San Mateo's 8th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration returns Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Admission is free, and organizers expect more than 350 people.

San Mateo Police Activities League and the city's Parks and Recreation Department are co-hosting the event from noon to 3 p.m. at the center's park, 725 Monte Diablo Ave., according to a city press release.

The afternoon lineup includes a classic car show, community altars built by local schools, cultural dance performances and local vendor booths. PAL's Ballet Folklórico group, along with Grupo Folklórico and Fuego de Mi Alma, are all scheduled to perform. Arts, crafts and interactive activities round out the program.

San Mateo Police Chief Ed Barberini, who chairs the PAL Board, called the celebration a way for the community to honor traditions and strengthen connections in an Oct. 5 announcement of the event.

The presenting sponsor is the Koshland North Central Fellows, a cohort of community leaders working on a five-year project to strengthen the North Central San Mateo neighborhood. The fellowship, which runs from 2022 to 2027, is administered by the San Francisco Foundation through its Daniel E. Koshland Civic Unity Awards Program. The program invests $300,000 in a selected neighborhood over five years. Fellows include San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo, former San Mateo Mayor Amourence Lee and Mimi Page and Gladys Privado Pinzon, whom the foundation’s roster identifies as affiliated with PAL.

Proceeds from the celebration will support PAL youth programs. The nonprofit has provided mentorship, academic support and enrichment opportunities to local children and families for more than 25 years, according to the release.

The event is free and open to the public. For details on this celebration and upcoming PAL events, visit sanmateopal.org.