Dolly Parton Honored in a Day of the Dead Altar

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that honors people who have died. Families build small altars called ofrendas to welcome the spirits back to the living world. The altars hold photos, flowers, candles, paper art, sugar skulls, and food that the person liked. In the United States, many people of Mexican heritage and others who enjoy the tradition celebrate the holiday in the same way.

Old Town San Diego has become a hub for Day of the Dead celebrations in Southern California. The town’s historic streets and plazas are filled with colorful ofrendas that attract visitors from all over the region. The highlight of the event is the variety of altars that people create for family members, friends, and even famous people who have passed away.

A local shop called Tienda de Reyes honored the late country singer Dolly Parton with a bright‑pink ofrenda. The shop is owned by Shawn and Nikki, who sell Mexican folk art and souvenirs. They wanted to show how Dolly’s music and personality could fit into the Day of the Dead tradition.

The altar is decorated with marigold flowers, which are believed to guide the spirits back to the world of the living. The shop owners placed several portraits of Dolly, including one beside her late husband, Carl Dean. They also added a small pile of potatoes, a food that Dolly said she ate every day, and a few Dolly‑themed treats. “We also had to add some pieces to the altar that would entice Dolly to come back and visit us,” Shawn told a video shared by the store.

A centerpiece of the display is a tall papier‑mâché sculpture made by Nikki. The sculpture shows Dolly as a skull, performing at the Grand Ole Opry in a bright pink outfit. “That was one of her favorite places to perform,” the owner explained. “We wanted Dolly to feel the love that we felt for her.”

The ofrenda is more than a tribute. Shawn and Nikki hope that the attention it draws will spark interest in the meaning of Day of the Dead. “Everybody knows who Dolly is and everybody wants to visit,” Shawn said. “We want to be able to educate them and teach them about the holiday.”

Visitors to Old Town San Diego can see the Dolly Parton ofrenda and many other ofrendas through November 2. The town’s streets are open to the public, and the displays are free to view. The shop also offers small souvenirs that explain the symbols used in the altar.