BRISTOL, Ind.-- The Elkhart County Historical Museum is set to welcome the community for a series of free family-friendly events in celebration of Día de los Muertos, a tradition honoring the deceased that has roots in Mexico and Central America.

The festivities will kick off on Monday, October 28, at 7 p.m. with a performance by the youth mariachi ensemble, Mariachi ECo. This will be followed by a presentation on the cultural and historical significance of Día de los Muertos by Professor Nayo Ulloa of Goshen College.

On the same evening, the Museum will unveil its community ofrenda, or altar, which serves as a space for families to honor their departed loved ones.

From Oct. 29, through Nov. 2, the ofrenda will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to bring offerings such as photographs, flameless candles, closed-container food and drinks, flowers, and decorations. However, items such as alcohol, tobacco, open flames, and weapons are prohibited.

Participants can retrieve their offerings the following week.

To conclude the week of activities, the Museum will host a Día de los Muertos family celebration on Nov. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy face painting, craft stations, and traditional treats, along with a screening of an animated film about a boy’s journey in the Land of the Dead as he searches for his great-grandfather.

The film will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles in partnership with the Bristol Public Library.

The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites everyone to join in this vibrant celebration, which highlights the importance of remembering and honoring those who have passed.