VENTURA : Center Comes Alive for Day of the Dead
Anyone looking to escape the hordes of trick or treaters that are certain to hit the streets tonight should check out the Westpark Community Center’s Dia de los Muertos celebration.
Billed as a Mexican-style Halloween party, the free Day of the Dead Party at 450 W. Harrison St. in Ventura will feature a casa de spanto (haunted house), costume contest, pinatas, live music, crafts and refreshments.
“The Day of the Dead is a lot like Halloween, with children dressing up like skeletons and witches” and attending celebrations throughout Mexico, Westpark Community Center Director Roberta Payan said Wednesday.
While the Day of the Dead actually commemorates Mexico’s version of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, organizers felt the two were similar enough to combine into one large party.
“It was more relevant in our community to do a Dia de los Muertos party,” Payan said.
Community leaders hope the cross-cultural party will help children bridge the gap between Mexico and the United States in a way they can understand.
Organizers have distributed more than 3,000 flyers for the party, which is scheduled to run from 6 to 10 p.m.
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