Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration in Longmont began 24 years ago at the Longmont Museum. The longest running Dia de Muertos celebration in the state of Colorado has become a citywide event that attracts over 6,000 people to the Longmont Museum and Downtown Longmont. The event is a collaboration between the Longmont Museum and local individuals and organizations to make the event authentic and respectful.
Dia de Muertos is a time to honor and celebrate loved ones who have died. “The celebration shows how a diverse community can come together to share a common desire – to honor our ancestors and keep their memories alive,” according to the city of Longmont.
Each year the Longmont Museum opens its Dia de Muertos exhibition in the Swan Atrium. The exhibit displays ofrendas, or alters, that are built by the local community and the work of local artists. The exhibit will be open Oct. 12 through Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is open late on Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. The exhibit at 400 Quail Road is free to the public.
Oct. 12 also marks the Day of the Dead Family celebration at Fourth Avenue and Main Street from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event will open the Dia de Muertos season in Downtown Longmont. The street festival will include music, dance performances, cultural education and art and crafts activities. Food trucks will be available. Patrons can hop on a free shuttle from downtown to the Longmont Museum to view the ofrendas.
Firehouse Art Center will open its Dia de Muertos exhibits on Oct. 12 through Nov. 3, open Wednesday through Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The exhibits will include catrinas — typically displayed as a smiling female skeleton in fancy clothing — created by local artists. Children from Casa de la Esperanza will display their colorful creations. A documentary short series by Jamie Chihuan will also be on display.
On Oct. 19, the Firehouse Art Center will host its annual Catrina Ball from 4:30-8:30 p.m. behind Maker General in the alleyway between Third and Fourth avenues and Coffman and Main streets. The event is a celebration of loved one with singing, laughter, dancing and revelry. Participants are encouraged to come in catrina costumes or get their face painted at the event. Nahucalli Mexican Folkloric Dance Troupe and Nueva Luna Ballet Folklorico will perform during the celebration.
The Longmont Museum will continue the celebration on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. with an evening of live performances featuring ancient Aztecan dance to the genre-bending rock and roll of iZCALLi. Tickets for the event can be purchased at longmontmuseum.org.
To learn more about the celebration, its history and how to create your own Dia de Muertos celebration at home, the city of Longmont has created English and Spanish websites that highlight the origins and traditions of holiday.
