The short version
- NotiCel and El Nuevo Día reported the Museo de Las Américas will hold its Noche de Catrinas on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. dedicated to the centennial of Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso
- Both outlets stated free transportation courtesy of Codevisa will run from the Salvation Army building on Ave. Fernández Juncos to Cuartel de Ballajá
- NotiCel and El Nuevo Día say the altar will remember 13 cultural figures who died in the past year including Willie Colón
- El Nuevo Día reported LifeLink de Puerto Rico will have an information table for organ donation registration and the altar will display photos of some donors
Event Details
The Museo de Las Américas invites the public to its traditional Noche de Catrinas on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, dedicated this year to the centennial of the birth of Puerto Rican composer Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso. NotiCel reported the event inspired by Mexico’s Día de los Muertos tradition will recognize the value of memory, identity and the legacy of those who have enriched culture. Both NotiCel and El Nuevo Día reported that free transportation courtesy of Codevisa will be provided from the Salvation Army building on Ave. Fernández Juncos to Cuartel de Ballajá in Old San Juan.
The Altar de Muertos will honor Curet Alonso as the central figure along with 13 other artists and cultural personalities who died during the past year: Betsy Padín, Doribela Barbosa, Rafael Ferrer, Nilsevady Fussá Ayuso, William Anthony “Willie” Colón, Mario Cepeda Brenes, Jorge Rodríguez, María Clemencia López Ramírez, José Ignacio Jiménez, Federico Farrington, Robinson Rosado, Toni Hambleton and José Orta Rivera, according to both reports. The public is invited to place offerings and messages at the altar and to attend dressed as catrinas and catrines.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Old San Juan travel guide
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Para LifeLink, cada donante representa un acto de generosidad que trasciende el tiempo
Our translation: For LifeLink, each donor represents an act of generosity that transcends time
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Program Schedule
According to NotiCel and El Nuevo Día, the program begins at 6:00 p.m. with an Invocación Teotihuacana by Enrique Cárdenas. At 6:30 p.m. writer Mayra Leticia Ortiz Padua will read her story “El rostro de las flores” followed by a creative activity. The group Mi Plena will then perform in various spaces of the museum including the altar, hallways and main stage.
At 7:30 p.m. Valeria Gallart and the Grupo de Baile Citlali will perform, followed by Avance on Stage 2.0, both outlets stated. The night closes at 9:00 p.m. with a performance by cantautora Andrea Cruz. An $8 suggested donation is requested for entry.
LifeLink Collaboration
El Nuevo Día reported that the Museo de Las Américas is collaborating with LifeLink de Puerto Rico this year. The organization will operate an information table to educate the public on organ donation and allow on-site registration as donors. The altar will also include photographs of some donors.
Jennifer Oquendo, Senior Public Affairs Coordinator of LifeLink, is quoted by El Nuevo Día as saying: “Para LifeLink, cada donante representa un acto de generosidad que trasciende el tiempo.” The collaboration integrates a space for recognition and memory regarding the value of donation.
Where the sources differ
NotiCel and El Nuevo Día agree on all core facts including the date, honoree, listed names on the altar, full program schedule, free transportation details and LifeLink’s participation. The only difference is that El Nuevo Día alone includes the quoted statement from LifeLink’s Jennifer Oquendo and mentions the $8 suggested entry donation and contact information.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many people are expected to attend, whether the event has sold out in past years, the exact number of registered donors to be honored with photos, or any specific measures for crowd management or security in Old San Juan. They also do not indicate whether the event will be recorded or streamed.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Música, literatura y tradición en la Noche de Catrinas 2026 del Museo de Las Américas
- Reporting Noche de Catrinas en el Museo de Las Américas
How we checked this
Both NotiCel and El Nuevo Día reported the core event details, schedule and honorees. The LifeLink quote, suggested donation and contact details rest solely on El Nuevo Día.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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