20th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente

October 21 & 22, 2023
Folklorico dancing, colorful and elaborate ofrendas (altars), insightful heritage programs, and Day of the Dead inspired crafts for the kids. For this 20th anniversary festival, the Aztec Fire Dancers will perform each day.

Celebrate the history and culture of Mexican, Mexican American, and LatinX communities in Northern Arizona at this annual fall event. Also known as the Day of the Dead, this event is a celebration of life, music, dance, food and heartfelt remembrances.  Rooted in community, this weekend-long event is presented in partnership with Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces.

Weekend admission:  $20 general admission  $8 youth general admission   $10 MNA members    $5 MNA youth member    Free for children 9 and under.

Tickets are good for the entire weekend, including the Courtyard After Dark.

Click here to purchase Celebraciones tickets in advance

Festival Day One – October 21, 2023 – 10am to 5pm

Courtyard After Dark – October 21, 2023 – 5pm to 8pm

Festival Day Two – October 22, 2023 – 10am to 5pm

Sugar Skull Decorating – reservations required

Decorating sugar skulls is a favorite activity for kids and families during Celebraciones. Nuestras Raices makes the sugar skulls and provides frosting and decorations. Since this is a very popular event that always sells out, we require pre-registration. That way you know your child’s sugar skull is waiting for them and what time to arrive. You will also need to purchase admission tickets for Celebraciones.

Cost – $5

Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Saturday at 10:30.

Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Saturday at 12:00. 

Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Sunday at 10:30. 

Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Sunday at 12:00. 

Celebraciones 2023 Schedule

All weekend – Ofrendas and kids crafts

October 21, 2023

10:00 am – Celebraciones opens

10:15-11:00 am – Ofrendas 101 presentation by Nuestras Raices

10:30 am -11:30 am –Sugar Skull decorating (reservations required) 

11:00-12:00 pm– Musical perform by El Charro Bohemio in the Courtyard

12:00-1:00 pm –Sugar Skull decorating (reservations required) 

12:00-5:00 pm – Face painting in the Courtyard

12:30-1:30 pm – Dance Performance by Ballet Folklorico de Colores

2:00-3:00 pm – The Musical Evolution of Mexico presentation and performance

3:30-4:30 pm – Aztec Fire Dancers

5:00-8:00 pm – Courtyard After Dark

6:00-7:00pm – Musical performance by El Charro Bohemio in the Courtyard

All day in the Living Room – Silent Auction

About Our Yearly Celebration

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is an ancient holiday. It may have originated with the Olmecs, the first major Pre-Columbian civilization in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico. This celebration was continued by other cultures such as the Toltecs, Mayans, Zapotecs, and Aztecs.

During the celebration, memories of ancestors are celebrated and the souls of the departed return to visit the living. The Museum’s historic courtyard is lined with ofrendas, each one telling the story of a Flagstaff Hispanic pioneer family. Papel picado banners and sacred copal incense herald the celebration. Golden marigold flowers symbolize the brevity of life and lend a scented pathway to returning spirits. Candles are lit for each family member who has passed on. Calaveras (sugar skulls) sweeten the tongue and mock death with their whimsy. And sweet pan de muerto (bread of the dead) honors the dead.

Each year, Nuestras Raices creates a community ofrenda and invites visitors to bring photos and mementos of their loved ones to contribute to this special place of memory and reverence. Nuestras Raices will also give a presentation about Dia de los Muertos traditions and the preparations of ofrendas.