McKinney's Día de los Muertos Festival has a new address this year. Organizers are moving the celebration from Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Park, its home for the past five years, to Tupps Brewery at 402 E. Louisiana St.
Gates open at noon on Saturday, Oct. 17, and the celebration lasts until 9 that night. Visit McKinney's event listing says it is free and open to all. In the listing, organizers say the park remains important to the event's history but that an opportunity came up that they could not turn down, and that the brewery gives them more space.
Ofrendas and a scholarship
The day centers on remembrance. Visitors can bring a photo of someone they have lost, and volunteers will supply a frame so it can be placed on the community ofrendas, the altars decorated with marigolds and candles.
A butterfly station lets people write a name or message on a paper monarch and hang it on a memorial tree; the festival site notes that in Mexican tradition, monarchs stand for returning souls.
The main stage will also recognize this year's recipient of the festival's scholarship for a McKinney student going on to higher education. McDonald's of North Texas sponsors the award.
