The Augusta Museum of History is hosting a multi-day Dia de los Muertos celebration starting this Thursday.
Museum Education Director Krystal Lyon said she hopes that “all of Augusta will come and learn about [Dia de los Muertos] and then celebrate with us.”
The event will begin on Oct. 31 and continue until Nov. 3.
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a traditional Hispanic holiday typically celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 and focuses on remembering deceased relatives and loved ones.
The entirety of the event will be free to the public.
Lyon noted that most of the festivities will be located in the museum parking lot or rotunda, and that visitors will be able to explore the museum’s permanent exhibits at the regular admission cost.
Remembering the dead
The central attraction of the event will be a community “ofrenda,” which is a traditional altar decorated with food, flowers, and decor. On this altar, locals can place pictures of their deceased loved ones.
This altar is being set up by the Spanish American Cultural Association of the CSRA.
This display will be available to view and add to from the first day of the event to the last day.
“Folks can bring in pictures of their loved ones that have passed and put them up on the ofrenda…so that will be wonderful, just to remember loved ones,” said Lyon.
Those who bring in photos of loved ones should remember to write their name, phone number and email address on the back if they would like their photo to be returned.
Lyon said the purpose of this altar is to remember those who came before. “That’s what we do as a museum, we are all about remembering here,” she said.
Saturday festivities
Do you know how monarch butterflies are connected to the Dia de los Muertos? What about sugar skulls? These questions and more will be answered at the Discovery Day portion of the event, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 1-4 p.m.
This day will include crafts, an educational film in the museum’s theater and traditional Hispanic dances taught by local dancer JaNae Hill.
The Richmond County Public Library’s (RCPL) book mobile will be on-site creating 3d printed sugar skulls. RCPL will also offer a story time on the rotunda.
Starting a local tradition
This is the second time the museum has hosted this event, and Lyon said they anticipate a larger turnout this year.
She said last year’s event was more intimate and there was a positive response from the public.
“It was small, but it was wonderful and friendly and beautiful.”
There are plans to continue this event yearly.
“It’s a great day to celebrate the Hispanic culture and community that is here in the Augusta area…it’s a growing culture and community here,” said Lyon.
