Organized by volunteers, the purpose of the celebration is to honor the ancient traditions of the festival and bring community members together through art, culture, and compassion. For one night, families, students, community organizations, activists, artists, and businesses are invited to build an altar in memory of a deceased loved one or to bring awareness to a social issue. By making altars, participants are inviting fellow community members into their own life and passions for a loved one. Over the years we have seen altars bring strangers together through mutual compassion, understanding and dialogue. Families reunite to remember and honor their loved ones.

In addition to viewing beautifully created altars, attendees will be entertained by cultural performances and live music. Children can get their face painted and participate in free, art workshops. Local artists will be selling their wares and local restaurants will be selling their most delicious dishes. Finally, attendees will have a photo opportunities with La Catrina, the modern-day icon of Dia de los Muertos created by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada.

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Dia de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and acknowledged around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have passed away.

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using marigolds and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed.

Our #SelenaAltar is a labor of love among friends and fellow Selena Fans to celebrate the life and memory of Selena Quintanilla-Perez.
In preparation, we decided not to include any represention of death such as sugar skulls etc. instead focus on Selena's smile, love and life.