Día de los Muertos Festival
Spirits Connect
Mesa Arts Center is pleased to celebrate Día de los Muertos with an annual event created in collaboration with the community. Día de los Muertos is a celebration of Latin American art and culture related to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. The annual free event offers a variety of features, performances and more in celebration of the memories of the deceased.
Los espíritus se entrelazarán durante la celebración anual del Día de los Muertos en el Mesa Arts Center. Los visitantes se han deleitado cada año con maravillosos espectáculos en vivo por parte de destacados artistas.
If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor of our annual Día de los Muertos Festival, please contact Britt Powell at britt.powell@mesaz.gov.
Relaxed Hour is a welcoming, inclusive and more comfortable Dia de los Muertos Festival experience with reduced sensory stimuli and opportunities for anyone who may benefit from participation within a calmer environment in the hour before the official event start time.
Relaxed Hour features:
- Fewer people and crowds
- Less amplified sound and reduced lighting
- Art exhibits and immersive experience at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
- Sensory Rooms and supports
- Meet and greet w/ festival performers
- Face painting
- Self-guided tour of altars
- Hands-on art-making activities led by specialist artists with expertise in working with youth and adults with varying disabilities.
Volunteer shifts are open to current Mesa Arts Center and new volunteers at the link below! Current volunteers will receive points based on their shift hours, while new volunteers must complete a "one-time waiver" form for their shift. Volunteer shifts are for adults ages 18+.
All volunteers will be given a special Día de los Muertos T-shirt as thank you for their time, and will be asked to wear the T-shirt during their shift.
Questions regarding volunteering for the event can be directed to volunteers@mesaartscenter.com.
Enamel Calavera Activity
Create your own copper enamel skull at our Día de los Muertos Festival! Led by Jewelry Instructor Jenny Vaughn, you’ll mix patterns and designs with colorful beads, which will be melted onto a copper skull to resemble a traditional calavera. You can then choose to turn your keepsake into a pendant or ornament!
- Simon's Hot Dogs
- Amigos AZ
- Fried Joint
- Taqueria Las Palmas
- MV tacos del valle
- Marina Fresh Fruit Shaved Ice
- Arizona's Roasted Corn LLC
- The Tamale Shoppe
- Elotes Danielita
- Snacks & More by Carol Avilez
- Estacion 664
- Frutilandia
- Olianes's Caribbean Cuisine
- Mujer Bonita Catering
- Sophia's Kitchen
- Teotestal
- Chimichurri Argentine Grill
- El Chavo Lemonade
Virginia's vision and dedication left a lasting impact on our community, particularly through her creation of the first community altar for our Día de los Muertos festival. To honor her, Mesa Arts Center will commission an original art piece as a permanent part of the annual community altar and establish the Virginia Aguero Día de los Muertos Fund to ensure fair compensation for the artists who create the altar. Virginia's legacy will live on in the heart of the festival, and we are proud to honor her in this way.
To support future community artists, donate to the Maria Virginia Rascon Peralta-Aguero Fund. Thank you in advance for your support!
Mesa Arts Center Foundation is a 501.c.3 organization whose mission is to support Mesa Arts Center’s arts education and outreach programs. While Mesa Arts Center is owned and operated by the City of Mesa, philanthropy makes it possible for thousands of young children to experience the arts, no matter the economic or other barriers.
