ST. LOUIS — The community can experience the rich culture of Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, on Saturday for an inaugural street festival in The Delmar Loop.  

Dia De Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday where friends and family gather to pay respects to loved ones who have died.

The festival will feature authentic Mexican street food, arts and crafts, a costume contest, performances and other cultural activities.

Attendees also will have a chance to contribute to the event’s community altar, which is a space to honor those who died.

The street festival will take place from noon to 10 p.m. at the intersection of Delmar Boulevard and Rosedale Avenue. After 5 p.m. is for those aged 21 and up.

Saturday’s event is in partnership with the Missouri History Museum, The Delmar Loop, Hispanic Festival, Inc. and Telemundo St. Louis.

A preview event was held Tuesday at Amigo Sole where event organizers welcomed guests, a mariachi band and dancers performed, and attendees enjoyed tacos and margaritas.

The Dia De Los Muertos festival “is a reflection of how the Hispanic community has grown to a point that businesses like Amigo Sole understand the importance of serving the Hispanic community through a festival like this one,” said Angel Recci with Telemundo St. Louis.

By having the street festival, Recci said he hopes the Dia De Los Muertos tradition will be adopted by the St. Louis community, although the holiday is typically celebrated in Mexico and those of Mexican heritage.

While there are other events that celebrate Hispanic culture in St. Louis such as the Fiesta in Florissant and the Hispanic Festival Soulard, the increasing Hispanic population paves the way for other events to take place that explore the many Hispanic subcultures, Recci said.

“This is just an example of how we can go beyond what has been done so far,” he said.

Elisa Bender, an organizer with Hispanic Festival, Inc., said it is great to partner with the Missouri History Museum, the Delmar Loop and other organizations “because they’re recognizing the importance of our community. They’re recognizing there are a lot of us here and a lot more coming.”

Those of non-Hispanic heritage or descent are becoming interested in Hispanic culture, Bender said. She noted that the purpose of these events is to educate the community and expand upon the Hispanic subcultures.

Just down the road, the Missouri History Museum will host a two-day, family-friendly Dia De Los Muertos event Nov. 2-3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It will feature altars, live music, dance performances, an art display, crafts, storytelling, food from local vendors and more.

At the end of the day on Saturday, there will be a quarter of a mile procession through Forest Park at 5:30 p.m.

The Missouri History Museum is located at 5700 Lindell Boulevard.