Day of the Dead Celebration

Published: October 11, 2023 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 2 minutes

Woman in traditional dress and day of the dead face paint dancing.

The Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) is once again to host the annual Día de los Muertos celebration on November 4, 2023. Come honor ancestors in a celebration of life with food, music, and dance from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Officially celebrated from November 1 - 2, Día de los Muertos is a time to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. Some of the various traditions include cleaning and decorating graves, building ofrendas, or altars dedicated to loved ones; and honoring the dead with traditional food and beverages, calaveras (sugar skulls) and cempazúchitl (Aztec marigolds).

Located on Southern Utah University’s campus, SUMA will be hosting events such as face painting, art exhibitions, crafts and traditional food, as well as a performance by Southern Utah's Ballet Folklórico Herencia Hispana and the SUU Latino Student Alliance, as well as music provided by Mariachi Fuego–a mariachi band consisting of children and teenagers from northern Utah. All music and dance performances will take place on the Utah Shakespeare Festival's Greenshow stage.

Students from SUU’s Spanish Department, Literary Club Cazapalabras and SUU’s Spanish Honor Society–Sigma Delta Pi will also be reading stories to teach audiences more about Día de los Muertos. 

“Celebrating Day of the Dead every year allows us to continue not only increasing cultural awareness but also building bridges among the different groups in our communities. It is an opportunity to find common ground through experiences we all share, like honoring our loved ones who have passed on, in a joyful way,” said Dr. Junice Acosta Martinez. 

The community is invited and encouraged to honor their loved ones and contribute to the Community Ofrenda by sending in a photo, which will be displayed from October 21 - November 4. The submission deadline is October 15. Send family photos to sumamarketing@suu.edu.

The annual Día de los Muertos celebration is made possible through generous sponsors and partners, including Visit Cedar City Brian Head, SUU Languages and Philosophy, Artisans Gallery, SUU College of Humanities and Social Sciences, SUU STEM Center, The Frehner Museum, and the Joe and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foundation.

Tags: Campus SUMA Southern Utah Museum of Art Spanish CurStu FacStaff Art Dance Community Events Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Contact Information:

Emily Ronquillo
emilyronquillo@suu.edu