Forget rumors, Modesto to mark Dia de los Muertos on Saturday

Despite rumors of its demise, this year’s Dia de los Muertos – or Day of the Dead – celebration in downtown Modesto is alive and well, and returning Saturday.

False rumors of its cancellation stemmed from an illness in the family of Maggie Mejia, president of the Latino Community Roundtable, which is presenting the event. Mejia said earlier this week that the celebration never was in jeopardy of being canceled.

“Rumors began almost immediately (the) first part of last week as soon as my husband was hospitalized,” Mejia said in an email interview.

Dia de los Muertos is a Latino celebration dedicated to ancestors and deceased loved ones, traditionally a time for families and communities to gather and share food, memories and more. Elaborate altars to those who have departed traditionally are constructed.

This will be the second year that the roundtable has offered the community event, which will include children’s activities, a car show, altar and table viewings, a procession, entertainment and an awards banquet at which the organization will honor local individuals and businesses.

Although she received several messages asking if the celebration had been canceled, Mejia said she never considered doing so, despite the seriousness of her husband’s illness. “I had told several family members and LCR members that if anything happened to my husband, that I would not cancel the Dia de los Muertos, but would move forward and dedicate the celebration to him,” she said.

Mejia’s husband remains hospitalized, she said Wednesday, and he continues to receive treatment for several medical issues following surgery last week. He also continues to support Mejia’s work on the Dia de los Muertos event.

“I guess I have him brainwashed, thinking about others first,” she said. Proceeds from the event will help buy Christmas toys and new pajamas for needy children.

Last year’s celebration attracted about 400 people to the Modesto Centre Plaza, where this year’s event also will be held, Mejia said, along with about 300 to the awards banquet.

One of the highlights this year will be a procession beginning at 6 p.m. from St. Stanislaus Catholic Church to Centre Plaza, with a decorated casket, motorcycles, Aztec dancers, folkloric groups and community members.

Franklin & Downs Funeral Home “had an artist design and paint a coffin to go with the theme of the celebration, and it will be carried in the procession by six pallbearers,” Mejia said, “... and their staff will all be dressed, as well, and led by a hearse. The priest will give us the blessing before we begin, as they would do in Mexico and other countries.”

A new addition to the celebration will be a free car show beginning at 4 p.m. outside Brenden Theatres at Tenth Street Place, across the street from Modesto Centre Plaza.

“Currently the movie-cartoon ‘The Book of Life,’ which is about Dia de los Muertos, is (showing at Brenden) and the management wanted to be included in our celebration,” Mejia said.

Other free events planned for the day at Centre Plaza are:

▪ 2 p.m. – Face painting (outside)

▪ 4 p.m. – Sugar skull painting (outside), as well as viewing of altars and decorated tables (lobby)

▪ 6:20 p.m. – Aztec dance performance (outside)

The evening awards banquet will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Centre Plaza and will feature dinner, live entertainment and a dance. Tickets are $35, or $20 for students. Honorees are: elected official of the year, Turlock Mayor John Lazar; Latinos of the year, Sandra de Alcuaz, Homero Mejia, Maria Magdalena Ruiz and Cecil Russell; and Latino businesses of the year, Don Juan Foods, La Morenita Restaurants, La Perla Tapatia, Donut Deli, Je T’aime Bridal and Tuxedo Wear, El Rematito Flea Market and Total Image Salon & Spa.

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Forget rumors, Modesto to mark Dia de los Muertos on Saturday."