Lawrence Honors Día de Muertos at John Taylor Park

Hundreds gathered Sunday at John Taylor Park for a community altar event organized by Somos Lawrence and the Lawrence Percolator.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Civic

Marigolds, lit candles, and paper cut-out hands arranged on a tiered altar in an open autumn park with turning trees behind it. — Hundreds gathered Sunday at John Taylor Park in Lawrence for a Día de Muertos community altar organized by Somos Lawrence and the Lawrence Percolator. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hundreds of community members gathered Sunday at John Taylor Park for a Día de Muertos event honoring departed loved ones. The event was organized by Somos Lawrence and the Lawrence Percolator and featured a community altar dedicated to people who nourish us.

Why it matters

The event brought residents together to remember people who have shaped their lives, reflecting the city's cultural traditions. It also gave families and organizations a shared space to participate through altars and a contest.

The only quantitative figure reported is a general attendance of hundreds, drawn from observation rather than a formal count. The exact number of attendees and the contest results remain unreported.

The players

Somos Lawrence

A local Lawrence organization that co-organized the Día de Muertos community event at John Taylor Park.

Lawrence Percolator

A Lawrence-based community organization that co-organized the Día de Muertos event at John Taylor Park.

Juan Hernández

A Mexican artist who co-designed the main community altar for the Lawrence Día de Muertos event.

Tonatiuh Hernández

A Mexican artist who co-designed the main community altar and led community workshops in Lawrence before the event.

The details

Community members wrote the names of people who nourished them on paper hands placed around the altar, and could contribute notes to it. The main altar was designed by artists Juan Hernández and Tonatiuh Hernández of Mexico, who led community workshops in Lawrence the week before the event.

Week preceding the event: artists Juan Hernández and Tonatiuh Hernández conducted community workshops in Lawrence.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026: Día de Muertos community event held at John Taylor Park.

Cultural Context

The event extends the Día de Muertos ofrenda tradition, in which families build altars to honor the dead, into a shared public format at John Taylor Park. Rather than a private household practice, it turned the altar into a community-wide gathering space.

Residents can visit the community altar and contribute notes or names at future Lawrence cultural events. Families and organizations interested in the altar contest can look to local organizers for participation details.

The takeaway

Community traditions like Día de Muertos gain strength when residents participate directly, whether by writing a name on a paper hand or building an altar. Taking part in such local events is a simple way to connect with neighbors and honor the people who shaped your life.