4th Annual Día De Los Muertos Festival in Downtown Decatur canceled

DECATUR, Ala. (WAFF) - The organizers of the Día De Los Muertos Festival announced this week that they canceled this year’s 4th annual celebration in downtown Decatur.

Organizers said the decision comes in light of the current national climate surrounding immigration status and safety concerns, and they said their top priority remains the well-being of their community, attendees, and friends.

“Our hearts are with everyone who looks forward to this beloved celebration,” Día De Los Muertos Decatur Committee Chairman Jesse Gonzalez said.

“While this was not an easy choice, we believe it is the right one to ensure the safety and security of all participants.”

Mari Juarez is the director of communications for the festival, and she said it’s heartbreaking to have to cancel this year because it brought true culture to these downtown streets for everyone to enjoy.

“We would have people that fearfully might come, or we would have people who wouldn’t come out of fear,” Juarez said.

But she said at the end of the day people’s safety is what matters.

“Unfortunately, you can’t control the federal entities. And if one person decided to make a call and say there’s a huge hispanic gathering in downtown Decatur none of us wanted that on our shoulders,” Juarez said.

Danny Saafiyah is the part owner of Kimmis restaurant in downtown Decatur.

He said the Day of the Dead festival brought a ton of business and excitement to the downtown area.

He was disappointed to hear the festival is canceled this year.

“It’s unfortunate that good people just doing their job doing their work everyday, raising their families, going to school can’t just come out and enjoy a day without fear of something happening to them by our government,” Saafiyah said.

Juarez says the celebration in Decatur is not gone forever.

During this time, their committee said they are focusing on establishing nonprofit status, which will be known under the name of Downtown Decatur’s Corazón y Cultura (Heart and Culture). Organizers said this milestone will allow them to expand their mission of celebrating and sharing culture in ways that unite the community.

Through vibrant downtown events, they said they aim to create inclusive spaces where people of all backgrounds can experience and learn about Latino culture while embracing the rich diversity of Decatur.

In addition to cultural celebrations, organizers said Corazón y Cultura will invest in the future of the community by awarding scholarships to underserved, first-generation students pursuing higher education. They said securing nonprofit status will enable them to grow their events to even greater heights and broaden their cultural programming.

Looking ahead, they said they plan not only to host the cherished Día De Los Muertos celebration but also to launch a series of inclusive downtown events, including Cinco de Mayo, Día del Grito, and Posada de Navidad, creating a year-round movement of culture, connection, and opportunity for all.

“We are committed to making Downtown Decatur a hub of culture and community,” Decatur Morgan County Tourism Communication Director Emma Martin said.

“This pause will allow this committee to build an even stronger foundation so that our next celebration will be bigger, more inclusive, and more vibrant than ever.”

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