Healdsburg’s annual Día de Muertos, which in the past few years has become a favorite community tradition, drew its largest crowd yet as up to 6,000 attendees took part in the vibrant and diverse afternoon event.
Hosted by Corazón Healdsburg and the city of Healdsburg, the event at Healdsburg Plaza featured a colorful array of activities and performances, uniting a sometimes divided community in honor of its ancestors and traditions.
Highlights of this year’s event included an opening ceremony by Danza Azteca, performances by both local and regional artists, a classic car show and a wide range of free activities for children. The Plaza’s gazebo was transformed with papel picado, a stunning marigold arch, and a path of marigold petals leading the way to a marigold-covered altar where people added photos of loved ones who have passed away.
Many of the performers were local, and two groups (Máxima Frecuencia and TC Elite Hip Hop Dancers) were recent recipients of grant funding from the Art and Culture Collective of Northern Sonoma County, a Corazón Healdsburg initiative.
“This event not only honors our ancestors but also celebrates the present and builds hope for the future,” said Marcy Flores, Corazón Healdsburg’s interim executive director. “As we work hand in hand with our partners, the city of Healdsburg and Healdsburg Community Services, this event is an expression of our shared dedication to building a more interconnected, inclusive and vibrant Healdsburg for all.”
This colorful, music-filled, family-oriented event was made possible by the generous support of local sponsors, including the Foley Family Charitable Foundation, Stay Healdsburg and the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Healdsburg Fund, Cartograph Wines, River Rock Casino, Stewart Edward Allen Design and Sandy Young.
