PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philly’s growing Mexican community in the Italian Market has been celebrating Día de Muertos — the Day of the Dead — for 12 years, and this year’s event was the biggest so far, according to organizer Gerard Silva.
“The market is bigger, the children's fair is bigger — the procession. Oh my God. So many new sculptures, new everything,” Silva said.
Silva, a staffer at the Fleisher Art Memorial on 7th and Catherine streets, helps coordinate the Day of the Dead with committee La Calaca Flaca.
They began the day with a Children’s Art Fair offering face painting, temporary tattoos and more, courtesy of Fleisher’s ColorWheels program.
Thomas Flores and Marco Vargas of the Champion Lowriders then led a procession around the Italian Market on their lowrider bikes, bringing a tradition from the West Coast to Philly.
“I love going down South Philly and making some noise and letting people know that immigrants, we're all here. We're here and we want to be with you. We want to share the space,” Silvia said.
The event also featured vendors from their La Calaca Market, like Anna Ramos of Colectiva Clara, who says she’s been coming to this event for almost 10 years.
“It is a reminder that our loved ones, even though they're no longer here, they are still very much attached to us,” Ramos said. “And so it's a way to honor them, to honor their legacy, and to continue that — especially as immigrants, it's important for us to continue our practices in whatever country we are in.”