Where to Celebrate Day of the Dead in Denver

Are you ready to live it up at a Día de los Muertos celebration? Although the official dates for Día de los Muertos are November 1-2 — coinciding with All Saints Day — the celebrations started early along the Front Range, and they’ll pick up speed this weekend.

The Day of the Dead is a tradition that dates back around 3,000 years in Latin America; Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztec, Toltec, Quechua, Mapuche and others hold a cyclical view of the universe in which death is an integral part of life. The dead are still members of the community, kept alive in memory and spirit, and welcomed back to Earth during Día de los Muertos.

Here in Denver, of course, Day of the Dead has morphed from a cultural celebration to an excuse for an arty party. Here’s where things could get lively over the next two weeks.

Ongoing

Catrinas En Mi Ciudad
Through Sunday, November 2, daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Galleria, Denver Performing Arts Complex
Artist Ricardo Soltero, who’s originally from Nayarit, Mexico, is bringing back Catrina En Mi Ciudad for a third year. See the Catrinas display in the Galleria any day for free.

Hearts Do Not Forget: El Corazón Nunca Ovida
Through Saturday, November 15, open Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
CHAC Gallery on Santa Fe, 834 Santa Fe Drive
Sonia Del Real and Shay Guerrero curated this show. “The heart remembers in ways the mind cannot. While names may fade and photographs may curl at the edges, love leaves an imprint that endures. Our joys, our sorrows, our laughter, and our tears, all of it is carried forward in the rhythm of our beating hearts. Hearts do not forget,” says Del Real.   

Unapologetically Chicano
Through Friday, October 24; open Thursday and Friday noon to 4 p.m.
CHAC Gallery at 40 West, 7060 West 16th Avenue, Lakewood
Tammy and Rob Yancey curated this show celebrating the richness, resilience and unapologetic pride of Chicano culture. The Dia de Muertos Youth Art Show opens November 7 and runs through November 22.

Yo Soy: Altares y Ofrendas
Through Saturday, November 1
Soccer City Aurora, 15960 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora
Now in its third year, Yo Soy: Altares y Ofrendas is a community altar installation presented in partnership with Soccer City Aurora and artist Cal Duran. This collaborative display celebrates the traditions of Día de Muertos. On November 1, the Copa de los Muertos, a day of 6×6 futball, will add to the festivities.

Día de los Muertos Altar
Through Sunday, November 2
History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway
In 2023, iconic textile artist and Corn Mother Rita Flores de Wallace came out of retirement to work with Cal Duran on creating her last public Dia de Los Muertos installation at the History Colorado Center. She passed away on April 27, and Duran just created an altar honoring her. “When I first saw her altars in 2005 at the Chicano Humanities Art Council gallery. I knew she was one of the artists who actually helped establish this holiday here long before it was popular,” he says. “To me, she was a visionary, paving the way for other artists in Colorado. Her knowledge of the spiritual significance of this holiday and her groundbreaking work in the 1980s was a catalyst that laid the groundwork for all of us.”

Día de Muertos Exhibition
Through Monday, November 3; Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Firehouse Art Center, 667 4th Avenue, Longmont
In its Main and South galleries, the Firehouse Art Center has invited local artists to create their representation of La Calavera Catrina with “Catrinas on Parade.” Originally created by Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, La Calavera Catrina is the icon of Día de Muertos, typically shown as a smiling female skeleton dressed in fancy clothing. There will be storytelling sessions on October 18 and November 2.

Upcoming

Genesis Gallery: Leyendas De Mis Abuelos
Opening Friday, October 24; Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lakewood United Methodist Church,1390 Brentwood, Lakewood
Genesis Gallery’s Young Curator series is hosting Leyndas De Mis Abuelos, featuring works from Mexican paper mache artist Carlos Lecanda’s collection “Las Catrinas,” as well as over fifteen young and emerging artists. “At first I was intimidated about doing an exhibition that featured unknown artists with so many established galleries featuring juried work,” says curator Bianca Dominguez. “Then Carlos Lecanda offered to supplement our show with his work.  It was not only an honor but a great vote of confidence in what our young artists have to offer to the spirit of the holiday.”  There will be a family-friendly reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, November 7.

Dia de Muertos: Family, Ancestry and Community
Saturday, October 25, 1 to 9 p.m. (concert at 7)
Armory Performing Arts Center, 300 Strong Street, Brighton
This free Dia de Muertos community celebration includes food trucks, sugar skills, art and face painting, including live performances by Mariachi Águila Denver, Grupo Folklorico Mexico Lindo and Grupo Huitzilopochtli. At 7 p.m., there will be a free concert with Quemando Salsa.

Día de los Muertos at Civic Center
Saturday, October 25, 2 to 9 p.m.
Civic Center Park
Día de los Muertos at Civic Center will bring the community together to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed. Produced by Civic Center Conservancy and Manos Sagrados, led by Alicia “Bruce” Trujillo in partnership with Colorful Colorado Collaborations and D3 Arts, this commemorative event will bring unique, authentic performances and activities, including a community procession, live music and dance shows, an artisan marketplace, community altars and traditional Latin-American food and beverage. Admission is free.

