NC gets into spirit of celebration

Altars and La Catrina costumes will bring A Avenue in National City to life on Nov. 1 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. during an inaugural, and potentially annual, Dia de Los Muertos celebration that aims to highlight the beauty of Latinx culture and bring the community together.

Mayoral Executive Assistant Xiomara Dodson said months of planning have gone into the event in an effort to replace National City’s annual Tower of Terror event, which had to be cancelled last year because of new California Fire and Building Codes that the city could not comply with.

“We saw an increase in voices asking to have a Dia de Los Muertos event which pertained to our community culture,” Dodson said.

The event will consist of a La Catrina costume contest and performances by local groups including the Sweetwater High School mariachi band and baile folklorico team.

The costume contest will take place at 7:30 p.m. and the judges will be senior community members, according to Dodson. La Catrina is a symbol of Dia de Los Muertos — a female skeleton adorned in a feathered hat and flowers.

The city will provide tables to anyone who wants to create an altar to honor their loved ones who have passed, community members just need to bring whatever they’d like to decorate the altar with, other than candles which are prohibited. Altars can be set up from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and an altar contest will take place at 6:30 p.m.

Local and regional food vendors and the lowrider community will also take part in the  event. National City Mayor Sotelo-Solis said this event is not only invested in the culture of the community, but the civic engagement.

“It really gives an opportunity for us to activate City Hall which is why we chose this location. We want people to know this is the Civic Center, the heart of where we can hear your voice and make change,” Sotelo-Solis said.

She added that there will be trained professionals facilitating “sidewalk CPR” at the event, where community members can learn how to perform CPR. The San Diego Registrar of

Voters will also be there to talk to register voters and talk to residents about participating in the census.

“We’re just looking to have the community take a bit of ownership of this event. That’s what our pride and joy will be — to see different community members, residents, leaders and organizations to partake in our event bringing the whole community together,” Sotelo-Solis said.