Photographs and memorabilia of deceased loved ones were carefully placed on altars to celebrate their lives at the 2015 Altares de Familia.

Altares de Familia took place on Nov. 1 at the Mill Creek Linear Park and the Bakersfield Museum of Art. The event was hosted by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

At the BMOA garden, dozens of altars were set up by family members not to mourn the death of their loved ones, but to celebrate the lives they lived.

One of the altars at the event was dedicated to Bakersfield College’s late counselor, Manuel Gonzales Jr. It was set up by his widow, Rachel Gonzales.

“We did one of these three years ago, and he enjoyed it. I truly feel like his spirit is still with us everyday. I think he would be proud,” said Rachel.

A picture taken of Manuel in Rome was placed at the center of the altar, along with smaller pictures below it of other deceased loved ones, and a bottle of wine.

“Oh he loved his wine. Maybe next year we’ll add a golf ball,” Rachel added.

Manuel’s grandson Nick Gonzales, graphic design major at BC, was also present at his altar.

“Everyone who’s stopped by to talk to my grandma praises my grandpa and what he’s done. They tell us stories about what they remember from the last time they saw him” said Nick. “He would never want us to be sad. I’ve never seen him sad or angry, even when he was in the hospital. He would want us to be happy, he would want us to be celebrating.”

Many altars were not dedicated to one person, but to a group of people. One in particular was done in honor of late members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

Sociology major at Taft College and LGBT community member Moises Duran said his altar was done to honor the lives of other LGBT community members that were lost, particularly transgender women who have been killed earlier this year and people who were victims of suicide. The altar was also open for people to bring in pictures of their deceased loved ones.

Duran said a woman placed her mother’s ashes on the altar.

“She was like, ‘I’m here to drop off my mom.’ I asked where her mom was and she handed me the ashes. I was like, ‘whoa,’” he said.

It was the third year Duran’s family participated in the event, but his first year displaying the LGBT altar.

Homemaker and Duran’s mother Maria Duran was present at the family’s side of the altar which consisted of pictures of many of its members. She said that as the years pass she adds pictures to the altar. This year she added her brother who passed away due to cancer two days prior to the event.

“We do this because we’ve always done it, at home and in Michoacan,” Maria said.

“My dad loved to read, and he never drank water. He always had to have his Coke,” she added as she pointed to a book and Coca Cola bottle that were placed by his picture. She believes her family would be happy to witness the celebration of their lives.

Many families at the event made an effort to celebrate the lives of their loved ones despite the tragedy of their loss.

Maintenance worker Jorge Ramirez set up an altar dedicated to his son, also named Jorge Ramirez, who was shot 18 times by police officers while he was on the job as an informant. Ramirez stated that his family is currently seeking justice for his son.

“The pain we feel is daily. Anything we see when we turn a corner is a reminder of his life. We’re here right now trying to heal our hearts, celebrating his life. This is our first time, and it’s not going to be our last,” Ramirez said.

There were boxing gloves placed next to a portrait of Ramirez’s son at the altar that represented his dedication to the sport as well as his fighting spirit. Jorge Ramirez (son) was a national boxing champion for four years in a row before his passing.

Thousands of people gathered at this event, many with sugar skull painted faces ready to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Authentic Mexican cuisine was offered to the public, and there were various vendors selling “calaveras,” flowers, and figurines.

There were live traditional Aztec and Mexican folk dance performances, as well as live mariachi music performances. Local band Mento Buru also performed at the event.

One of the many female guests who dressed at La Catrina, Mariela Medina stated as she was experiencing the event, “We’re here to celebrate tradition, to celebrate life. It’s beautiful.”