Chelsea seals square to welcome 1,700-square-foot Day of the Dead altar

Chelsea officials will close Winnisimmet Street between Park Street and Broadway on Friday and Sunday to host a community altar and festival.

The City of Chelsea and the Veronica Robles Cultural Center, known as VROCC, are organizing this annual tradition to honor deceased loved ones. Residents can place framed photos on the Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda in Chelsea Square at 179 Winnisimmet Street. Public viewing for the altar runs from 6 p.m. on October 30 until 5 p.m. on November 1. The display will include LED candles, marigolds, sugar skulls, and catrina figures alongside the community photos.

The main festival event is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A procession from East Boston will lead into Chelsea. A costumed parade will circle Chelsea Square behind a thematic float. More than a dozen local vendors will set up stalls in the square. Participants will compete in a costume contest for the best dressed Catrina.

Community members must retrieve their personal items from the altar by 6 p.m. on November 2. Those who miss that window can pick up photos at the VROCC at 282 Meridian Street in Boston. The center is open for photo pickup after 3 p.m. on November 3, November 4, and November 5. Organizers will also store unsold photos for the next year's event.

The center is currently seeking volunteers to assist with setting up and breaking down the altar. Residents can also join the parade or enter the costume contest. The organization is handling all logistical questions regarding storage and volunteering. Interested individuals should call the center at (617) 308-2314.

Traffic restrictions on Winnisimmet Street apply specifically on October 30 and November 1. Drivers should plan alternative routes during those two days to accommodate the event.