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"[Day of the Dead is] very much grass-roots, something that people do because they love it, because they feel moved to do it, because they feel it's important . . . and it's a gift to the community."
--Starhawk, author, activist, and Day of the Dead participant

ALTARS

Making an altar for a loved one that has passed away, is often a cathartic experience that promotes healing, letting go and a celebration of the person's life. If you would like to create a personal altar (roughly 1x1 foot) please contact Maica at maicaf@earthlink.net to reserve a place at the park. Set up begins at 1:00pm on November 2, please check in with us before setting up your altar to ensure that you are in an appropriate place. If you set up an individual altar, please scroll down and see our Rec and Park Guidelines

Volunteer Jobs:

  • Photograph the night in both digital and film format.
  • Empty trash cans through out the night of the event into on-site dumpster.
  • Pick up trash through out the night of the event. Trash bags will be available at the Marigold Project informational desk near the Club House at park the night of the event.
  • Pick up trash/clean up altars from 11:30pm-12:30am, after the event is finished.
  • Clean up park and playground on Tuesday, November 3 from 7:30-9am.
  • Volunteer as a Marigold Project ambassador to kindly usher people out of the park at 11:30 PM on the night of the event, remind folks throughout the night that this is a family friendly event and there should be no smoking or drinking on Recreation and Park property.
  • Work a shift at the Marigold Project informational desk at Garfield Park at the event.
  • Take posters and flyers to your place of work, schools, cafes in your neighborhood, events, etc, to help get the word out.
  • Link to DayoftheDeadSF.org on your website.
  • Encourage friends and neighbors that love Day of the Dead to make a donation to support community events that bring San Francisco together, celebrating diversity, culture and this great city we live in.
  • Recycle candles. Every year, we have hundreds of candles that are left at the park. If your organization could benefit from these candles please contact us.
  • If you are a teacher and would like to help us create a lesson plan section for the website please contact us

Park Guidelines:

Dia de los Muertos Festival of Altars
Monday, November 2

Thank you for your interest and desire to build an altar for this Day of the Dead. Dia de los Muertos is a unique and transformative community event and the entire community is grateful for your collaboration, creativity and willingness to maintain one of the best celebrations in San Francisco.

We would like to introduce some important guidelines for building your altars:

SOUND- Amplified sound is not allowed

ELECTRICITY- we do not supply any electricity. If you need electricity you will need to bring a silent generator. Please notify us if you will be brining a generator.

FIRE - Only GLASS candles are allowed. No other use of fire.

WATER- Each altar needs to have a reserve of one gallon of water just in case some thing catches fire

DIGGING - in the soil only by using rebar and no more than 6 inches deep due the sprinkler system. Please notify us if you are planning to dig.

Alcohol and smoking are not allowed on the park premises.

PLAYGROUND - Only children and adults supervising children are allowed into the playground area. No altars or candles in the Playground.

SET UP: 12noon

CLEAN UP: 11:00 – 12:00pm. Please remove your altars and offrendas that night. We will have garbage bags available at the Marigold Project table.

GARBAGE - Please don’t leave anything at the park.

INFORMATION -The Marigold Project will have a table next to the club house with garbage bags. We need volunteers to assists and help on the table.

CONCERNS - All concerns from police, rangers, guards or any attendee can be addressed at the Marigold Project information table located outside of the Club House.

At the end of the event a lot of candles are left on the park. Please help us to recycle them, for instance by taking a load and donating them to SCRAP or to some other group or household that will re-use them.

We are looking forward celebrating Dia de los Muertos with all of you.

Sincerely,
Marigold Project
Maica Folch, maicaf@earthlink.net

Siouxsie Oki, siouxbabyblue@yahoo.com, 415 722 8911

Miguel Perez, nahuelyitomx@yahoo.com.mx