Why San Jose’s Dia de los Muertos festivities may be quieter this year

Dia de los Muertos the traditional Mexican celebration of a family s dead ancestors has ballooned in popularity over the past two decades especially in San Jose where ofrendas and sugar skulls seem to be everywhere during October But the festivities downtown may seem a little quieter this year Organizers of Dia San Jose a huge celebration that would pack Plaza de Cesar Chavez informed in August that the event would not take place this year because of a lack of corporate sponsorship In in the modern day s tense political weather it s natural to see an announcement like that and wonder if there were any concerns the festival which would draw a heavily Latino crowd might get unwanted attention Given that celebrations went on for Cinco de Mayo in May and Fiestas Patrias last month that seems less likely than a financial reason One of the event s sponsors the Signia by Hilton hotel went through a foreclosure this year and other big nonprofit events that weren t Latino-centric have had sponsorship issues this year too San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild th Annual Dia de los Muertos procession around the Cesar Chavez Park to the San Jose Museum of Art where the free public event continued In San Jose Calif on Saturday October Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group The San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild s th annual event is also scaled back this year but for an entirely different reason Arlene Sagun the longtime director of SJ MAG and the producer of the Dia de los Muertos event for more than years died in April at age This year s altar exhibition on the fifth floor of the downtown MLK library which opens Monday and runs through Nov is dedicated in her memory Artists Lissa Jones Jessica Torres Eduardo Cuevas are recreating the altar they did at celebration of life in May for the exhibition which has an opening reception at p m Oct The large procession and event normally held in conjunction with it will not take place this year but there is a smaller event planned at the Children s Discovery Museum at a m on Nov Get more information at sjmag org dia-de-los-muertos VIRTUAL FLEET WEEK The federal establishment shutdown has left the popular Blue Angels air show scheduled to highlight Fleet Week in San Francisco next weekend in limbo But the Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose will have The Blue Angels a IMAX documentary about the Navy s high-flying Demonstration Squadron on its IMAX dome theater Oct - It s not the same but it s better than nothing right And if beer is more your thing than jets the Tech still has you covered with Techtoberfest on Thursday night The latest in the Tech Nite series the -and-over event will include beer and wine tasting a Science of Beer lab and a live pumpkin carving demonstration The party gets started at p m and you can get tickets and more details at www thetech org NEW BALLET S HALLOWEEN TREAT In latest years New Ballet San Jose s first show of the season has been The San Jose Nutcracker but this year Director Dalia Rawson has added a fall performance including highlights from March s Fast Forward and May s Giselle to its Oct Halloween Gala You can purchase tickets for the p m performance for or get a ticket that adds on a dance party and costume contest on the Hammer s stage after the show The benefit benefits production of The San Jose Nutcracker which lets young dancers on scholarship perform in the cast provides tickets for low-income families and makes attainable a shush-free preview for families with members who have cognitive and sensory disabilities You can find out more and purchase tickets at www newballet com halloween FASHION FORWARD The Santa Clara University Catal Club is celebrating its th anniversary with its annual fashion show luncheon Oct at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose The event supports the club s endowed scholarship fund which provided backing for more than Santa Clara students last year The deadline to RSVP is Oct and you can get more details on how to register at www scu edu catala Meanwhile Jodi Buyyounouski is chairing the st annual Belllarmine Mothers Guild Fashion Show on Nov at the Signia by Hilton hotel in downtown San Jose There are lunch and dinner shows featuring seniors from the San Jose Jesuit boys college prep school and alma mater of three latest San Jose mayors that benefit its direct tuition assistance fund and endowment Get more details at bcp org giving fashionshow DOUBLE CUP OF COPPOLA If you missed Francis Ford Coppola s expensive passion project Megalopolis last year and judging by the box office numbers you did Below Theaters in downtown San Jose has brought it back to the big screen this week and paired it with Megadoc the new documentary by director Mike Figgis that takes a look behind-the-scenes of the polarizing epic Below is offering moviegoers a Mega-Night Discount Pass that include a ticket to each film that you can use the same night to watch as a very intense double feature or on different nights The movies opened Oct and will play Oct - as well Go to www belowtheaters com for showtimes