Posted November 3, 2023
This year, communities throughout Colorado have planned events in honor of Day of the Dead, with hopes of bringing people together — both in person and in spirit.
At the Sheridan Library in Denver, the community group Sheridan Rising Together for Equity planned to host a Day of the Dead celebration on Nov. 1 featuring dance performances, food and an exhibition of an altar.
From now until Nov. 5, the library is also hosting a traveling museum exhibition from Museo de las Américas about Day of the Dead, displaying artifacts that help share the history and meaning of the holiday.
Museo de las Américas, a Latin American art museum within Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, has planned its own celebration in collaboration with other organizations at 5 p.m. on Nov. 3.
In Thornton, the city’s arts and culture division will host the seventh annual Day of the Dead celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 4 at McAllister Park Center.
Zapata said it is really interesting to see how different communities celebrate Day of the Dead, whether it be hosting a parade, creating a communal ofrenda, or visiting the cemetery where a loved one is buried.
“I want to be in those spaces and I want to reconnect to traditions with other folks who also celebrate Day of the Dead. Maybe it looks different from what I’m used to, and that’s going to be OK,” Zapata said.
“You get to see what they look like outside of, you know, maybe your own experience — and that’s great.”