Audio By Carbonatix
From the East Valley to the West Valley, central and beyond, altars, sugar skulls, live music, and processions will be popping up all over metro Phoenix to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos. Here are seven events to look out for over the next couple weekends.
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Dia de Los Muertos Festival: Spirits Connect
Mesa Arts Center
October 25-26
Mesa Arts Center’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 26. The free festival will feature food, music, an arts and craft market, and scheduled performing acts on two stages. For details, visit www.mesaartscenter.com.
Dia de Los Muertos PHX Festival
Margaret T. Hance Park
October 26
The Third Annual Dia de Los Muertos PHX Festival will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 26, at Margaret T. Hance Park. The all-ages event will feature Aztec dancers, mariachis, a Los Katrines contest, roaming flacas, mask-making workshops, craft vendors, a community alter, and a community procession. Admission is free. Visit diadelosmuertosphx.com.
The Si Se Puede Foundation Presents Dia de Los Muertos
Downtown Chandler
November 1
Head to downtown Chandler from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, for a Dia de Los Muertos event presented by the Si Se Puede Foundation. This free celebration will offer food, music, craft activities, a car show, art vendors, community alters, and a procession. For details, visit www.sisepuede.cc/dia-de-los-muertos-celebration.html.
Dance of the Dead
Apollo’s Lounge
November 1
Tongue Tied Phoenix is hosting a Dia de Los Muertos dance party at Apollo’s from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, November 1. The 21-and-over event will offer two dance floors with music from DJs Roya and Funkfinger as well as Motown on Mondays Phoenix. Guests can enjoy skull face painting, trivia and costume contests, live painting by Dumperfoo, and a pop-up store by Skulls ThatBloom. Cover is $5 after 9:30 p.m. and free beforehand. Visit the event on Facebook for details.
Haunted Hotel Ball’s Dia de Los Muertos Closing Party
The Saguaro
November 1
The Saguaro will be closing out its Haunted Hotel Ball with a Dia de Los Muertos dance party on Saturday, November 1, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The 21-and-over event will turn Distrito into an EDM dance room and feature top 40 tunes by DJs DECiPHA and Slippe. Tickets begin at $40. Visit www.ticketzone.com/event/HHB-Dia-de-los-Muertos.
12th Annual Dia de Los Muertos
Desert Botanical Garden
November 1-2
Desert Botanical Garden’s main Dia de Los Muertos festivities happen from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2. The event will feature live performances in music, dancing, storytelling as well as shopping, eating, and a chance to visit the ofrenda exhibition. Garden admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $12 for students, $10 for children, and free for members. For the full schedule of events, visit www.dbg.org.
Xico Arte y Cultura Downtown Phoenix Dia de los Muertos Event
St. Mary’s Basilica
November 2
The newly relocated Xico Arte y Cultura is hosting a Dia de los Muertos fundraiser for St. Vincent de Paul Phoenix at the park next to St. Mary’s Basilica from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 2. The community event work from local artists, food trucks, live entertainment, and a Día de los Muertos procession. Although this event is free to attend, canned food donations will be accepted on site. For more information, visit the event on Facebook.
