While those who will celebrate Halloween get ready to dress up as ghosts, zombies and vampires, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, prepares to celebrate life and loved ones.

Following the first year’s success, the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Hispanic Heritage Committee, with a grant from the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation, will open up its second “Dia de los Muertos: Honoring Day of the Dead” today.

This year’s event will run through Sunday, and both institutions hope to continue the event, which is free and open to the public, each year.

Molly Rios conceived the event’s idea, and it initially ran only two days.

“The hope is that this will bring the celebration of the Hispanic community to a broader audience,” said Steve Maesen, the librarian coordinating the Dia de los Muertos events.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday connected to the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.

“It’s just a way for people to remember and honor their loved ones,” Maesen said. “And to do this they build altars which include pictures of the person and usually candles — or, in our case, LED electronic candles — the person’s favorite food, maybe an article of clothing.”

Traditionally, altars include a photo of the loved one to whom the altar is dedicated as the centerpiece. In addition to providing some food for the spirit of the loved one, toiletries such as a bar of soap are considered important since it is believed that the spirits have been on a long journey and would like to freshen up.

Fragrant candles are generally included because they are thought to guide the spirit to the altar. The idea is to build the altar according to the personality of the loved ones and nourish their spirit.

Maesen said the GRPL plans to have at least 19 altars on display this year and that they will represent a diversity of people from the community.

“The first year we had a very successful turnout,” he said. “We only did it Friday and Saturday. We had about 500 people on the official count, but there more than that. This year we’re having an extra day, so we’re hoping to increase that.”

The Grand Rapids Public Library will have staff on hand to answer patrons’ questions, Maesen said.

All events will take place in Ryerson Auditorium on the third level of the Main Library in downtown Grand Rapids.

Tonight patrons can watch participants build their Day of the Dead altars from 4 to 8 p.m..

On Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the altars will be available to view and festivities will include performances by Cody Van Slyke and Audacious Hoops, a Grand Rapids hula-hoop troupe. Food and refreshments, including Day of the Dead bread, will be offered at noon, and children will have the chance to decorate their very own sugar skulls.

The altars will also be on display for public viewing on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 1 to 4 p.m.

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