Wednesday’s rain did little to stop one Livingston mother from passing on a family tradition to her two sons.
At the Merced County Library branch in Livingston, Myreira Garibay brought Ian Ramirez, 7, and Nai Ramirez, 11, to learn about papel picado, the decorative cut paper used during Día de los Muertos celebrations.
“I really feel it’s important for my kids to learn about our culture, and I think it’s really neat that the library offers these activities right here in our town,” Garibay said.
The workshop was part of preparations for Día de los Muertos, when families gather to remember and honor loved ones who have died.
According to tradition, Nov. 2 is a day when the worlds of the living and the dead come together, allowing departed loved ones to return for a brief visit. Families welcome them with altars adorned with flowers, photographs, food and offerings before they make the dead journey back to the spirit world.
For one Livingston family, that tradition has become a way to keep memories alive.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Garibay began building an ofrenda at home. The first photograph she placed on the altar was of her mother, who died during the pandemic.
Over the years, she added more photographs of family members and friends, along with decorations and handmade sugar skulls.
“It’s bittersweet to add new pictures every year,” she said.
Although the tradition was familiar to her growing up, Garibay felt it faded over time. Now, with her own altar, she hopes her sons will carry those customs and memories into adulthood.
A similar experience of loss and remembrance helped give rise to the celebration that brought the family to the library.
In 2021, after losing her mother, Genevieve Zamora, local artist Patricia Zamora began gathering family and friends in her backyard to observe Día de los Muertos.
What began as a small gathering eventually grew into a community celebration, bringing together artists, families, schools and local businesses.
Now in its second year, Livingston’s Día de Muertos celebration, organized by Zamora’s 7GEN ArtHouse in partnership with the city of Livingston, will take place Nov. 7 and 8.
Her mother was one of her biggest supporters, attending art exhibitions and participating in projects that brought several generations of their family together.
That connection between art, family and remembrance eventually reached beyond Zamora’s backyard.
In 2025, with the help of a few friends and neighbors, she organized Livingston’s first communitywide Día de Muertos celebration in just three months with a $100 donation.
What started with a handful of people has since grown into a 15-member planning committee, bringing together different generations and building connections with Japanese American, Filipino and Portuguese community members, while also reaching out to Livingston’s Punjabi community.
Preparations for this year’s celebration began in September, with 12 workshops at the Livingston library and Livingston Senior Center.
Through the workshops, residents have learned to make papel picado, cempasúchil paper flowers, decorative skulls, alebrijes — colorful Mexican folk-art sculptures of mythical creatures — and traditional altars. Community members have also stepped forward to lead activities, allowing the celebration to grow beyond its original organizers.
“My mother would love it that we’re doing this because everybody needs that connection,” Zamora said.
For the organizers, growth is not simply about drawing larger crowds. It is also about creating opportunities for neighbors of different backgrounds and generations to learn from one another.
“We know bigger isn’t better. It’s deeper and wider (that) is better as a community,” Zamora said.
That effort will also extend into downtown Livingston, where 14 local businesses are participating in a community ofrenda walk.
On Nov. 2, residents will gather at the Livingston City Hall parking lot, 1416 C St., at 4:30 p.m., then walk through downtown from 5-6 p.m.
Eleven businesses are expected to open for the walk, with the remaining three opening at other times. At each stop, participating business owners will introduce their establishments and share the stories behind their altars.
The walk builds on last year’s celebration, when residents visited downtown businesses to see their ofrendas and attended cultural performances, including Japanese taiko drumming.
For Livingston City Manager Jose Antonio Ramirez, the celebration offers more than an opportunity to enjoy music, food and art. It also encourages residents to leave their homes and spend time getting to know their community.
He described the gatherings as a chance for neighbors to meet neighbors, while introducing residents to different cultural traditions.
The festivities will continue Saturday, Nov. 7, from 4-8 p.m. at L.P.C. Portuguese Hall, 1237 Main St., with music, dance, poetry, art exhibitions, a tianguis art market, face painting and a catrin and catrina attire competition, featuring elegantly dressed Día de Muertos characters with skull-painted faces.
For Zamora, those exchanges are part of something she hopes will continue long after the decorations come down and the festivities end.
“I think the main thing is that we have a chance to get to know who we are and who we are together,” she said.
Other Día de los Muertos events in Merced County
Communities around Merced County are hosting other events that give residents a chance to remember loved ones and celebrate cultural traditions.
Thursday, Oct. 29, Livingston: Cempasúchil tissue flower workshop, 4 p.m. at the Livingston library. Free and open to all ages.
Saturday, Oct. 31, Merced: Día de los Muertos DIY Frames, 2:30–4 p.m. at the Merced CountyLibrary, 2100 O St. Free activity for adults ages 18 and older.
Sunday, Nov. 1, Atwater: Atwater Día de los Muertos, 1–6 p.m. at Ralston Park, 1550 Third St. The celebration will feature altar and catrina contests, live music, dancing, local art, vendors and food. Organized by ARIO Flowers and Old Town Atwater.
Sunday, Nov. 1, Merced: The Merced Multicultural Arts Center is planning a smaller Día de los Muertos celebration featuring folklórico dancers and ofrendas from 2-3 p.m. at their building at 645 W. Main.
Monday, Nov. 2, Livingston: Community Walk & Talk, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Livingston City Hall parking lot, 1416 C St. Residents are invited to walk downtown from 5-6 p.m., visit local businesses, and learn about their Día de Muertos ofrendas. Free and open to everyone.
Monday, Nov. 2, Merced: UC Merced Día de los Muertos Collective Ofrenda and Reception, 1–3 p.m. at the TRV/Commuter Lounge. The event will include activities, refreshments and a collective altar honoring deceased loved ones. Free and open to the UC Merced community.
Monday, Nov. 2, Livingston: Community Business Ofrenda Walk, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Livingston City Hall, 1416 C St. The walk runs from 5-6 p.m., with participating businesses sharing the stories behind their altars.
Thursday, Nov. 5, Merced: Día de los Muertos Mercado Night Market, 6–9 p.m. at Bob Hart Square and Canal Street in downtown Merced. Free admission.
Saturday, Nov. 7, Livingston: Second annual Livingston Día de Muertos celebration, 4–8 p.m. at L.P.C. Portuguese Hall, 1237 Main St. Activities include music, dancing, poetry, art exhibitions, a tianguis art market, face painting and a catrin and catrina attire contest.
Sunday, Nov. 8, Livingston: Community Walk of Ofrendas and Ceremony of Appreciation, 2–4 p.m. Participants who created altars will be invited to share stories about the people they honor and the cultural traditions represented.