Halloween isn’t the only holiday coming up in the next few weeks. The Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is held annually the first two days of November. Though the name mentions death, the festivities represent a time to celebrate and memorialize the lives of loved ones while keeping their spirit alive.
Altars (or ofrendas) are created and decorated with photos, candles, marigolds, and food offerings. Skeletal images and skulls (calveras) are found in art, candy, and costumes with face paint. Plus, this holiday is bursting with color: the autumnal hues of marigolds and other flowers decorating altars and gravesites, bright shades of delicate papel picado flowing with the breeze while hanging from buildings, and a vivid array of colors in candy, face paint, clothing, and artwork.
And since New Mexico has quite a bit of cultural overlap with our southern neighbor, you’ll find quite a few Día de los Muertos celebrations around the state. Here’s a look at a few you and your family can attend this year.
- Day of the Dead Celebration (Albuquerque)
KrisNM/Flickr For those not already in the loop, Albuquerque’s annual Marigold Parade was canceled this year. Instead, you can participate in a parade-slash-procession at the Fairview Memorial Park to welcome the deceased as part of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival, which involves positive experiences to discuss death. During this celebration, you’ll get to enjoy food, music, traditional Día de los Muertos activities, and pieces of modern Mexican American culture. Date: November 3, 2019 Details: Before I Die NM
- Día de Muertos Art Fest (Deming)
Dia De Muertos Art Festival/Facebook Held in the Historic Courthouse Park, this is a massive, art-centered festival celebrating the Mexican tradition. You’ll have an opportunity to create sugar skulls, decorate ofrendas for departed loved ones, and make your own papel picado to decorate your altars or home. Toward the end of the celebration will be a memorial for those who have passed on. Date: November 2, 2019 Details: diademuertosartfest.com
- Día de los Muertos Family Fun Day (Hobbs)
Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame/Facebook Held in the city’s Western Heritage Museum, this free event is a great early celebration that is centered around the family and children. Get the kids involved in making sugar skulls, coloful flores de papel, breaking a piñata, and creating a community ofrenda. The event finishes with a 2 p.m. screening of Disney’s “Coco.” Date: October 26, 2019 Details: New Mexico Junior College Western Heritage Museum
- 6th Annual Día de Muertos Celebration (Lincoln)
Angélica Portales/Flickr This historic little town near Ruidoso holds an annual Day of the Dead celebration that is free for the family. Enjoy music, dancing, face painting, and creating altars at t the Old Lincoln Gallery and Annie’s Little Sure Shot Espresso House. Date: November 2, 2019 Details: Discover Ruidoso
- Día de los Muertos Celebration (Mesilla)
PEO ACWA/Flickr This annual event is free to the public and held in the Mesilla plaza. You’ll be able to witness and participate in a variety of activities, such as folklórico dancing and creating altars for deceased loved ones. Date: November 1-3 Contact: (575) 524-3262
- Day of the Dead Community Celebration (Santa Fe)
Museum of International Folk Art/Facebook This particular event is held at the Museum of International Folk Art and focuses on creating a community-wide afternoon celebration. Dress up as a skeleton, sample traditional treats, listen to musical performances and bring your own contribution to the community altar. Date: October 27, 2019 Details: Museum of International Folk Art Facebook page
Do you plan to attend any of these festivities this year? If so, be sure to share your experience with us by leaving a comment and photo in the comments below.
KrisNM/Flickr
For those not already in the loop, Albuquerque’s annual Marigold Parade was canceled this year. Instead, you can participate in a parade-slash-procession at the Fairview Memorial Park to welcome the deceased as part of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival, which involves positive experiences to discuss death. During this celebration, you’ll get to enjoy food, music, traditional Día de los Muertos activities, and pieces of modern Mexican American culture. Date: November 3, 2019 Details: Before I Die NM
Dia De Muertos Art Festival/Facebook
Held in the Historic Courthouse Park, this is a massive, art-centered festival celebrating the Mexican tradition. You’ll have an opportunity to create sugar skulls, decorate ofrendas for departed loved ones, and make your own papel picado to decorate your altars or home. Toward the end of the celebration will be a memorial for those who have passed on. Date: November 2, 2019 Details: diademuertosartfest.com
Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame/Facebook
Held in the city’s Western Heritage Museum, this free event is a great early celebration that is centered around the family and children. Get the kids involved in making sugar skulls, coloful flores de papel, breaking a piñata, and creating a community ofrenda. The event finishes with a 2 p.m. screening of Disney’s “Coco.” Date: October 26, 2019 Details: New Mexico Junior College Western Heritage Museum
Angélica Portales/Flickr
This historic little town near Ruidoso holds an annual Day of the Dead celebration that is free for the family. Enjoy music, dancing, face painting, and creating altars at t the Old Lincoln Gallery and Annie’s Little Sure Shot Espresso House. Date: November 2, 2019 Details: Discover Ruidoso
PEO ACWA/Flickr
This annual event is free to the public and held in the Mesilla plaza. You’ll be able to witness and participate in a variety of activities, such as folklórico dancing and creating altars for deceased loved ones. Date: November 1-3 Contact: (575) 524-3262
Museum of International Folk Art/Facebook
This particular event is held at the Museum of International Folk Art and focuses on creating a community-wide afternoon celebration. Dress up as a skeleton, sample traditional treats, listen to musical performances and bring your own contribution to the community altar. Date: October 27, 2019 Details: Museum of International Folk Art Facebook page
Want to read about some other fun things to do now that fall is here? You may enjoy the frightening joys and history aboard Albuquerque’s Trolley of Terror! Read more in This Haunted Trolley In New Mexico Will Take You Somewhere Absolutely Terrifying.
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