The Unity Council held its 26th annual Día de los Muertos festival on International Boulevard in Fruitvale on Sunday, Oct. 31. Twenty community altars created by local artists were on display, decorated with marigolds, sugar skulls, and other offerings to the dead. Traditional Aztec dancers from Calpulli Huitzilopoxtli and other groups also provided a highlight with their performances at the intersection on 35th Avenue.
Around 30,000 people participated in this year’s event, according to the Unity Council. The festival was celebrated virtually last year due to the pandemic, and Sunday’s in-person event—themed “Curando Corazones” (Healing Hearts)—was organized differently to make social distancing easier for festival-goers.
Reporter Jiyun Tsai was on hand and captured some images.
This photo essay was produced in collaboration with Oakland North.