Marcela Delatorre and her family sat off to the side as crowds of people wandered by to admire the altar that took them a year and a half to build.

“I wanted my son to learn about the tradition and to not be afraid of death,” said Delatorre.

This sentiment was echoed over and over again by the participants of the Bakersfield’s Museum of Art’s Dia De Los Muertos celebration. Dia De Los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in many countries on Nov. 1- 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. It is an occasion in which people take time to honor and connect with their ancestors.

The Bakersfield Museum of Art held its Dia De Los Muertos event Nov. 2.

The celebration featured children’s activities, food, music and booths from local businesses. The focal point was the altars built by local residents.

“We’ve done it for the past three years,” said Jorge Hernandez as he stood in front of an elaborate altar to Frida Kahlo. “We have the candles (on the altar) lighting the way for her ghost.”

Hernandez is from the Liberty High School MEChA Club and said the group’s altar took three weeks to put together.

The altars typically included flowers, candles, traditional skulls made of sugar and food or drink that the deceased loved. One man had his brother bring in beer from Washington to add to the altar his family created in honor of his grandfather who was in a Spanish-language band from Bakersfield.

Some of the more unusual objects found on altars included a saddle and clothing worn by loved ones who had passed on.

“It’s really nice [that] people get to celebrate their passed loved ones and show their culture,” said Juan Delatorre.

This is the third year the Bakersfield Museum of Art has held its Dia De Los Muertos festival. Spaces to set up a display were free and available to anyone who signed up in advance.