Philly Italian Market celebrates 12th Day of the Dead event [Video]

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philly’s growing Mexican community in the Italian Market has been celebrating Día de Muertos — the Day of the Dead — for 12 years, and this year’s event was the biggest so far, according to organizer Gerard Silva.

“The market is bigger, the children’s fair is bigger — the procession. Oh my God. So many new sculptures, new everything,” Silva said.

Silva, a staffer at the Fleisher Art Memorial on 7th and Catherine streets, helps coordinate the Day of the Dead with committee La Calaca Flaca.

They began the day with a Children’s Art Fair offering face painting, temporary tattoos and more, courtesy of Fleisher’s ColorWheels program.

Thomas Flores and Marco Vargas of the Champion Lowriders then led a procession around the Italian Market on their lowrider bikes, bringing a tradition from the West Coast to Philly.

“I love going down South Philly and making some noise and letting people …