‘It’s a real celebration of love’: Day of the Dead celebration returns to Clemson on November 1

Clemson University's Day of the Dead celebration returns on Nov. 1 with live mariachi music, food trucks, a showing of the movie "Coco" and a display of the cherished traditions of "el Día de los Muertos."

Now in its seventh year, the event will light up Carillon Garden next to Bowman Field from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free, and the public is invited. According to Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and the event's chief organizer, this year's celebration has special significance.

"Each year, we hold our celebration on a Friday night close to the holiday to encourage participation from our Clemson community, and this year the calendar has once again lined up for us to celebrate on the actual Day of the Dead," Martinez-Duarte explained. "We look forward to honoring our loved ones who are no longer with us and celebrating with those who are still living. ¡Ven a celebrar con nosotros!"

Organizers, including students, staff and faculty across the University, are holding the celebration to provide an opportunity for the area's quickly growing Latinx community to cherish their heritage and for the broader community to learn about it. Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos in Spanish, started in Mexico and is now celebrated throughout Latin America and has spread to many locations across the United States.

We celebrate the lives of those who have left this world, together, as a community. There is no better way to embrace life and each other.

Anne Salces y Nedeo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Languages

Much of the organization of the event comes from faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Languages and the College of Arts and Humanities- Nora Logue, Arelis Moore, Rosa Pillcurima, Anne Salces y Nedeo, Debra Williamson, and Jessica Garcia- who have supported the celebration since its first iterations dating back to 2018.

"It's a real celebration of love," Salces y Nedeo said. "We celebrate the lives of those who have left this world, together, as a community. There is no better way to embrace life and each other."

Night of traditions

The Clemson celebration reflects the growing influence of South Carolina's fast-growing Latinx community. At Clemson, the number of Hispanic or Latino students has more than quadrupled in the past decade, from 522 in 2013 to 2,166 in 2023.

A Catrina - a giant skeleton in elegant dress - will again be on display at the Day of the Dead celebration, along with an altar exhibit and a live mariachi band. Guests are encouraged to bring pictures or mementos to leave in honor of deceased loved ones.

It is also tradition to offer their favorite food or drink, which is thought to be an enticement for spirits of the dead to return to the realm of the living for a night, making el Día de los Muertos a joyful celebration of life.

What to expect

Food trucks will offer a wide variety of options, and face-painting will be available. While most vendors accept credit cards, organizers suggest bringing cash just in case. Guests are also encouraged to dress warmly and bring a blanket or chair to picnic on the grass.

Parking is free in the green and orange spaces behind Sikes Hall, parking lot E6 on this map.

Picture galleries from the last few years and more details about the event are available at www.clemsondayofthedead.org in English and www.clemsondiadelosmuertos.org in Spanish.

This year's sponsors include the Clemson University Commission on Latino Affairs; the College of Arts and Humanities; the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access; Clemson Libraries; the Department of Languages; the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences; the Office of the Provost; the South Carolina Botanical Garden; the Bob & Betsy Campbell Museum of Natural History; the Department of Visual Arts; Clemson's Student Government Council of Diversity Affairs; the Hispanic Alliance; and the Consulate General of Mexico in Raleigh.

Interested in sponsoring and/or volunteering? Contact Martinez-Duarte at [email protected]!

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