Día de Muertos

October 27 & 28, 2023

Bienvenidos to a new tradition in the Santa Fe holiday calendar! A Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Said to have originated in Mexico, Día de Muertos represents a time to honor and reconnect with the dead in a uniquely beautiful and meaningful manner. Join us on the Santa Fe Plaza on both Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28.

Poster artwork courtesy Omar Pedroza, Urban Image Creative Studio.

History:

The Día de Muertos tradition places great emphasis on maintaining ties with ancestors, who are thought to continue to exist on a different plane. The belief behind Day of the Dead practices is that spirits return to the world of the living for one day of the year to be with their families. To honor these travelers, the living invite the deceased back into their earthly homes to honor and celebrate them during the joyous and festive Día de Muertos.

A focal point of the celebration is an altar, known as an ofrenda, created in honor of the deceased loved one. The family prepares the ofrenda with offerings, such as the loved one’s favorite foods, drinks, and personal things, as well as their pictures to welcome the spirit home after their long trip from the grave.

Activities:

Enjoy mariachi music and boleros (a form of 18th C. Spanish dance music) on the Santa Fe Bandstand, festooned with papeles picados, the colorful cut paper decorations seen at celebrations throughout Mexico. 

Take part in the Día de Muertos tradition by decorating several community ofrendas, generously designed and constructed by various Santa Fe businesses. Purchase decorative items that customarily adorn the ofrendas that honor those who have passed on. Expect to see brightly colored masks, decorative skulls, and hundreds of marigolds! Throughout the day, enjoy signature Mexican cuisine via food trucks and prepare for the evening at the glow-in-the-dark face painting booths.

After the sun sets, the Santa Fe Plaza will light up with a Glow-in-the-Dark Candlelight Parade. With the Plaza aglow, live music from a host of global bands will fill the Plaza, reminding us to rejoice and dance in the memories of our loved ones.

If you have questions or want to be a part of the Día de Muertos celebration by sponsoring an ofrenda or volunteering for the event, please email: diademuertossf@gmail.com, or call Ryan Dodge: 505-955-6232. We’d love your support!