Earlier this month, the ARTS Center transformed into a vibrant hub of remembrance, creativity, and cultural exchange for our special Día de los Muertos and Undas celebration, themed “Cruce de Almas: Carrying Memory Across Borders.” Over 350 guests gathered in our expanded event space — including the parking lot! — to honor loved ones and share and celebrate our stories of culture and migration together.

The success of this event was made possible through our collaboration with dedicated partners at the Institute for Public Strategies and Casa Familiar, whose thoughtful planning and intentional contributions brought amazing experiences and a spirit of collaboration to our community.

A Community Altar Bridging Traditions

Our program's team and youth participants crafted a stunning altar adorned with handmade decorations and offerings. Guests brought their own photos and mementos to honor their loved ones, while we also embraced Filipino traditions by observing Undas. Attendees joined together in a symbolic gravestone activity, wearing white as a gesture of respect, and connecting both Mexican and Filipino customs in a powerful display of community and shared histories.

Interactive Art Activities for All Ages

The event was filled with hands-on creativity, made possible by dedicated youth volunteers from our Community ARTS program, who played a key role in organizing and leading the workshops, including:

Pan Flute Making: Guests built their own musical instruments from paper straws and learned about how sound is made.
Mantra Workshop: Participants shared personal mantras, contributing to a collective sound archive.
Encoded Wood Branding: Honoring hidden communication traditions, guests branded symbolic codes onto wood, creating a communal artwork, and took home live-branded keepsakes.
Community Looms: Visitors stitched collaborative textiles, weaving together stories and memories placed throughout the event.
Painted Wood Calaveras: Attendees decorated wooden skulls with paint, rhinestones, and ribbons.

Partner organizations offered even more Día de los Muertos-themed art activities, ranging from decorating real sugar skulls and creating paper cempasúchil flowers to designing colorful nichos for the altar and to take home. The night also featured a unique interactive screening of “Postal Sonora Noche de Xantolo,” blending sound and visuals for an immersive experience.

Live Performances and Cultural Showcases

The evening came alive with a vibrant lineup of performances on our patio. It began with a Ballet Folklórico presentation by students from Sweetwater High School (www.instagram.com/folklorico.suhi/). The celebration continued with energetic Filipino cultural dances. Mariachi Fuente provided lively music, and there was a poetry reading by Yenn Avila, along with DJ sets interspersed throughout the evening by Pablo Dodero, a friend of ARTS and a former Community ARTS Teaching Artist. ARTS on Campus Teaching Artists and Program Assistants Isabella Cervantes and Andrea Moreno served as fantastic MCs for the event. The program concluded with a special Kumeyaay ceremony led by Eva Salazar and her family.

Local Food and Vendors

No celebration is complete without food! Attendees enjoyed Pan de Muerto and from Clementina’s Sweets and tacos and lumpia from La Chulona and Tita’s Kichenette as a special treat for early birds! Our friends at Cafeina Cafe and Kaphe Muna provided delicious coffee and matcha drinks for available for purchase and a great way to support local businesses.

We're thrilled to have invited our wonderful neighbors and local vendors, La Casita Crafts & Gifts and Viva Folklor Mexico, to showcase their unique products celebrating the beauty of Mexican culture. Their generous donations made our giveaway truly special!

We are deeply grateful to all our partners, including the Institute for Public Strategies, Casa Familiar, the City of National City, and Livewell San Diego, as well as to everyone who participated in and attended our event. The whole night was a moving reminder of the power of art, tradition, and community to connect us across borders and generations.