By Taylor Johnson

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Mesa’s cultural calendar is shining a little brighter with the return of the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival at Mesa Arts Center this October, a vibrant celebration steeped in tradition and community spirit. According to MesaNow, the festivities, free to the public, promise to deliver a compelling mix of art, dance, music, and remembrance over the weekend of Oct. 25-26.

The festival is launching into its 19th year and seems tailor-made for those who cherish cultural heritage and familial bonds, featuring traditional Aztec Dance performances, a community altar for personal dedications, and an alluring marketplace for locavores of art and craft. On Saturday, the event will open its arms to attendees at 10 a.m. with Grupo Coatlicue’s rhythmic steps, and Sunday will see its curtains close with appearances by Mayor Freeman and Consul General of Mexico Jorge Mendoza Yescas as divulged by MesaNow. Art admirers and festival-goers are in for a treat with new additions, including a giant Catrina sculpture and the immersive digital cemetery, while the hands-on craft workshops by Mexican artists Oscar Becerra Mora and Ruben Miguel Castillo Navarrete promise to be a highlight.

In terms of entertainment, musical offerings are as diverse as the crowd likely to throng the venue, showcasing local talent across genres from mariachi bands to contemporary sounds, with a dedicated DJ stage adding to the auditory feast—musical acts Mariachi Pasion and Ballet Folklorico La Llorona are set to grace the stage, bringing the festival to its traditional, joyous conclusion on Sunday evening. Mandy Tripoli, executive director of Mesa Arts Center, told MesaNow that the expanded Relaxed Hour feature taking place on both mornings from 9 a.m. will make the event more accessible, laying out a welcome mat for those with special sensory needs by softening sounds and reducing crowds.

The expanded food court and 1st Avenue extension are new logistical twists to an already swelling festival footprint; the wider variety of food options and larger stage setup are clearly in response to the growing popularity of the event. Visual treats are aplenty as colorful decorations, including painted calaveras by artist La Morena, festoon the venue, alongside live mural creations by local legends, which is something show-stoppers can witness artists like Mando Rascon and Nyla Lee in the zone, splashing vibrant hues across canvases in real time. In alignment with the festival’s progressive and inclusive ethos, special arrangements such as Relaxed Hour, allergy-friendly snacks, and sensory-friendly spaces ensure that the celebration truly is a community affair, where everyone feels welcomed.

As the Dia de los Muertos Festival’s reputation as a cultural heavyweight only grows, the support from sponsors such as Desert Financial Credit Union and SRP, among others, underscores the festival’s importance to the locality. Situated in the heart of downtown Mesa at One East Main Street, those interested in experiencing this bridge between the past and present can mark their calendars for two days of remembrance and joy, where art, culture, and history interlace to create memories that will, undoubtedly, be cherished by the living and honored by the dead.