Día de los Muertos: How Las Cruces, Mesilla and Doña Ana are celebrating this year

Leah Romero, Las Cruces Sun-News
·5 min read

Día de los Muertos begins next week. Here’s how Las Cruces, Mesilla and Doña Ana communities are celebrating the Day of the Dead.

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday recognized from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 each year. It is a time when people welcome the souls of the departed back to the physical world for a short time.

People prepare for the holiday by constructing ofrendas, or altars, with photographs of their loved ones, candles, marigolds (cempasúchil) and favorite foods of the departed.

It is believed that the souls of children can return to the living world for 24 hours Nov. 1 and adults Nov. 2.

Area communities have organized several events to celebrate Día de los Muertos this year. Take a look at the schedule.

Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. Altars, or ofrendas, are created to remember the dead, and traditional dishes for the Day of the Dead are laid out on the altars.
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. Altars, or ofrendas, are created to remember the dead, and traditional dishes for the Day of the Dead are laid out on the altars.

Día de los Muertos in the Mesilla Plaza

Each year, the Calavera Coalition organizes its annual Día de los Muertos celebration and takes over the entire Mesilla Plaza. From Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 29, the plaza will host ofrendas, calaveras, vendors and entertainment. Here is the weekend schedule:

Friday, Oct. 27

  • 8 a.m. – Altar set up begins

  • 2 p.m. – Arts vendors open for business

  • 5:30 p.m. – Aztec Dancers performance

  • 7 p.m. – Screening of the Disney movie “Coco”

Saturday, Oct. 28

  • Noon – Opening ceremony, featuring soloist Linda Goff

  • 1:30 p.m. – Dance performance by Grupo Valle del Sol Folklorico

  • 4 p.m. – Performance by Aztec Dancers

  • 5:30 p.m. – Frida Kahlo costume contest

  • 6 p.m. – Music by Upscale Entertainment

  • 7 p.m. – Wedding vow renewal, reception and dance (events open to the public)

Sunday, Oct. 29

  • Noon – Opening ceremony featuring soloist Linda Goff

  • Noon – Music by KICKS

  • 4 p.m. – Dance performance by Grupo Valle del Sol Folklorico and Aztec Dancers

  • 6 p.m. – End of celebration on the plaza

Thursday, Nov. 2 (All Souls Day)

  • 6:30 p.m. – Meet in the plaza for candlelight procession

  • 6:45 p.m. – Procession leaves for Mesilla Cemetery

The procession will be joined by the Aztec Dancers. People are invited to return to the plaza following the visit to the cemetery for Pan de Muerto.

Donations of non-perishable foods will be accepted during the entire event for Casa de Peregrinos Food Pantry as well as donations of pet food for ACTion Programs for Animals. Proceeds from the Mesilla celebration will go to Community of Hope and Casa de Peregrinos.

The event is free and open to the public. The Mesilla Plaza is located on Calle Principal in Mesilla.

Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. The creation of altars, or ofrendas, to remember the dead, accompanied by traditional dishes, are laid out on the altars.
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. The creation of altars, or ofrendas, to remember the dead, accompanied by traditional dishes, are laid out on the altars.

Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra Pops 1 concert

The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra is presenting its first pops concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 at the Atkinson Recital Hall on the New Mexico State University campus. The theme is Día de los Muertos.

The concert is a collaboration with Paso del Norte Chamber Orchestra from Ciudad Juárez.

The program includes:

  • “Conga del Fuego Nuevo” by Arturo Márquez

  • Suite 1 and 2 from “The Three-Cornered Hat” ballet by Manuel de Falla

  • “Huapango del Oso” by Gabriel Musella

  • “The Children of Sanchez” by Chuck Mangione, arranged by Bob Philips and Jerry Dennison

  • “La Llorona” arranged by Giovanni Amés

  • “Danzon No. 2” by Arturo Marquez, with the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra

Michele’s Dance Academy’s Ballet Folklorico Pasos del Alma will join the symphony for two pieces.

Members of the audience are also encouraged to dress for the concert. Tickets can be purchased online at lascrucessymphony.com.

The Atkinson Recital Hall is at 1075 N. Horseshoe St.

Día de los Muertos art and community altar at the Doña Ana Arts Council

The Doña Ana Arts Council will welcome members of the community Wednesday, Nov. 1 to bring items and images to add to the community altar. A celebration of the book of life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m.

People will be able to view Día de los Muertos art in the gallery space, meet “La Catrina Inolvidable” and learn about the history of “La Catrina.”

The event is free and open to the public. DAAC is at 230 S. Water St.

Evening event for the Community at Branigan Cultural Center

Community members are invited Friday, Oct. 27 to the Branigan Cultural Center for a celebration of Day of the Dead. Community altars will be on display as well as the center’s latest exhibit, “A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern New Mexico.”

The 5 to 7 p.m. event will include pastries from La Fiesta Bakery, calavera coloring, flower making and skull-ornament decorating.

The entertainment schedule includes:

  • 5 p.m. – Exhibit reception for “Celebration of Souls” Day of the Dead in Southern New Mexico”

  • 5:15 p.m. – Performance by Mariachi Aguilas

  • 6:15 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico from La Academia Delores Huerta

The event is free, family friendly and open to the public. Branigan Cultural Center is at 501 N. Main St.

Morning celebration for the Community at Branigan Cultural Center

Branigan Cultural Center will continue the Día de los Muertos celebrations Saturday morning, Oct. 28, during the weekly Las Cruces Farmer’s and Crafts Market. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., people are welcome to view the community altars, make papel picado, decorate skull ornaments and visit the exhibit, “A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in New Mexico.”

The entertainment schedule includes:

  • 10:30 a.m. – Mariachi Aguilas

  • 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Face painting by Felicia

  • 11:45 a.m. – Ballet Folklorico from La Catrina

The event is free, open to the public and family friendly.

Fiesta in the Village of Doña Ana

The Doña Ana Village historic Preservation Committee is hosting a Día de los Muertos celebration at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 on the Doña Ana Village Plaza and De La O Visitors Center.

Members of the public are welcome to set up ofrendas on the plaza between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day. From 2 to 8 p.m., people can enjoy vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and games.

The event is free and open to the public. The De La O Visitors Center is at the corner of Cristo Rey and Joe Gutierrez Streets in Doña Ana. The plaza is located across the street.

Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on X, formerly Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Día de los Muertos: How Las Cruces, Mesilla, Doña Ana are celebrating