Museum honors Day of the Dead traditions with record attendance
The festive event brought together families and community members of all ages to honor the traditional Mexican and Latin American holiday.
HOLLAND — The Holland Museum welcomed more than 700 visitors to its Armory building on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, for its annual Día de los Muertos celebration, marking the institution’s most successful community cultural event of the year and one of its largest Day of the Dead gatherings to date.
The festive event brought together families and community members of all ages to honor the traditional Mexican and Latin American holiday, which celebrates and remembers deceased loved ones. Attendees participated in traditional music and dance performances, hands-on art activities — including printmaking and hair braiding — and cultural demonstrations explaining the history and significance of the customs.
Central to the celebration were community ofrendas, or "offerings," where guests placed photographs and mementos in memory of family members and friends.
"We were thrilled to have welcomed more than 700 guests to the Holland Museum for this year's Día de los Muertos celebration," said Michelle Stempien, executive director at the Holland Museum. "The incredible turnout reflects our community's enthusiasm for cultural experiences that bring people together, foster understanding, and celebrate the many traditions that enrich Holland."
Please consider becoming a monthly donor!
The event was organized in partnership with Latin Americans United for Progress and Cultureworks, with sponsorship from Downtown Holland. Multiple local educational institutions participated, including Holland West, Holland Heights, Jefferson Elementary, Holland Language Academy, Black River Public Schools and Hamilton High School.
Museum officials expressed gratitude to the volunteers, performers, local schools, and community partners whose efforts supported the gathering. The success aligns with the museum’s ongoing mission to preserve regional history and foster cross-cultural connection across generations.
For details on upcoming exhibitions and programs, visit hollandmuseum.org.
— To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
