Bright colors, lively music and the aroma of traditional foods filled John Adler Memorial Park in Cherry Hill on Nov. 1 as the community came together for the fourth annual Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration.
The seven-hour event featured family activities, a costume contest and performances honoring Mexican culture and heritage.
Presented by community organizer Janette Norcross, the festival included special performances by Canpatlaneci Danza Azteca del Anahuac; Mariachi Flores; and Ballet Folklorico Yaretzi, with music from DJ Skynet. The celebration took place at the township’s Challenger Grove at Bortons Mill and Caldwell roads.
Among those supporting the festival was the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee, which hosted a vendor table, assisted with an art contest and provided administrative support behind the scenes. Committee members also joined in the festivities while dressed in traditional attire.
Sapana Raval, community organizer and vice president of the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club, emphasized the importance of participation.
“Supporting the Día De Los Muertos event is essential for the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee because it exemplifies our commitment to fostering inclusivity and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures within our community,” Raval explained.
Raval said events like Día De Los Muertos “serve as a bridge between different cultural groups by providing a space for sharing traditions, stories and experiences.”
Lisa Witherspoon, a member of the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee, echoed that sentiment.
“Día De Los Muertos honors the ancestors of the living through prayer, dance, and song,” she noted. “It was nice to participate in such a culturally rich traditional event in Cherry Hill. Until attending this festival, I had never experienced it first hand.
“It was truly wonderful.”
Both Raval and Witherspoon agreed that cultural celebrations like Día De Los Muertos are vital to strengthening community connections.
“Cultural celebrations are not just a reflection of our identities,” Raval pointed out. “They are the threads that weave us together into a vibrant tapestry of community. By honoring and embracing our diverse heritages, we cultivate understanding, respect and unity among all people.”
The Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee’s upcoming events include a pageant at the Indian Cultural Center in Marlton on Sunday, the Voorhees hliday tree-lighting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, and a Black History Month bus trip to the African American Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
To become a vendor or learn more about future cultural celebrations, contact Norcross at (856) 229-4608.
