Chula Vista Celebrates Día de los Muertos with Two Community Events
This past weekend, Chula Vista was alive with color, music, and tradition as two major Día de los Muertos celebrations took place across the city. On Saturday, November 1, the Downtown Chula Vista Association hosted its annual Día de los Muertos celebration from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by El After Life at the Chula Vista Center on Sunday, November 2, bringing families together for a weekend full of community and culture.
Downtown Chula Vista’s Growing Tradition
The Downtown Chula Vista Día de los Muertos celebration has quickly become one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. Now in its third year, the event continues to grow, drawing locals and visitors alike to Third Avenue for an afternoon of remembrance and celebration.
Altars honoring loved ones lined the area, each one uniquely decorated with photos, candles, and marigolds. One highlight was a local car club that transformed their trunks into altars — a creative twist that drew plenty of admiration from the crowd. Alongside the ofrendas, there were live performances, dancing, and dozens of local vendors organized by Las Jefas Market, turning Memorial Park into a vibrant cultural marketplace.
“I had the chance to speak with several people who come out every year,” said Kurt Bunch, better known as Mr. Chula Vista. “They love how the event keeps getting bigger and better, and it’s clear how much pride the community takes in celebrating together.”
El After Life at Chula Vista Center
The celebration continued on Sunday as the Chula Vista Center hosted its first-ever El After Life event, a free, family-friendly festival that turned the mall into a cultural playground.
The event was also the first event organized by the new property owners, Primstor Development, since purchasing the center in March of this year. Primstor plans to host more community events during the holiday season, aiming to bring families back to the Chula Vista Center. The company also announced plans to improve the property and attract new businesses.
Recently, Primstor conducted an online survey to gather community input, and one of the top requests from residents was for more events at the center. “I look forward to seeing what they have in store,” said Bunch.
Families gathered for kids’ crafts, face painting, and photo opportunities, while music filled the air.
A standout attraction was the Art Through the Glass exhibit — a nonprofit program that fills empty storefronts with the work of local artists. The exhibit added an unexpected layer of creativity and meaning to the event.
During the festivities, Chula Vista City Councilmember José Preciado shared his excitement about seeing new life at the center. He expressed optimism about the mall’s new ownership and the potential for more community events like this one.
Be sure you follow the Chula Vista Center on Instagram so you know when all the events are happening.
A Weekend of Culture and Community
Both events captured the true spirit of Día de los Muertos — honoring the past while celebrating life in the present. From handcrafted altars to local Art and live performances, Chula Vista once again showed how strong its sense of culture and community really is.
“I love events like this that celebrate who we are,” Mr. Chula Vista said. “I can’t wait to see both of these events return next year. I really hope El After Life becomes an annual tradition; it’s exactly what the Chula Vista Center needs to keep people coming out and enjoying the mall again.”
Did you go to either event, or both? Let us know what you thought on our Facebook page. More events are coming soon, so stay tuned, Chula Vista.
