Lumafest logo

LumaFest is SRJC Petaluma’s Educational
Open House and el Día de los Muertos
celebration, bringing together education,
culture, and community in a vibrant,
family-friendly festival.

 

Saturday, October 18, 2025

11am-3pm

SRJC Petaluma Campus

680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway

General Visitor Info →

Discover the Magic of LumaFest

 

Explore the sights, sounds, and experiences that make LumaFest a one-of-a-kind celebration of culture, learning, and community.

 

From colorful performances and hands- on art activities to live music, science shows, and local food favorites, there’s something for everyone at SRJC Petaluma’s biggest event of the year. Whether you're visiting with family, friends, or flying solo — you’ll find inspiration around every corner.

Host a booth →

Students wearing safety goggles and aprons conducting a chemistry demonstration outdoors, using glass beakers, tubing, and lab equipment on a table

Explore SRJC
Programs

Colorfully painted sugar skulls—white skull shapes adorned with floral and decorative motifs in pink, red, and green.

Skull Decorating &
Art Activities

Día de los Muertos altar decorated with vibrant marigolds and red flowers, framed photographs of loved ones, a decorative skull, candles, and a wooden cross, all arranged on a yellow cloth-covered table.

Altares y Ofrendas

People standing in line at Elroy’s Mexican Grill food truck.

Delicious Food
Trucks 

A man and two children participate in a science experiment, wearing safety goggles and working with beakers and a box of materials on a table.

Learning and
Lectures

Two SRJC employees staffing a booth for Healthy Petaluma District & Foundation, promoting heart health with brochures and promotional items.

Community & Club
Booths

Past Celebrations: Celebrating through performance

Three Aztec dancers in vibrant, traditional costumes.

Danza Azteca

A powerful ceremonial performance honoring indigenous traditions through a sacred tribute to ancestry and cultural resilience

Two dancers in traditional Ballet Folklórico costumes—brightly colored long skirts and floral headpieces.

Ballet Folklórico

Traditional Mexican dance
performances that bring color,
music, and storytelling to life.

mariachi band playing outdoors: musicians holding guitars and a vihuela, dressed in traditional attire.

Mariachi Performance

Feel the joy  of a live mariachi
performance — featuring vibrant vocals,
festive melodies, and the unmistakable
sounds of trumpets, violins, and guitars.

Skeleton of a giraffe mounted indoors, with visible vertebrae and long neck bones—set against a dark interior backdrop.

Meet FRESNO: THE SPIRIT OF lUMAFEST

At the heart of LumaFest stands a powerful and unexpected symbol: the articulated skeleton of a giraffe named Fresno, proudly displayed in the Mahoney Library at SRJC Petaluma. Fresno’s story is a unique journey of life, legacy, and learning.

Originally a resident of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno later found a home at Safari West in Sonoma County. After his passing, an SRJC instructor and a team of students came together to rearticulate his skeleton — a meticulous and respectful process that now allows Fresno to continue educating and inspiring future generations.

In honoring Fresno, we celebrate a central theme of El Día de los Muertos: that those who have passed continue to live on in the memories, stories, and traditions of the living. Fresno reminds us that death is not an end, but a continuation — an opportunity to reflect, to teach, and to connect across generations.

Much like the vibrant ofrendas built to honor loved ones, Fresno embodies the beauty of remembrance, transformation, and community — making him the perfect symbol of LumaFest.