Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
Downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park burst with life on Saturday, with the annual Día San Jose celebration featuring Latino cultural performances, games, food, and over 100 vendors.
Sisters Judith and Patricia Sanchez sat on a bench with their faces dramatically painted and blinged out in gems. They were so striking that every few seconds people walking past stopped to ask if they could take pictures of them.
Judith and Patricia Sanchez pose for a photograph at Dia San Jose Festival for Día De Los Muertos at Cesar Chavez Park in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Iris Sanchez/Mosaic)
“We enjoy being in this environment,” said Judith Sanchez, 55, “seeing the interactions from people coming, dressing up, and taking in the whole event.”
Her sister Patricia, 60, said that celebrating the tradition of family drew her to the event.
Family was a theme deeply embedded into the festival. Organizer David Ocampo and his wife, Sonia Ocampo, created Día San Jose after her fathers passing. The festival occurred two weeks before the traditional Día de los Muertos holiday.
They parked her father’s truck on the side of the plaza with other vintage cars, the open trunks of cars and beds of trucks decorated as ofrendas, elaborate altars filled with pictures of loved ones, fresh marigolds, clay skulls, and other colorful decor.
Veronica Bejines of San Jose, sat in front of her late father’s beloved truck. “It was my dad’s love and joy,” Bejines said.
Her family sees the festival as a way to feel close to their father. Most importantly, she feels it connects people to culture.
“A lot of people don’t understand the significance of the Day of the Dead,” Bejines said, looking at her children behind her. “Seeing everyone, with all the skeletons and festive culture, makes them appreciate our Mexican history.”
Jordyn Rose. (Iris Sanchez/Mosaic)
Folklorico dancer Jordyn Rose helped spread the theme of culture at the festival. Rose, a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School, has been dancing for 10 years, but it was her first time performing at Día.
“I loved it,” Rose, wearing a bright purple folklorico dress and her face half painted, said she stayed to take in the full event. “It’s a public place where you can experience either your culture or be immersed in another.”
Vendor Ale Reiher also basked in the culture of the festival. “Looking around at all the booths, everyone’s so diverse,” Reiher said, “you won’t find the same thing twice.”
Reiher, 28, an event planner at California State University Sacramento, started her business by accident. “A friend asked me to make stickers, so I figured it out, and then it grew into this,” Reiher said, gesturing around her booth filled with Latin-inspired accessories; unique candles, stickers, mugs and more. Last year was her first time selling at Día San Jose.
“My best event, like ever,” Reiher said, “It was record sales. So I’m really excited for this year.”
Nestor Pulido. (Iris Sanchez/Mosaic)
Lizzette and Nestor Pulido, creators of Xochi Pawfections, shared the same excitement. They found inspiration for their business in their dog, Xochi.
“I had a hard time finding bandanas for her, so we decided let’s make her a custom one,” Nestor Pulido said, surrounded by eye-catching dog accessories. “As you can see, I kind of went a little crazy with the sewing machine.”
Lizzette Pulido chose the festival to debut their new business.
“I thought it would be a really good opportunity for us, especially because our niche is for the Latino community,” she said.
She has been attending Día San Jose for several years. Like other attendees, she admires the diverse community that the festival celebrates.
“We’re like a melting pot here in San Jose,” Pulido said, “It’s nice to see a wide variety of people come together and enjoy our culture.”
Iris Sanchez is a freshman at San Jose State University.