A number of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations will be held in the Valley this week.
The holiday focuses on family and friends praying for and remembering family members and friends who have died. Among the celebrations are:
The Sonoma Community Center will display its annual public altar in its Maloney Family Memorial Garden between Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Monday, Nov. 3. Created by local sculptor Jim Callahan, the 12-foot-tall structure, adorned with lights and paper butterflies, will exhibit portraits and stories of nearly 75 individuals who have made extraordinary contributions both large and small to life here in Sonoma Valley.
A free public reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. Everyone is welcome to bring photos to place on the altar (no original photos or valuables) Refreshments will be provided with the support of Whole Foods Market along with organic grape juice made from cabernet grapes grown on the SCC property.
The community center is located at 276 E. Napa St.
The Sonoma Valley Regional Library will celebrate from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
In recognition of the rich Mexican heritage in Sonoma Valley and in observance of this Mexican holiday, the library is collaborating with the Sonoma Valley Friends of the Library to offer music, dancing, crafts and an ofrenda (traditional altar).
At 11 a.m., there will be an invocation to honor the dead by Meg Beeler of Earth Caretakers; at noon, Mark Abdilla will perform flamenco guitar; at 1 p.m., Donna Agoitia and Randy Cook of Tango Petaluma will dance the Argentine Tango; and at 2:15 p.m., the five-piece Carlos Herrera Band will perform Latin rhythms.
Children’s crafts and an ofrenda will be in the library’s forum room from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Materials will be supplied to decorate the altar in honor of deceased loved ones. Mexican hot chocolate and Pan de Muerto (sweet bread) will be served.
The library is located at 755 W. Napa St.
California State Parks, in cooperation with Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks Association, will celebrate Dia de los Muertos from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
This celebration is designed to honor the dead who, it is believed, return to their earthly homes on the evening of Oct. 31..In recognition of this holiday, the Mission will have an altar in the Chapel honoring Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and his wife, Benicia. The altar will display the typical offerings of food, flowers, photos, skeleton figurines, and candles. The altar will be on display from the afternoon of Oct. 31 though Nov. 3.
All crafts and events are free with a paid park admission.
Mission San Francisco Solano is located at 114 E. Spain St., Sonoma.Park admission fees are $3 for adults and $2 for children age 6 to 17, under 6 are free.
Della Tre Sorelle (The Three Sisters) will host a “Banquets to the Dead,” from dawn to dusk, Nov. 1 and 2 at Mountain Cemetery, 90 First St. W., Sonoma.
The event will be an honoring of ancestors by local artists. The artists will be installing their pieces from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.
Organizers will also be setting up a public altar. At the altar, the public can add names of family members to the wall of names. Children will be able to color, there will be a labyrinth and people can write on the gratitude tree.
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