Saturday, November 1, 2025 (Rain Date: Nov.2)
12 – 5 pm
In collaboration with the Town of Huntington Hispanic Advisory Task Force, Latina Moms Connect, Inc., The Oaxaca Restaurant, The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Mac Bounce Party Rentals, and the Town of Huntington Institute of Human Services.
Featured Artists: Kelynn Z. Alder, Manuel Alejandro Macarrulla, and Erwin List Sanchez
Families are invited to celebrate Día de los Muertos at this special event in Heckscher Park in collaboration with the Town of Huntington Hispanic Advisory Task Force and Latina Moms Connect, Inc.! Enjoy learning about this holiday and how it is celebrated around the world. Meet artists Kelynn Z. Alder, Manuel Alejandro Macarrulla, and Erwin List Sanchez* and create works of art inspired by the celebration. Bring your own photographs or other personal items to leave at our ofrenda, to honor and remember your loved ones. Activities throughout the day will include Mexican style calaveras, maraca decorating, maskmaking, flower crown making, and more. Stop by all of the outdoor stations to experience everything!
Live Mexican music performed by Alejandro Gonzalez. Enjoy complimentary churros, pan de muertos, and hot chocolate donated by The Oaxaca Restaurant, The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Mac Bounce Party Rentals, and the Town of Huntington Institute of Human Services.
FREE
12 – 5 pm: Ofrenda and Art Activities
1 pm & 3:45 pm: Learn about the ofrenda with Alejandro Gonzalez and Dorothy Santana
2:15 pm & 4 pm: Parade around Heckscher Pond
*Artist Erwin List Sanchez will be at the event from 12 – 4 pm.
Community Partners:
As a daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Kelynn Z. Alder’s rich cultural ancestry is proudly apparent in her work, along with her concern to advocate for human and anti-discrimination rights for all immigrants. Attempting to bridge cultural gaps through the arts among communities across Long Island and New York, Alder helped found Latino Arts of Long Island. In 2023 Alder curated the award-winning exhibition entitled SOMOS/WE ARE, for the Long Island Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, featuring the works of 82 underrepresented Long Island Latinx artists. www.kelynnalder.com @kelynnalder
Manuel Alejandro Macarrulla is a painter, printmaker, and mask maker whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in New York and throughout the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. His work with figures in settings relating to his native Dominican Republic, or other real or imagined places, integrates cultural significance and magic realism. manuelalejandromacarrulla.com @manuelmacarrulla
Erwin List Sanchez is a Mexican-born artist who resides between Cozumel & Greenport, New York. He creates life-size animal sculptures inspired by nature and the wastelands. Erwin List Sanchez forges and welds railroad spikes and scrap metal to create his sculptures, a material he has been working with since 1996. In parallel, Erwin delves into cartonería, the vibrant tradition of Mexican papercraft. Through this medium, he explores how culture travels and adapts outside of Mexico, transforming and enriching itself in new environments. https://erwinlistsanchez.com/ @erwinlistsculptures
Alejandro and Maria Gonzalez along with their son Salvador have been residents of the Town of Huntington since 1989. Their career in the restaurant industry started in 1994 when they had the opportunity to open their first restaurant in East Northport called “Little Caboose.” Two years later they opened “Oaxaca Mexican Food Treasure,” leaving “Little Caboose” a year later. In 2007, they opened “Quetzalcoatl” and in 2012 “Chichimecas” in Farmingdale. In 2018, the doors of Chichimeca closed and in 2020 Quetzalcoatl closed, leaving only Oaxaca open. The Gonzalezs have contributed to the community in many ways including making donations to various organizations and participating in forums and talks on the philosophy and culture of ancient Mexico. https://oaxacarestaurantli.com/
Dorothy Santana, MSW, is the President and Founder of Latina Moms Connect, a nonprofit dedicated to building community connections that preserve Latino culture, nurture cultural identity, and amplify Latino/Latinx voices. Through signature programs like Parranda Navideña, Sofrito Sunday, and Bochinche Brunch, she creates immersive cultural experiences that celebrate heritage, strengthen families, and foster belonging. With over 15 years of experience in leadership development and training, Dorothy also serves as a Culturally Responsive Education Specialist at Long Island University’s Center for Community Inclusion, advancing equity and family engagement across communities.
The Town of Huntington Hispanic Advisory Task Force, composed of community members, serves as a liaison between the local government and the community. The Task Force plays a pivotal role in the planning and execution of the Town’s Hispanic Heritage Program. huntingtonny.gov/hispanic-task-force
The mission of Latina Moms Connect is to build community connections that support Latino/ Latinx cultural preservation, nurture cultural identity, and give voice to issues that impact the Latino/Latinx community. latinamomsconnect.org
