Garden Comes Alive for Día de los Muertos

On October 31 and November 1, the Naples Botanical Garden celebrated life beyond the grave with a festive Día de los Muertos! Traditionally, this two-day celebration is a Mexican and Latin American holiday that is a celebration, a reunion, and remembrance of loved ones, tracing its roots back to the Aztec people long before the Spaniards came to Mexico.

The event was moved inside Kapnick Hall due to the threat of rain and drew families, grandparents, and moms with their young children to come and experience the tradition of Día de los Muertos. Inside the hall, families paid their respects to loved ones by visiting the family ofrendas. The ofrendas - decorated family altars - featured photos of loved ones, traditional food such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead), favorite dishes and drinks to nourish the returning spirits, along with candles to light the way, cheerful, colorful paper cutouts, decorative skulls, and flowers - especially marigolds! It is believed that the gold color and scent of the marigolds guide the spirits back to the living for the Día de los Muertos reunion. Each ofrenda was meticulously decorated by families, highlighting the loving connection between the living and the dead. Several ofrendas honored their roots across their home countries of Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, and the United States, passing this cultural tradition to the newer family members.

The dance ensemble from the Ballet Folklorico Jalisciense brought traditional dances, songs, and storytelling as part of the celebration. The ensemble is dedicated to preserving and promoting Mexican traditions through their dance performances.

Live music was provided by Mariachi Sol Azteca and Sudamerica Latin Groove.  There is no one type of musical style or song played for the Day of the Dead, but the most recognizable music is the mariachi. It filled the Garden air with its distinctive guitars and trumpets and familiar cultural melodies. Mariachi music is known for its lively rhythms, inspiring members of the audience to dance and sing along. 

A La Catrina table was very popular as guests created their own flower crowns from vegetation provided by the Garden staff. The staff also had an educational display table highlighting spices from Mexico, while assorted souvenir vendors lined the outdoor wall of Kapnick Hall just like an outdoor Mexican market.

Just to be clear – Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is not a Mexican Halloween. The two celebrations fall near each other on the calendar and both use images of skulls and the dead, yet they are profoundly different. 

The Día de los Muertos celebration at the Naples Botanical Garden is part of the ¡ARTE VIVA!, presented by the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). It is a yearlong extravaganza that promises to be an unforgettable tribute to the rich cultural tapestry of the Hispanic community, which makes up nearly 30% of the region’s population.