The Center Brings Community Together for Dia de Muertos
Butterflies will create a visual voice of the strength and connection in our community
Sonoma, California.
The Sonoma Community Center will host its annual Día de Muertos Altar Lighting and Celebration on Saturday, November 1. As part of the tradition, two public altars will be created, inviting community members to contribute photographs in a collective tribute to loved ones who have passed. This year, the Center will also feature a display of handmade butterflies that signify the hopes and dreams of our community.
Día de Muertos, observed on November 1 and 2, is a time when families and friends come together to honor and remember their loved ones. Traditions include decorating altars with calaveras (skulls) and cempazúchitl (marigold flowers), symbols of both life and remembrance. The Center’s striking 12-foot public altar, created by local sculptor Jim Callahan, will be featured in the front garden.
“Día de Muertos is a celebration of love and tradition, where we honor our ancestors and keep their spirit alive through stories, food, and memory,” said Gerardo Diaz, Bilingual Engagement Coordinator for the Center. “Right now, Latinos across this country are struggling. We see families separated, we feel the weight of discrimination, and too often our voices are pushed aside. But even in the face of these struggles, we rise.”
This free community celebration features food, activities, and live entertainment for all ages. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with chips, salsa, and kids’ crafts, followed by the altar lighting at 6:00 p.m. Callahan’s striking altar design makes the lighting a breathtaking moment, with flames rising at the heart of the 12-foot structure. Afterward, the festivities continue on the back patio, where Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen Sonoma will perform traditional Mexican folk dances. Food and DJ dancing will follow.
This year, in response to the uncertainty and fear felt across our communities, the Center will introduce a special butterfly display. Each hand-colored butterfly will carry the dreams and wishes of community members, transforming the Sonoma Community Center campus into a visual voice of the strength and connection in our community.
Valley residents and beyond are invited to take part by coloring their own butterfly at a special free “make-in” day on Sunday, October 12, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Center, or by visiting one of our outreach tables at Tuesday Night Market or Vintage Festival. The butterflies will also be available at the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center at 19270 Sonoma Highway and the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce office at 651 Broadway. Butterflies may be decorated at home and returned to the Center by Saturday, October 25th, to be included in the display.
“It is important to recognize those in our community who are living in fear and uncertainty. We hope that the butterflies will be a visual representation of people’s dreams and the unity of our community,” said Vanessa Glamore, Executive Director of the Center. “We understand that this year’s event may be difficult for many, and we wanted a way to honor these feelings and represent them with art.”
Themed classes offer an engaging way to explore the traditions and significance of Día de Muertos. Designed to be family-friendly, these workshops are taught bilingually in English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for the entire community, except for the bilingual Día de Muertos Paint Night on Thursday, October 30, which is reserved for adults. The other classes include Pan de Muerto on Friday, October 24; Papel Picado (cut paper flags) on Saturday, October 25; and Sugar Skulls on Wednesday, October 29.
The Dia de Muertos Altar Lighting and Celebration will take place on Saturday, November 1, from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at the Center. Information and class registrations can be found at SonomaCommunityCenter.org or by calling 707-938-4626.
About Sonoma Community Center
The Sonoma Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1953 to serve the communities of Sonoma Valley with the mission of cultivating a vibrant community through extraordinary creative, cultural, and learning experiences. Originally built as the Sonoma Grammar School, which opened in 1916, the Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Community – Innovation – Creativity – Inclusion – Leadership
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Media Contact:
Vanessa Glamore Rognlien, Executive Director
Sonoma Community Center
707-931-4166
[email protected]
