East Texans gathered in downtown Tyler for a Day of the Dead celebration, a holiday that remembers loved ones who have died. Attendees could speak with vendors, listen to a mariachi band made up of Caldwell Arts Academy students and watch a wrestling match.
Amber Varona, downtown manager for the City of Tyler, said the event is a way to celebrate the heritage of downtown Tyler and the city as a whole. The celebration is in its eighth year.
Caldwell Arts Academy instructor Jennifer Vaughn said the event was inspired by her visit to San Antonio, where she said art and music filled the city. "I just really wanted to bring that back to Tyler," Vaughn said. She also said the time is a chance to reflect on what family and community mean to people.