Dozens of local and international volunteers transformed a plaza in the Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende into a festive world of skulls and color, with mojiganga painting, 3D pen crafts, a virtual reality stall, juggling, games, and storytelling.

Many festival goers’ costumes looked delightfully spooky in celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

While the town hosts numerous Day of the Dead events each year, most are geared toward adults. A group of Mexican and international friends wanted to create something just for children: a free festival called “Vivos y Muertos” that allowed young people to celebrate this important cultural tradition in their own way.

One of the organizers, Tina Bueche from the United States, had lived in San Miguel de Allende for nine years.

“Dia de los Muertos is a day to remember your history, a day to honor your ancestors,” she said. “It is a way to build bridges from the past to the present, so you can move forward without sacrificing the important values of this beautiful culture.”

Ms. Bueche paid for much of the equipment, toys, and craft supplies, and said the festival was her way of giving back to the local community she loved.

“It beats shopping for stuff I don’t need,” she said.

Playgrounds and kid-focused activities are limited in the area, and the festival drew many families, with children excited to play, craft, and have their faces painted by volunteers.

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The Dia de los Muertos festival was held on October 28, 2018. The camera used was a Panasonic G85 with 12-60mm kit lens.