Colorful costumes and ofrendas greeted the many visitors who came to pay their respects to their ancestors during Sunday’s 30th annual Día de los Muertos celebration at the Oakland Museum of California.
Día de los Muertos Committee members led a procession and Aztec dancers opened the celebration, which included hands-on art activities, Mexican food, dance, music and colorful ofrendas.
A group of visionary artists and community members approached OMCA in 1994 to organize the first community-based Día de los Muertos celebration. The event’s aim is to link a living indigenous tradition of recognizing those who came before us to reconnect our communities with our ancestors and their ways of being.
A diverse gathering of community members came together for this annual healing tradition.
Tommy Marsden, of Martinez, sprinkles flower petals on an ofrenda (altar) during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A decorated skull, photos and other items on one of the many ofrendas (altars) during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Visitors check out one of the many ofrendas (altar) during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Laura Rifkin, of Emeryville, wears face paint during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Mariachi Bonitas perform during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Visitors check out one of the many ofrendas (altar) during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A decorated skeleton during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Visitors check out one of the many ofrendas (altars) during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A decorated skull during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Mexico Danza group performs during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A decorated skeleton during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Visitors pose for a photo during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Mexico Danza group performs during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Reena Valvani, and her daughter Sanjana, 6, of Oakland, wear costumes during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Mexico Danza group waits to perform during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A visitor checks out an ofrenda (altar) made by the Eastside Arts Alliance during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Mexico Danza group performs during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Visitors check out one of the many ofrendas (altars) during the 30th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)