By Zach Hilton, Gilroy City Council Member, as printed in the Gilroy Dispatch on October 23,2024
Nestled in the heart of Downtown Gilroy, the La Ofrenda Festival — Gilroy’s second annual Día de Muertos Festival & Wellness Fair from 1–7pm Nov. 2 — will be an extraordinary event and is more than just a day of festivities; it’s an immersive experience that embraces the essence of Día de Muertos — a time when families come together to honor their departed loved ones and celebrate the eternal bond between the living and the deceased.
With vibrant ofrendas (altars) adorned with marigold flowers, moving performances, a community bike ride and a variety of talented artists, our festival promises an unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impression on the South County community and beyond.
La Ofrenda Festival is made possible with a Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant, a program of SVCREATES, with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, City of Gilroy, County of Santa Clara and fiscally sponsored by Local Color, 501c3.
Gilroy’s La Ofrenda Festival is bringing together a cross section of sponsorships and partnerships from government, education, health, private sector, arts, transportation, culture, nonprofits, labor workforce and more. Arts are alive in Gilroy.
In 2021, I was contacted by SVCREATES (Santa Clara County Arts Council) to build a relationship that wasn’t here before in Gilroy. From those first initial meetings blossomed an Arts Círculo held at 6th St Art Studios and around the corner at the Neon Exchange. Today we have a monthly Arts Roundtable, Third Friday Art Walk, Chalk Fest, La Ofrenda Festival and doors continue to open.
We provide year-round bicycle, pedestrian and transit education and encouragement opportunities through programs and policies that promote our community leaving their car at home and choosing to walk, bike, roll and take transit.
This helps teach our residents safe walking and biking skills, reduces traffic and air pollution, and helps you get more physical activity. La Ofrenda Festival will have many experiences for you including a Community Bike Ride, Bike Valet, Bike Rodeo, Helmet Fittings, Bike Education, Wellness Vendors, next to our Transit & Mobility Plaza. This year’s presenting sponsor, Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), will be bringing their Dream Home mobile demonstration, where community members can learn about and interact with electric equipment and appliances.
Advancing mobility options reflects what we are teaching the youth in our community through Safe Routes to School and why we are nationally recognized as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American Bicyclists, as well as recognized by the World Health Organization as an age-friendly community.
The City of Gilroy celebrates the role that the arts and creativity play in helping us navigate a pandemic, amplify the need for racial equity, and highlight the power of the arts to change our lives for the better.
The Gilroy Arts & Culture Commission and SVCREATES work in partnership to support the arts and creativity in Gilroy as an essential part of our thriving community. SVCREATES partners locally with the Gilroy Arts & Culture Commission and Gilroy Arts Roundtable to include the City of Gilroy with a network of leaders who care about the resilience of our arts ecosystem and its impact to our community.
They are conveners, promoters, incubators and funders of the arts with a mission to elevate Silicon Valley’s creative culture.
The City of Gilroy recognizes that the arts and creativity support student success and lifelong learning, provide key job skills, and bring joy to our community while strengthening our connections; and values partnering with SVCREATES and state-level organizations to promote unified support for the arts.
About Zach
Zach is a husband, father, Bay Area firefighter/paramedic, and has served as a Gilroy City Council Member elected in 2020. He was the recipient of the 2010 Star of Life Award from Alameda County Emergency Medical Services, 2019 Healthy Hero Award by Mt Madonna YMCA, 2023 CARAS Cesar Chavez Community Champion Award, and 2024 BAYMEC Rich Gordon Elected Official of the Year Award. His current focuses include housing for all, active transportation, social justice, arts, and the unhoused.
