Las obras de arte realizadas por los alumnos de la Academia de Arte Caldwell se muestran en el evento del Día de los Muertos de la escuela. (Ana Conejo/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

A number of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, events will be held in Tyler.

Tyler resident and La Tiendita founder Natalia Urquiza started organizing a local Dia de los Muertos festival in Tyler in 2017. In its first year, many people came out for the festival. Throughout the years, organizers have had it in various locations including in downtown Tyler. This year, they will return to the downtown square from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Urquiza hopes to promote unity through her event and bring people of all races and ethnicities together.

“The most important thing is that the community be united,” Urquiza said.

The event will feature music, a small parade extending from Austin Bank to the downtown square, a mariachi singer and multiple dancing groups including ballet folklorico.

“It is important that people don’t forget their roots, [or] the culture of Dia de los Muertos,” Urquiza said. “Many think it is adoration of death but it’s about remembering our dead [loved] ones. We all have dead loved ones.”

During Dia de los Muertos, people make ofrendas and put up pictures of loved ones from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3. Dia de los Muertos is a day to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away.

In addition to organizing the Dia de los Muertos festival, Urquiza puts together other community events. On Jan. 5, she will be having an event for Three Kings Day or Dia de los Reyes.

Here is a list of Tyler events being held to observe Dia de los Muertos:

Downtown Tyler

Caldwell Arts Academy and the City of Tyler will have a Dia de los Muertos event on Friday, Nov. 1 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the downtown square. The event includes folkloric dancing, arts, Caldwell Mariachi and an artisan market. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1003225328156875/.

Weekend Bloom will host its second annual Dia de los Muertos event on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Tyler. The event will have speakers explaining the meaning and history of Dia de Los Muertos along with food, music and karaoke. In addition, people are welcomed to bring pictures of their loved ones. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/weekendbloomdiadelosmuertos .

La Tiendita will have their Dia de los Muertos Festival on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature music, Catrinas and a small parade. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/latienditadiadelosmuertos or https://www.facebook.com/latienditamagazine .

The Hispanic Professionals Association of Tyler is currently hosting its annual Dia de los Muertos Art Exhibit, which is on display at Southside Bank, 113 W Ferguson St, until Nov. 14. The exhibit features art from high schoolers in Tyler and the surrounding area. For information, visit www.facebook.com/HPATyler .