The 14th annual Muertos Fest opened Friday at Hemisfair Park in San Antonio. The Día de los Muertos event features community-built ofrendas, or altars, decorated with offerings and photographs of people who have died. Muertos Mercado co-creator Cristina Martinez said the festival includes more than 90 altars built by local community members and more than 90 businesses from San Antonio and the surrounding region. Martinez said organizers begin planning the next festival almost immediately after each one ends.
Martinez said it is important to be respectful and as authentic as possible, noting that the holiday began in Latin America and Mexico. Among the altar builders were music therapists and therapeutic recreation specialists from Mercedes, Texas. Their display, titled "100 años, un ciclo de música fronteriza," honors deceased musicians from communities along the Texas-Mexico border. Participant Maria Oyoque said it pairs photographs from Rio Grande Valley community members with Mesoamerican elements.
Air Force Veteran Gabe Gonzalez and his wife built an altar for military veterans who died by suicide, marking their fourth year at the festival. The altar is linked to Gonzalez's nonprofit, Operation Solace, which advocates expanding veteran access to alternative medical treatments. Gonzalez said the altar includes a glass case of around 1,000 dog tags, which he said represents only a small number of veterans who died by suicide.