Santa Monica Pier’s Día de los Muertos celebration draws record crowds

Similar celebrations were held all across California, including at the Santa Monica Pier. Rachel Aragon gives us a closer look at the event honoring loved ones who've died. Hey, today we are celebrating Dia de los Muertos, also known as Dia de los Muertos, and we have the historian, expert, extraordinaire, Jim Harris, who is the executive director here of the Santa Monica Pier. And really, Jim, to give you credit, you have helped spearhead and really see this event evolve here at the Santa Monica Pier. Yes, we started out with just a couple of giant La Catrinas and some art, and the next year we added, we put it in the merry-go-round, we put it in the merry-go-round and added the ofrendas. And then with a little bit of a dance and mariachis and then the third year we really expanded it into the event that it's become today with the parade down the pier and the blessing at the end of the pier, the car show, all of the entertainment on a stage outside and then inside we have face painting. It's really, it's blossomed into really one of the best events that we do. We produce free events. This is one of my favorite. All of our events are family friendly and it gets bigger and better every year. That's a lot, if it's one of your favorites. I want to show people some of the altars we have here that really, of course, reflect and honor those who have been long gone. Yes. Yeah, well, that's the whole point of the holiday, right? And it's honoring in a beautiful way. It's not morose. It's really a celebration of our past, our own past, and recalling with great fondness the memories of the people that we love. And one thing that Hundreds of people can see here just how personalized they are. We're seeing different kinds of food, fruits, breads, different kind of music. I think that's, to me, what makes it so special is that you're honoring people, how you last remember them and how you love them. Well, exactly. Exactly, you know. We have our own altar where I get to honor people from the peers' past. And, I mean, that's what makes this so special. We're all calling upon... Our love and reflecting upon the best things in life. One thing I want to stress was just how many people have shown up today. You've seen it grow. What do you think draws people to the celebration here at the Santa Monica Pier? Well, I think that it's largely word of mouth. We're very good with our social media, but I think most of the people here are, if they came here specifically for this event, have heard of what we do here. And then there are a lot of people here who are just passing by and, you know, it's a great day. It's a little windy out, so you get inside the merry-go-round building and get out of the wind. But yes, this is the biggest attendance, the largest amount of people that we've had yet. And I expect more next year. Well, kudos to you and everyone else involved as you're seeing right there the face painting. So many families here. By the way, again, this is a free family event. And you're seeing so many different generations, of course, learn about their past as well as their loved ones. And again, I just love how personalized these altars are. Again, right here at the Santa Monica Pier, specifically at the beautiful Carousel Building. I'll send it back to you in the studio.