The 10th annual Dia de los Muertos Festival drew large crowds to downtown San Pedro on Sunday, Oct. 23, for entertainment, costumes and the popular altar contest.
The Day of the Dead dates back to pre-Hispanic and Spanish customs, and in modern celebrations, combines Aztec and Spanish traditions.
Members of Danza Azteca Xochipilli perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Danza Azteca Xochipilli perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Danza Azteca Xochipilli perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Danza Azteca Xochipilli perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Danza Azteca Xochipilli perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mia and Samantha Best represent their father, Stuart Best, during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mia and Samantha Best represent their father, Stuart Best, during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sonia Gomez fixes the Gomez Family altar at the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Fredy Aguilar pins a message to the altar at the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Harbor Division LAPD officers Rey Solorzano and Melody Shortle have their picture taken with members of Group Folklorico Nadino during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Grupo Folklorico Nadino perform during the 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The 10th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Pedro on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
It is a national holiday in Mexico — and is also celebrated in the Philippines — and the San Pedro celebration has drawn several thousand participants over the years, growing to become one of the port town’s most popular visitor attractions.
The annual fall tradition calls for family and friends to gather to remember and celebrate departed loved ones. Scaled back celebrations were held in during the pandemic, but the event attracted 12,000 people in 2018, according to the website of the business improvement district that sponsors it.
