2nd annual Day of the Dead parade

(Newburgh) - The Newburgh Free Library held their second annual parade for Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead, on October 29.
Dia de Los Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday where families and neighbors come together to celebrate the loved ones that they have lost, but not forgotten. Traditionally being hold on November 1 and 2, Dia de Los Muertos is a day of prayer, festivities and celebration of life and death. La ofrenda or alter is set, arranged with offerings for the spirits such as marigolds, and favorite foods and beverages, for those that are being celebrated.
The parade, which began in the Municipal Parking Lot on Ann Street, ran down Broadway to Grand Street, making its way to the Newburgh Free Library. Cars along the route stopped to look at the larger-than-life puppets, traditional Mexican costumes, dragon, and children in their hand-made masks.
At the library, the community joined in with parade participants to enjoy food in the community room. After which they returned outside where a mariache band performed under the tent on the front lawn, and there was a special presentation by the Mantis Dance Theater from New York City. The group performed a riveting “Feast for the Dead,” an artistic dance, visually depicting Dia de Los Muertos, choreographed by Donna Ahmadi.
“The Library wants to provide access to the entire community. This program today is another example of making everyone in the community feel that this is their library,” said Chuck Thomas, of the Newburgh Free Library. “We collaborated with the Liberty Partnership Program, Newburgh Free Academy’s Government Class, Mount Saint Mary College student’s and faculty and received terrific support,” Thomas said.
The Center for Youth Development collaborated with the Newburgh Free Library to incorporate this tradition into their program. Earlier in the month, students attended a mask and costume-making workshop hosted by the library, where they learned how to make a giant puppet and masks resembling skeletons for the parade.
Ashley Siltz, After School Manager for OCCC’s Center for Youth Development said, “By incorporating this Mexican tradition into our program, The Center for Youth Development hopes to broaden our diversity. Here in Newburgh the population is so diverse. The cultures that thrive on our streets should be preserved and not be kept secret. We are different cultures living side by side with little, to no knowledge about each other. We hope to develop a better understanding within our community and programs about the rich diversity, existing among us.”
Thomas expects next year’s celebration to be even bigger. “We have people calling and coming from out of town about this event. The weather may have held some people back today, but we have a large turnout,” Thomas said, concluding, “It will only get bigger and better next year.” Pictured Above: Children show off their larger than life puppets, while marching in the Day of the Dead parade.