Day of the Dead to be celebrated in Downtown Willoughby - The News-Herald
The Willoughby Arts Collaborative is sponsoring a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event in collaboration with Stella’s Art Gallery, Willoughby Historical Society and Willoughby Public Library.
The event is scheduled to take place from 2 to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 in Downtown Willoughby. According to WAC President Pat Carroll Bonander, the event will allow the public to celebrate the lives of those who are deceased and welcome their spirits back.
“WAC loves to involve our community in our arts and culture programs and events,” Bonander said.
As part of the event, the movie “Coco” will be on a continuous loop at the library. Additionally, the “Book of Life” will be on a continuous loop at Stella’s Art Gallery with complimentary popcorn. Starting times for both are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
From 2 to 7 p.m., there will be in-person voting for favorite skeletons on the Skele Walk in Downtown Willoughby.
The Willoughby Historical Society will give a talk about the Girl in Blue at the Sharpe Avenue Cemetery. Those in attendance will be able to help with the refreshing and decorating of her grave in the cemetery. Families may also tend to their loved ones’ and graves that do not have caretakers.
Between 3 and 7 p.m., attendees will be able to partake in an ofrenda, a Spanish offering, at Wes Point Park. Spectators may bring copies of photos of their loved ones that they don’t want back to the ofrenda.
“An ofrenda is the offering placed in a home altar during the annual and traditionally Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebration,” Bonander said.
A taco food truck will be at Wes Point Park from 5 to 7 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m., flamenco dancers will perform in the gazebo. A second performance will take place starting at 6.
To volunteer or get involved with WAC, visit willoughbyartscollaborative.org.