Photos: Providence’s North Burial Ground comes alive for Day of the Dead

Approximately 150 people - including families with young children, teens, students from Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design, and local neighbors - joined the celebration.

Jessica Nelson, curatorial assistant at the Haffenreffer Museum, said the event continues to attract new participants each year. This year, Brown offered a free shuttle between the Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center and the cemetery to encourage more Brown and RISD students to attend.

"We're seeing an increasing response from both the Brown and Providence communities as this celebration becomes a cherished tradition at North Burial Ground," Nelson said. "We're excited to welcome even more in the years to come."

Providence resident Tonay Gooday-Ervin said they joined the celebration to honor family traditions and reconnect with memories of loved ones.

"My mom's side of the family is Cuban, and we always celebrated Day of the Dead because she believed it was important to keep our memories of loved ones and ancestors close," Gooday-Ervin said. "Sharing family stories, recipes and traditions was such a big part of my life growing up - and it still is. I wanted to come here to remember all my loved ones, and it's really nice to share that experience with my friends."

Throughout the event, community members each shared personal stories and memories, adding a heartfelt spirit to the gathering. This year, Chicanos Car Club Rhode Island displayed mini ofrendas in their car trunks - each a small tribute to departed family members. Music by Ashley Soto, a Guatemalan and Mexican heritage singer, and Brown student group Mariachi de Brown set a festive yet reflective tone. As dusk approached, a candle-lit procession circled the cemetery, creating a peaceful, reverent end to the evening.

Jordi Rivera, a postdoctoral research associate in Brown's Department of Anthropology who is Mexican-American, said Día de los Muertos at its core is a holiday rooted in community, family and a celebration of loved ones. By helping to organize local festivities, Brown and North Burial Ground are creating spaces that recognize and highlight the diverse Latinx cultures in Providence and Rhode Island.

"Providence has a significant Latino population, and it's important for those of us at Brown to learn from and engage meaningfully with the Providence and Rhode Island communities," Rivera said. "While Brown students and other members of the campus community may be here temporarily, this city and community is always here - it's important for us to support and uplift events, spaces and community-centered efforts in Providence."