Oceanside Dia de los Muertos Festival This Sunday

OCEANSIDE, CA —The 20th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival is returning to its origin in Downtown Oceanside at the corner of Pier View Way and South Tremont Streets on Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

This multi-cultural festival celebrates the traditional Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a fun family-friendly event with retail and food booths. Featuring traditional live entertainment, community and family altars built in memory of loved ones with marigolds from Mellano Flowers. This free event includes:

• Altars
• Food
• Shopping
• Car Show with Trunk Altars
• Live Entertainment
• Catrina Contest at 2pm
• Chalk Cemetery
• Kids Activities/Arts & Crafts

The festival is a Friends of Oceanside Dia de los Muertos event.

"Oceanside has its own cultural diversity, unique and wonderful. The only city that I have ever lived in where every culture lives together. I love that I learn something new here every day. This event is just another way to show how we can learn about the historical story that is brought back to life at the Oceanside Dia de los Muertos Festival. The decoration and historical events here can be shared, adopted or modified anywhere in the world, by any race religion or culture to honor their ancestors. Why wouldn’t we want to ensure that everyone is invited to see what a wonderful festival it is." Cathy Nykiel, President

Cathy Nykiel of Friends of Oceanside Dia de los Muertos visits the set of KOCT Oceanside Spectrum and talks about this year's festival.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS?

The Festival of Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the dead, the interaction between the living and the dead and the cycle of life. This view of death started with Mesoamerican cultures more than 3,000 years ago. From Mexico to Nicaragua, societies believed that at this time of year the boundaries separating the living and the dead weakened, and the deceased could visit the living. Unlike the Spaniards who viewed death as an end, they saw it is as a continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. Life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. Traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, the holiday varies from region to region and also by degree of urbanization. In small towns of Mexico a candlelight procession to a cemetery is held by most families on the eve of the celebration. Family members decorate grave sites with flowers and enjoy a meal. Offerings are brought to dead loved ones and include their favorite foods, beverages, toys and personal belongings. Family members may also spend the night and share the memory of their loved ones by telling stories about them.

Information courtesy of Friends of Oceanside Dia de los Muertos

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