Festival Of Skeletons Artfully Celebrates Lost Loved Ones

BRADENTON, FL — For the past 16 years, the artists, galleries, shops and restaurants in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts have come together to celebrate Dia de los Muertos during November’s First Friday Artwalk. The celebration, called Festival of Skeletons, has grown into a largescale event that usually draws thousands of people to the arts district.

With COVID-19 running rampant, there were some questions about whether the event would take place this year, though, said Paulie Nassar, director of community art for Village of the Arts and creative director for Adobe Graffiti Lounge Kava Bar. But the artists behind the colorful district decided they wouldn’t let the pandemic stop them from organizing their signature event — safely, of course — he said.

“It’s such an important day for our village. It’s a commemorative Day of the Dead. All around the village, people are building shrines, and each different shrine has its own meaning,” he said. “Some are big and grand; some are small. It varies. But it’s the whole village doing this. It’s basically the one day a year everybody celebrates together.”

This year’s event kicked off Friday night and also runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this time, the area’s galleries and shops will be open, many showcasing shrines to loved ones who have died in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos. There will also be live music, a community shrine, Mexican food and drinks, and more.

Alfredo Garcia, artist and owner of the gallery Arte Coyoacano, said that while the event can be compared to Halloween in America, “it’s more a celebration for dead loved ones and family.”

“We put out shrines, food they liked, pictures of them,” he added. “It’s kind of a celebration of life, instead of death, and more related to our loved ones. There is nothing scary about it. It’s very spiritual.”

Annie Firestone, who owns and operates Firestone Gallery with her husband, Lee, said she always looks forward to the Festival of Skeletons.

“It honors people who have passed before us and you’ll see throughout the village lots of shrines and interesting art that relates to this particular holiday,” she said. “It’s just a great night to get out and meet everybody and see the scenes and take a look at all the altars.”

This year’s festival is “kind of subdued” because of the pandemic, Firestone added. “But that’s ok. It won’t stop us. We’ve all been locked in the house for a long, long time, but we’re safely distancing and doing this with responsibility.”

Because much of it is outdoors, the event is a safe option for people looking for something to do, said Monica Gagnon, owner of Monark Custom Framing and Art Gallery. “Being outside, people are more comfortable coming out. They’re able to walk around and be outside. I feel like it’s boosting everyone’s spirits after a long summer of being indoors.”

Garcia said the event is bringing “hope” to the community.

“I’ve been here and doing this for 10 years, but this year is completely different. People are still scared, and the virus has messed up a lot of lives,” he said. “But we have to keep going…We always have to have hope that things are going to be much better. We’re trying the best that we can do considering the situation.”

The Village of the Arts is located between 17th Avenue West and 9th Avenue West and between 14th Street West and 9th Street West. Learn more about the arts district online here. A map of galleries and shops participating in the Festival of Skeletons can be found here.