Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT)/Teatro Público de Cleveland (TPC), and Día de Muertos Ohio, along with thousands of revelers, celebrated the 20th Annual Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood this past Saturday, Nov. 2.

Photographer Shawn Brewster attended the event to share with FreshWater readers. Here’s a recap of the day:

Día de Muertos 2024 at Cleveland Public TheaterDía de Muertos artistic director and one of the founders of the local celebration Héctor Castellanos Lara (who is also known for creating Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle each year) created the look and feel of the event, with costumes, traditional music and dance, and turning the CPT campus into a cemetery for the day.

“It was a really wonderful year,” says Raymond Bobgan, CPT’s executive artistic director. “Hector Castellanos is just such a brilliant curator and artistic leader, and this event really shines because of his leadership.”

Guests and participants gathered on Detroit Avenue for the procession that stretched for blocks, all the way to Craciun Berry Funeral Home with face-painted participants dressed in costumes and day of the dead attire.

There were musical performances and a pop-up market selling traditional day of the dead bread, jewelry, T-shirts, and offer psychic readings.

The buildings in the back of the theater became shrines (or Ofrendas/Altars), which were created by local artists and selected through applications overseen by Castellanos Lara. The shrines are meant to honor and commemorate those who have passed on—following traditions originated in the Aztec rituals of Mexico and other indigenous tribes of Latin America.

Día de Muertos 2024 at Cleveland Public TheatreOne ofrenda that was created by artist Diane Sette honored people who have lost lives in Palestine and in wars around the world. “It was really lovely. I was really touched by that,” Bobgan says.

“Hector has really opened the doors to all people to celebrate this holiday,” he continues, “to remember those people that we have lost, those people who are close to us, those people who we have admired, and also those people who also might have been lost and whose voices would otherwise be silent.”

Día de Muertos 2024 at Cleveland Public TheaterFor the Aztecs and others with similar beliefs, honoring and calling upon the ancestors was integrated with harvest festivities, and gathering family to remember past family and friends with fondness and happy memories.

“This event is obviously not intended to be a historical or authentic recreation of what happens in Mexico," Bobgan notes. “It's really meant to be a way to celebrate that event broadly, to share the experience of this Mexican holiday with the entire community but represent this holiday in an authentic way.”

This year, the Cleveland Public Library expanded its participation with a float in the parade, Bobgan says, adding that he is also grateful to Cleveland City Council—especially Ward 15 council member Jenny Spencer—for their support.

He says Castellanos Lara took a moment to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of Día de Muertos, as well as organizers Bobgan, Craciun Funeral Home director John Craciun, and local artist Robin Van Lear for their contributions in making this year’s Día de Muertos a success.

“Of course, Hector really is the one who should get all the recognition,” Bobgan says. “You know, it's really his amazingness that makes this event.”