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| There will be an altar like this one during the Dia de los Muertos celebration Nov. 2. |
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| From right, Donna Caspio, Gabriela Ayala, Naiche Lujan and Christina Martins hold candles as they wait for the Day of the Dead procession to start in the University Quad. |
Close to 500 people are expected to attend the 12th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration Thursday, Nov. 2, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also known as Day of the Dead, the traditional Mexican holiday honors those who have died with music, dance, storytelling, food and the creation of altars or ofrendas.
“Day of the Dead makes it sound like it might be a sad or gloomy, but it's actually a celebration of life. It's very fun, especially for children,” said Cecilia Santiago, coordinator of the Cesar E. Chavez Center for High Education, one of Cal Poly Pomona's five cultural centers.
Beginning at 3 p.m., free face painting will be offered at the Cesar E. Chavez Center near the University Quad. A procession begins at 5 p.m. in University Quad and moves to nearby University Park, where the main event will be held.
This year's celebration features a special concert by Los Angeles-based band QUETZAL at 7:30 p.m. in University Park. The fusion band blends its Mexican roots with rock, folk and Afro-Cuban influences. In addition, performances include a dance featuring 24 teachers from Mexico participating in a one-year English Language Institute program. Classes, campuses organizations and community partners will also create more than a dozen ofrendas for public viewing.
The 12th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration is sponsored by Ethnic & Women's Studies, the Cesar E. Chavez Center, ASI B.E.A.T. and the Multicultural Council.
In the event of rain, Dia de los Muertos events will be held in the Bronco Student Center's Ursa Major Suite. For more information about the event, call the Cesar E. Chavez Center at (909) 869-5035 or visit: https://www.dsa.cpp.edu/cesarchavez/?nfid=1866