"Dia de los Muertos - the traditional Mexican celebration of a family's dead ancestors - has ballooned in popularity over the past two decades, especially in San Jose, where ofrendas and sugar skulls seem to be everywhere during October. But the festivities downtown may seem a little quieter this year. Organizers of Dia San Jose, a huge celebration that would pack Plaza de Cesar Chavez, announced in August that the event would not take place this year because of a lack of corporate sponsorship."
"In today's tense political climate, it's natural to see an announcement like that and wonder if there were any concerns the festival - which would draw a heavily Latino crowd - might get unwanted attention. Given that celebrations went on for Cinco de Mayo in May and Fiestas Patrias last month, that seems less likely than a financial reason. One of the event's 2024 sponsors, the Signia by Hilton hotel, went through a foreclosure this year, and other big nonprofit events that weren't Latino-centric have had sponsorship issues this year, too."
"The San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild's 28th annual event is also scaled back this year, but for an entirely different reason. Arlene Sagun, the longtime director of SJ MAG and the producer of the Dia de los Muertos event for more than 20 years, died in April at age 71. This year's altar exhibition on the fifth floor of the downtown MLK library, which opens Monday and runs through Nov. 1, is dedicated in her memory."
Dia de los Muertos celebrations in San Jose have become widespread during October, with ofrendas and sugar skulls prominent across the city. Major downtown events were reduced when organizers of Dia San Jose canceled the Plaza de Cesar Chavez celebration because of insufficient corporate sponsorship. Financial strain included a foreclosure at a 2024 sponsor, Signia by Hilton, and broader sponsorship challenges affecting other nonprofit events. The San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild scaled back its program after longtime director Arlene Sagun died in April; an altar exhibition at the downtown MLK library is dedicated to her memory, with a smaller public event planned at the Children's Discovery Museum on Nov. 1.
Read at The Mercury News
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