SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- The City of Santa Maria is hosting "Day of the Dead" celebrations on Sunday, October 28th from noon to 6pm,
This is its second-annual "Dia de Los Muertos" festival.
The public is encouraged to erect large, colorful altars honoring loved ones with music and dancing at the Veterans Memorial Community Center at 313 W. Tunnell Street near Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Santa Maria. Admission is free.
Santa Maria's celebration also includes an art show exhibiting the "Day of the Dead" theme; face painting; and an activity inviting children to decorate "Day of the Dead" masks and then wear them in a short parade with the Aztec dancers.
The event will feature food, vendors, arts and crafts, children's games and a performances with Aztec dancers.
"El Dia de Los Muertos" is ritual that dates back thousands of years, primarily started by the Aztecs, who viewed death as a continuation of life.
The celebration is a national holiday in Mexico on November 1, and focuses on gatherings of family and friends who pray for loved ones who have died.
