13th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Phoenix Festival

Dia de los Muertos is a highly celebrated and significant family holiday throughout Mexico, Latin America and the Southwest. Dating back 3,000 years to the time of the Olmecs, it is a day when homage is paid to our ancestors with prayers, offerings of food, and the building of altars to the beloved departed. Each region has its unique style of celebration. In Arizona, the annual Dia de los Muertos is a Celebration of Life.

Just bring your family, sun-protection,  a blanket or umbrella to make yourself comfortable on the grass. The festival admission is free, but you may also want to bring some cash since there will be a variety of food vendors and an Artist Mercado, selling their Dia de los Muertos themed creations.

La Procesión is a celebratory procession in which the audience joins the performers in a candlelit, joyful burst of music, dance and remembrance. This audience favorite concludes with a minute of silence as the sun goes down in homage to those who have gone before us ~ our dearly departed.

For the past 33 years, the founding members of Cultural Coalition have been programming Dia de los Muertos activities in Maricopa County. We are proud to utilize the arts to reflect the unique Southwestern expression of this tradition. Our celebrations have taken place all over the Valley, but we hope the festival has found its permanent home in downtown Phoenix.

The festival is free and open to the public, so just come down with your family, enjoy the performances, and be a part of the art activities and La Procesión.

2024 Entertainment and Activities

Celebrating MIKIZTLI
Starting at 2:00 pm

Activities

-Mask-making
-Community Altar
-Face Painting
-Artists Mercado
-Art Activities
-La Procesión at Sunset
-Barrio Bookmobile
-Instrument Making
-Print Making
-Instrument Petting Zoo

Featuring

Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl will once again be ready to take flight, heading the procession at sunset.

La Llorona
An audience favorite, La Llorona will be in attendance. Children beware!

Las Flacas
Larger than life, the Flacas will be roaming the festival, looking for a willing dance partner.

You!
Together we'll celebrate our traditions and remember our loved ones who have moved into the afterlife.