By Vantage Staff
For last year’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration at Newman, put on by the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, about 100 people RSVPd.
But about 300 people showed up.
This year, HALO is ready for a big crowd, said Talia Lopez, the group’s president. The event is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Dugan Conference Center, and it’s free for students to attend.
The event will include food, drinks and desserts plus lots of different activities. There will be a photo booth, face painting and crafts. People also can enjoy dancing and games with prizes. The event will even have free haircuts for those in attendance.
Dia de Los Muertos is a Latin-American holiday where people remember their loved ones who have passed away. Newman’s event on Saturday will include a community “ofrenda,” which is an altar of remembrance. HALO put the altar up in the entrance of Dugan Library earlier this week and has been adding items to it all week. Those who attend Saturday’s event can bring photos of loved ones they’ve lost to add to the altar.
“For HALO, the day, the dead is basically a big celebration to get Newman students, faculty staff and the community… out to celebrate and to learn about Mexican culture,” Lopez said.
Several different groups at Newman will help put the event on, Lopez said. Campus Activity Board is paying for the photo booth. Campus Ministry is helping pay for the live band, and Student Government Association is helping to pay for supplies.
Campus Ministry will also lead a rosary at the end of the event. Last year, those who did not attend the rosary helped HALO clean up the event, which made things move quickly.
Dia de los Muertos at Newman will be a family friendly event, and there will also be activities for children. Though Newman students will be admitted for free, faculty and staff and children ages 7-12 will pay $5, which will include food, drink and dessert. A group of six can get in for $35. Children 6 and under will be admitted for free.
HALO is asking people to RSVP for the event at https://bit.ly/48OZm2w
Contributing: Dannicka McGrath
PHOTO: Courtesy, Unsplash
