On Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 28, from noon to 5 p.m., the Mesa Arts Center campus will host a celebration of the memory of departed loved ones with the 12th annual Dia de los Muertos Festival.
The free festival will offer a nonstop schedule of live entertainment, participatory childrens activities, traditional face painting, a wide variety of food options, studio demonstrations, and a Mercado Marketplace, featuring traditional and contemporary merchandise, jewelry, and Mexican arts and crafts from over thirty local artisans and vendors. New this year will be a featured custom car show for visitors to walk through.
In the spirit of traditional Dia de los Muertos festivities, a community altar designed by artist Kyllan Maney with Mesa Arts Center volunteers, will be the centerpiece for the festival, where attendees can leave mementos in honor of their loved ones who have passed.
Altars created by community groups, schools and families will also be on display for a festival contest sponsored by the Mexican Consulate and Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens.
In the family activity area festival participants of all ages are invited to decorate ceramics pieces and other hands-on activities. Families can also enjoy the Taylor Family Stiltwalkers, performances by juggler James Reid, and live aerosol art by artists Champ and Such Styles.
The festival will culminate in a performance and an open procession to the Community Altar led by Mariachi Pasion on Sunday, Oct. 28. Mesa Arts Centers studios will offer free demonstrations throughout the festival and The Store, an artists cooperative and gallery will also be open and offering Day of the Dead themed items.
Presenting sponsors for the event include AARP and SRP. The event is also sponsored in part by APS, Food City, the Mexican Consulate, Crescent Crown, Friends of Mexican Art, 93.3 Alt AZ, 100.7 KSLX, Phoenix New Times and Modelo. There is no charge to attend the Dia de los Muertos Festival, and parking is free. Mesa Arts Center is located at One East Main Street in downtown Mesa.
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About Mesa Arts Center
Mesa Arts Center, owned and operated by the City of Mesa, is a unique, architecturally stunning facility located in the heart of downtown Mesa. Arizona's largest multidisciplinary arts center is home to four theaters, five art galleries in the MCA Museum, and 14 art studios. Guests, patrons, and students come to Mesa Arts Center to enjoy the finest live entertainment, performances and festivals, world-class visual art exhibitions, and outstanding arts education classes. The Mesa Arts Center mission is to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant. For more information, visit mesaartscenter.com.