This weekend, a number of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations will be held in the Valley.
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 through 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. 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.
The library is located at 755 W. Napa S.
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.
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.
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