The City of Rancho Cucamonga's Community Ofrenda goes up on the Courtyard Stage at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center on Tuesday, October 27, and stays up through Sunday, November 1. It is open to the public, and the City is asking residents to bring copies of photos of loved ones to put on it. Drop-off for the first installation opens today, Thursday, October 22. Photos go to the Lewis Family Playhouse box office, and the box office is open only Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.
If you want a photo on the ofrenda when it opens Tuesday, you have this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon, Friday, October 23, to bring it in. After that, the way to take part changes, and it helps to know how before the week starts.
Counting the Days the Box Office Is Open
The ofrenda is on display for six days, but the box office opens on only four of them, and on only two days before the installation goes up. The City calendar lists the ofrenda from noon to 7 p.m. every day of the display. Here are the calendar and the drop-off rules side by side:
| Date | Box office drop-off, noon to 5 p.m. | Ofrenda on display, noon to 7 p.m. | Setup help, 3 to 7 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 22 | Yes | No | No |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Yes | No | No |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | No | No | No |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | No | No | No |
| Mon., Oct. 26 | No | No | No |
| Tue., Oct. 27 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wed., Oct. 28 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Thu., Oct. 29 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sun., Nov. 1 | No | Yes | Yes |
The three days between Friday afternoon and Tuesday's opening are dark, so anything that misses the Friday 5 p.m. cutoff won't be in the opening arrangement. That's fine. It just means the photo goes up a different way.
What Belongs on the Ofrenda, and What Stays Home
The rules are short, and each one is practical.
- Photos can be no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches.
- Copies only. No original photos.
- Flowers are welcome, but no glass containers.
- No food offerings.
- No open flame.
- If you want your photo back after the ofrenda comes down, leave your name and phone number when you drop it off.
- Photos marked for pickup have to be collected by Friday, November 6.
- Donations or other items placed on the ofrenda can't be taken back.
The copies rule comes with its reason. The City says it can't guarantee that displayed items will be returned, which is why it asks for copies instead of originals. A letter-size print from a home printer meets both the size limit and the copies rule. The food rule matters most for anyone who grew up with pan de muerto on the family altar. Bread for the day belongs on the table at home. Cardenas Markets is promoting pan de muerto across the chain as a seasonal item "available for a limited time." The nearest branch to Rancho Cucamonga is at 1837 E. 4th Street in Ontario.
After Tuesday, You Bring It to the Ofrenda Yourself
Once the ofrenda is up, the second way in matters more. The City offers help setting up your display between 3 and 7 p.m. on any day from October 27 through November 1. That window covers Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, the two display days when the box office is closed.
Weekday drop-off only works if you can get to the Cultural Center before 5 p.m. on a weekday. For anyone on a weekday work schedule, the evening setup window is the easier option. Bring your copy and your flowers, arrive after 3 p.m., and you can place them yourself with staff help instead of handing them over at the counter. The Lewis Family Playhouse also posts the ofrenda details on its own event page, along with the City's Community Ofrenda listing.
Sunday, November 1, Is the Day to Plan Around
The ofrenda's last day is also the day the Playhouse has scheduled its Día de los Muertos show. "Eternamente: A Día de los Muertos Spectacular!" plays at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 1. It features Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklórico del Río Grande, live mariachi with traditional folklórico dance, and tributes to Vicente Fernández, Pedro Infante and Lucha Villa.
Both showtimes fit with a visit to the ofrenda, in different ways:
- The 1 p.m. show. The ofrenda opens at noon, so you can walk through before the lobby fills, see the show, and come back out to the Courtyard Stage afterward. The setup-help window opens at 3 p.m., about when an afternoon show would let out.
- The 6 p.m. show. Spend the late afternoon at the ofrenda during the 3 to 7 p.m. setup window, place your photo, and walk into the theater. The Playhouse lobby opens one hour before showtime, and doors usually open 20 to 30 minutes ahead.
On the official ticket map for the 1 p.m. show, face values are $39, $45, $50, $61, $71 and $81, and per-ticket fees apply. The Playhouse sells tickets only through its box office and its official site, and it warns that tickets from unauthorized sellers may cost much more than face value. Parking is free in two nearby garages. Drinks are allowed in the theater, but food is not. The address is 12505 Cultural Center Dr.
The Same Campus Stays Busy All Week
The box office schedule overlaps with a full calendar at the Cultural Center and around the city, so a drop-off can often ride along with something else you're already doing. The City events calendar lists:
- Young Frankenstein, presented by Inland Valley Repertory Theatre at the Playhouse, Friday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m., then Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m., plus a 7:30 p.m. show Saturday. If you have Friday evening tickets, you'll be at the building anyway. The box office takes photos only until 5 p.m., though, so come early.
- Spooktacular, Saturday, October 24, 5 to 8 p.m., at the RC Sports Center, 8303 Rochester Ave. Trunk-or-treat is free, and a $10 wristband adds the Fun Zone, crafts and Silent Disco.
- V.I.P. Club and James L. Brulte Senior Center Pumpkin Patch Party, Tuesday, October 27, 9 to 10 a.m., free for adults 50 and up.
- Teen Scream: Cryptids and Creatures, a library teen program, Wednesday, October 28, 6 to 7 p.m.
- IncredABLES Friday Night Fun Club: Villains Ball Dance, Friday, October 30, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
- Piff the Magic Dragon at the Playhouse, Friday, October 30, at 8 p.m.
If you're heading to Spooktacular on Saturday from the west side of town, check the City's street paving page first. It lists a full closure of the Base Line Road and Carnelian Street intersection on Saturday, October 24, under the current paving schedule. The notice doesn't give a year, so confirm it on the live page before you go.
Getting the Photo Back
The ofrenda comes down after Sunday, November 1. If you left your name and phone number at drop-off, you have until Friday, November 6, to pick up your photo. The City posts hours for drop-off but not for pickup, so check with the Lewis Family Playhouse box office before you make the trip. Donations and other items placed on the ofrenda can't be taken back.
At Shannon Brady Realty, we follow what the city puts on its calendar each fall because these traditions are part of what makes Rancho Cucamonga home. If you're bringing family to the ofrenda or to Eternamente on November 1 and want suggestions for dinner nearby at Victoria Gardens, just reach out. We're glad to help.
