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29th annual Día de los Muertos Festival in Escondido

The community in Escondido honored their loved ones who have passed with Día de los Muertos Festival.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Dozens of altars were created by community members during the 29th annual Día de los Muertos Festival Friday at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The event featured music, food vendors and a Catrina contest. 

It’s a free family friendly event where people come together to remember their loved ones. Its believed during Día de los Muertos, the souls/spirits of those no longer with us, visit their loved ones. 

Long time Escondido resident Skip Jacovino created an altar for the first time Friday. The altar included photographs, candles and marigold petals.

“Just we’re hoping they come around and hang out with us a little bit and it just kind of to feel closer to. I truly feel like our loved ones never leave us,” Jacovino said.

Attendees received free marigolds and other items to add to their altar on site. Lopez said the ofrendas created Friday will remain on site for a week.

“We feel it's really important to be a reflection of our community so with over 53 percent of our population in Escondido Hispanic/Latino this has become really a cornerstone of what we do for our city and we are the epicenter for arts and culture within the community and within North county,” California Center for the Arts Escondido Foundation CEO Gina Lopez said. 

Lopez said this time around, the event brought in more visual arts with a second gallery in the center theater, chalk art in the courtyards and bigger dance shows. 

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