Chula Vista Center has been on a roll lately. They keep bringing great events to the center, and each one brings more of the community out. Families, neighbors, local organizations, and the shops inside the mall all show up together, and I love seeing it.
Sunday’s El After Life at Chula Vista Center was another great example. Close to 2,000 people came out for the second annual Día de los Muertos celebration in the event area between Macy’s and Burlington, even with a light drizzle. Families with strollers, Catrinas in full face paint, and plenty of people enjoyed free café de olla from La Central.
I was out there all day talking with people, and I kept hearing the same thing: they loved it. Here’s what made the day so special:
- Community altars, with Southwestern College winning the altar competition (they did a great job)
- Live music from Mariachi International San Diego (love them)
- A Catrina contest with gift card prizes from Chula Vista Center businesses (everyone did a great job)
- Free face painting, crafts and goodie bags (who doesn’t love free stuff)
- Vendor booths from local organizations and Chula Vista Center shops (shout out to all of them for coming out(
- Grupo de Danza Folklórica Mexicana Wa-Kushmaa, the crowd favorite of the day (WOW!! This was my favorite)
A Little Rain Didn’t Stop Anyone
I’ll admit I was a little worried going in. I’d been promoting El After Life on all of my channels, and when the forecast started calling for rain, I wondered how many people would still come out. I didn’t need to worry.
Chula Vista Center also deserves credit here. They set up canopies over the altars and the performance area, and it made a huge difference. The ofrendas stayed covered, and people could watch the performances without getting soaked. It’s a small detail, but it’s a big reason people stuck around all afternoon.
Altars Honoring Those Who Came Before Us
The altars are the heart of any Día de los Muertos celebration, and this year’s were beautiful. Following Mexican tradition, each ofrenda honored loved ones who have passed, with photos, marigolds, candles and the personal touches that give every altar its own story.
Local schools and community groups built altars and competed for the top spot. Congratulations to Chula Vista High School for winning the altar competition.
My personal favorite was the Wishing Well Foundation’s altar. They did an amazing job, and I found myself walking back to it more than once during the day.
Mariachi International San Diego Played Through the Rain
Mariachi International San Diego put on a tremendous performance. The light rain came down during their set, and they didn’t miss a beat. Mariachi on a cool, drizzly afternoon just feels right for Día de los Muertos. I have seen them at other events, and they do an awesome job. Big shout-out to them because they not only performed at this event, but later that evening they also did the Day of the Dead event in downtown Chula Vista.
The Catrina Contest
The Catrina contest was one of my favorite parts to photograph. Everyone who entered did an amazing job with their costumes and face paint, and you could see the hours of work in every detail. Contestants were competing for gift cards to Chula Vista Center businesses, but honestly, every one of them looked like a winner to me.
Free Fun for the Kids
I think the biggest hit of the day was the free face painting. The line stayed super long the whole time, and a lot of people joined in.
Craft on Third had a booth where kids could make their own frames for free. A lot of kids sat down to make one, and they loved it. Families also picked up free goodie bags during the event.
Vendors and a Warm Cup of Café de Olla
Along with the entertainment, vendor booths from local community organizations and shops were set up inside Chula Vista Center. VIP Pilates was there, and even the San Diego Wave soccer club set up a booth.
La Central, the restaurant inside Chula Vista Center, had a booth and gave away café de olla. On a cool, drizzly day, a warm cup of cinnamon coffee was exactly what people needed. I was not able to get a cup, but I heard it was really good. I definitely need to try them I was not able to get a cup, but I heard it was really good. I definitely need to try it next time I’m at the center.
Folklórico Dancers Were the Star of the Show
They saved the best for last. Grupo de Danza Folklórica Mexicana Wa-Kushmaa closed out the day and brought so much life to the event. When I talked with people, the dancers were what they brought up the most.
What made it special was how many ages were represented. Watching the little ones dance their routines was adorable, and then the older kids came out and really performed. You could tell how much work they’ve put in, and the crowd made sure they knew it. It was the perfect way to end the afternoon.
Here’s to Year Three of El After Life at Chula Vista Center
This was only the second El After Life, and it already feels like a tradition. If you want to see how it started, here’s my recap of last year’s El After Life. I really hope it becomes an annual staple at Chula Vista Center. Thank you to everyone who came out, rain and all. You showed up, and that’s what made it such a great day.
What’s Next at Chula Vista Center
And the events keep coming. The holiday lineup is coming up fast, starting with the Christmas tree lighting on December 2, followed by a Christmas posada on December 12. I’ll be covering both, so stay tuned for the details.
Until then, check out my photos and videos from El After Life, and take a look at the Chula Vista Living event calendar for more going on around town. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @livingchulavista for ongoing coverage, and follow Chula Vista Center on Instagram so you don’t miss their next announcement.
