(Seguin) — Don’t put up that Halloween make-up just yet.
The Seguin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Goetz Funeral Home and Palmer Mortuary, is excited to announce the first community wide Dia de Los Muertos event tonight in downtown Seguin.
Denay Gonzales, of Goetz and Palmer Mortuary, says this inaugural event aims to bring the entire community together in celebration and in honor of those loved ones who have died.
“In previous years, we’ve have been having our celebration at the funeral home but this year, we wanted to expand just a little bit so we partnered with the Seguin Hispanic Chamber and we are having it in Central Park this year and hoping for a bigger crowd,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales says the celebration will feature traditional altars, live music, and a variety of food trucks, providing a unique cultural experience for all attendees.
“So, we are going to be having a community altar set up where people may bring photos of their loved ones that have passed on to place on the altar. Right at 4 p.m., we are going to have a DJ out there welcoming everyone as they arrive and then our service will not start until 6 p.m. We are going to have some dancers come out. We will also have Deacon Carrillo of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church say a prayer and then, we will have mariachis from Barnes Middle School and also Seguin High School come out and play some songs for us,” said Gonzales.
Organizers say this event is not only a celebration of life, but also a testament to the strength and unity of our community.
“It is a Hispanic tradition, but we serve everyone, and we encourage everyone. It is a day of remembrance, and we are bringing that to the community to assist with the grieving process and things like that and honor and remember all the loved ones from the community who have passed on,” said Gonzales.
The event is free and will be held today, Nov. 2, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Participants interested in setting up their own altars are encouraged to contact the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for registration information. To add to the festive spirit, there will be a competition for the most decorative altar, with prizes awarded to the top three entrants. The Seguin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce can be contacted at 830-372-3151.