect. Every item (art, flowers, food item picture) is carefully positioned with the intention to honor our loved ones,” Vega added.

Colby said the celebration is a way of passing down a tradition by teaching children to cherish and remember their loved ones.

“It also reinforces the idea that sharing memories helps keep those we’ve lost alive in our hearts, ensuring that their stories continue to be told for generations to come,” she added.

The Armory Center is putting on interactive arts and crafts activities which include an explanation of the event’s meaning, noted Colby.

Villa Parke Community Center is located at 363 East Villa St. in Pasadena, with food available for purchase throughout the evening.

For more information, call the PRCS Department at (626) 744-6530.