You Are the Medicine · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
About the Festival
A community-rooted celebration of memory, culture, and the enduring bonds between generations.
Our Story
Born from Community, Rooted in Tradition
The Monterey Bay Día de los Muertos Festival began as a small community gathering — a handful of families coming together to build an ofrenda, share food, and remember those they had lost. What started as an intimate act of remembrance has grown into one of the Central Coast's most beloved cultural celebrations.
Organized by You Are the Medicine, a Monterey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the festival has expanded over the years to include traditional Danza Azteca, live music, artisan vendors, cultural workshops, children's programming, and a community ofrenda that grows larger with each passing year.
Through it all, our purpose has remained unchanged: to create a sacred, joyful, and welcoming space where the living and the remembered can meet.
Nov 13–15
Monterey, California · 2026
Our Mission
Honor. Remember. Celebrate.
We exist to preserve and celebrate the living traditions of Día de los Muertos — creating a space where grief becomes gratitude, where ancestors are honored, and where community is strengthened through shared cultural expression.
"Together we keep culture and tradition alive."
What We Stand For
Our Values
Remembrance
We create sacred space for communities to honor and remember loved ones who have passed, keeping their memory alive through ritual, story, and offering.
Cultural Preservation
We celebrate and protect the living traditions of Día de los Muertos — rooted in indigenous Aztec ceremony and enriched by centuries of Mexican cultural expression.
Community
We believe grief and celebration are communal acts. Our festival is a gathering place for all people — regardless of background — to connect, heal, and belong.
Cultural Education
We share the history, meaning, and beauty of Día de los Muertos with new generations, ensuring this tradition is understood, respected, and carried forward.
The People Behind the Festival
Our Team
Marisol Vega
Executive Director
A Monterey native and cultural activist with 20 years of experience in community organizing and indigenous arts programming.
Roberto Cisneros
Artistic Director
Danza Azteca practitioner and visual artist whose work bridges traditional ceremony with contemporary community expression.
Elena Fuentes
Community Outreach
Connects the festival with families, schools, and cultural organizations across Monterey County and the Central Coast.
David Morales
Volunteer Coordinator
Manages our 100+ volunteer network and ensures every community member who wants to participate has a meaningful role.
Our Organization
You Are the Medicine
You Are the Medicine is a Monterey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to cultural preservation, community healing, and the celebration of indigenous and Mexican traditions. The Monterey Bay Día de los Muertos Festival is our flagship annual event.
All donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible. EIN available upon request.