2022. What an amazing year for Mercado on Fifth! We broke records, drew in bigger crowds, started a new annual tradition and more. As we near the end of 2022, we look back with gratitude, happiness, and an enormous sense of pride.
Mercado on Fifth hosts 'Dia de los Muertos' parade
WQAD - Mercado on Fifth brought new and unique festivities to the Quad Cities over the weekend.
On Saturday, Oct. 22, the organization hosted the ‘Dia de los Muertos’ parade in downtown Moline.
"It was a lot of work, I didn't know exactly what to expect,” said Anamaria Rocha, director of Mercado on Fifth. “Whatever I did expect, it definitely surpassed my expectations. The moment the first float went up, I got chills.”
‘Dia de los Muertos’, translated to Day of the Dead in English, is a Mexican celebration that is celebrated to remember loved ones who have passed away. It’s also an opportunity to keep their memories alive.
“It's important that we celebrate and remember who we are, it's important that we celebrate our traditions,” said Greg Aguilar who is also part of Mercado on Fifth. “It's part of what makes us who we are, especially about Latinos and a lot of Mexican Americans."
Hundreds of people gathered to participate in the celebrations. Many had painted skulls on their faces and wore traditional attire for the event.
“It was just so beautiful to see so many people come out for this today,” said Rocha. “I saw such a diverse crowd. It wasn't just Hispanos or Latinos, and that to me is amazing because it shows how much support the Hispanic community has in the Quad Cities.”
Aguilar added that he was “extremely surprised by the support of the community” when discussing the crowd.
“I haven’t seen this many people in downtown in a very long time” Aguilar said.
As the season ends for Mercado on Fifth, the team is hoping that the parade will become an annual tradition for the Quad Cities.
Community members learn 'Catrina' style makeup for Día de los Muertos parade
WQAD — Mercado on Fifth hosted a Día de los Muertos makeup tutorial Monday night focused on the art behind "Catrina" style makeup.
The organization's Executive Director, Anamaria Rocha hosted the lesson, which was the first makeup tutorial the organization has offered.
"So, Catrina makeup represents that, the fact that we are all the same within. It's a representation of our bones within our core. And it is in celebration of Day of the Dead," Rocha said.
But this style of makeup is far from Halloween or costume makeup. Halloween makeup is mostly oil-based, a formula that Rocha said isn't ideal for stacking.
"You can certainly try to do it with ordinary costume makeup. But in order to get those fine details, it needs to be body paint professional makeup."
The meaning behind the makeup holds more than regular traditional Halloween makeup as well.
"Our loved ones, when they pass, it's just a skeleton that remains, and this is just a representation to show that," Rocha said. That -- this is kind of what it looks like, and that everyone has their own unique style to it. You can add details, make it all beautiful, because celebrating our loved ones is beautiful to us. We don't want it to be gory. It's not Halloween makeup. So it's a lot different. It's just to show the beauty within."
This was the only class Mercado will be hosting. Their Día de los Muertos parade will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22nd.