Beaux Arts Ball
Saturday, October 25, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Firehouse Art Center, 667 4th Avenue, Longmont
The annual ball that coincides with Dia de Muertos festivities in Longmont will be dedicated to artists. Self-expression through fashion is highly encouraged; the theme is “Favorite Artist or Work of Art.” There will be a grand promenade at 8 p.m., and festivities end with an auction of the Catrinas on display.

Day of the Dead Parade & Festival 2025
Sunday, October 26, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
National Western Center, 4655 Humboldt Street
Celebrate Día de Muertos at this new festival that starts with a parade, then moves into a day full of colorful altars, music and dancing, and traditional food offerings, including pan de muerto. Admission is free, but registration is required.

Día de los Muertos Reception
Sunday, October 26, 2 to 5 p.m.
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th Street
For the third year, BMoCA is presenting a community-driven installation to celebrate Día de los Muertos. A series of ofrendas will be displayed upstairs at BMoCA from October 24 through November 2, each made by a local community group in partnership with the museum. The reception will feature live performances (Tumbao Afro Latin Dance Group) and light refreshments.

Resurrection of the Dancing Dead 3-D
Sunday, October 26, 7 p.m.
Oriental Theatre, 4335 West 44th Avenue
Get ready for a night of frights, delights and hauntingly spooky performances at the fourteenth annual Resurrection of the Dancing Dead 3-D show from Bella Diva Dance. Denver’s longest-running Halloween-themed dance show will include segments devoted to the Day of the Dead, as well as other traditions. Tickets start at $38; get them here.

Untitled: Artist Takeover Celebrates Halloween and Day of the Dead 
Friday, October 31, 6 p.m.
Denver Art Museum, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway
October 31 will be an arty party focused on Halloween. Untitled featured artists Moe Gram and Kristina Maldonado Badhand will host a night filled with a hall of haunted statues, a shadow puppet theater, tarot readings, spooky storytelling, music and dance performances, a pop-up bar, and more. Costumes (without masks) are encouraged! From October 27 through November 4, Momentos de Memoria will encourage you to place paper skulls near artworks that remind you of someone or something you’ve lost. Get tickets and more info here.

Winter Farmers Market: Dia de los Muertos
Saturday, November 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Foothills Mall, Fort Collins
The winter market at Foothills Mall is opening its 19th season with a special Día de los Muertos-themed market with over 100 local farmers, food producers and artisans. There will also be live music and family activities, including The Toy, Games and Puzzle Library, as well as Day of the Dead community altars.

Dia de Los Muertos
Saturday, November 1, noon to 6 p.m.
Urban Farm, 10200 Smith Road
The Urban Farm grows 15,000 pounds of food it gives away annually; it also has a 170-strong herd and hosts agricultural, educational and cultural programming throughout the year. This weekend, it will be hosting a Day of the Dead afternoon with mariachi, lucha libre, dancing horses, amechanical bull, Aztec dancers and sugar-skull decorating, as well as other activities. There will be Mexican food and artisan vendors…as well as safety measures in case ICE should show.

La Llorona Festival
Saturday, November 1, 2 to 4 p.m.
Hadley Branch Library, 1890 South Grove Street
The Denver Public Library’s fifth annual La Llorona Festival, a tribute to Dia de Muertos, will feature an array of storytellers recounting tales of the legendary Weeping Woman known as La Llorona; they’ve been brought together by Charlene Garcia Simms, a well-known Southwest genealogist. “We are doing this to highlight the extraordinary contributions of our cuentistas. Preserving these tales helps us  honor an art form that adds a rich cultural presence to who we are as a people,” Garcia says. “As we celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, these storytellers pass on our tradition of oral history and help ensure a way families can continue to cherish this art form for a lifetime.”

Cooper Lounge Día de los Muertos Celebration
Saturday, November 1, 4 p.m. to midnight
Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the Cooper Lounge with a festive party presented by El Tesoro Tequila, complete with a tarot card reader, themed cocktails and a photo opp area with marigolds and special décor. Denver Union Station will be working with the Mexican Cultural Center to set up a community altar in the Great Hall starting October 27.

Halloweekend/Dia De Los Muertos Celebration
Saturday, November 1, 5 to 7 p.m.
Node Arts Collective, 3704 West 72nd Avenue, Westminster
The gallery is hosting a free trunk or treat with the Pachuco Car Club, as well as craft stations and more.

Noche de Museo: Celebrating Day of the Dead
Saturday, November 1, 7 p.m.
Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road., Longmont
Celebrate Día de Muertos at an evening of performances that range from ancient Aztecan dance with Grupo Mexica Tlahuitzcalli to the genre-bending rock and roll of iZCALLi. Tickets are $20 or $18 for museum members; get them at longmontmuseum.org or 303-651-8374.

Youth Art Show~ Dia de Los Muertos
Friday, November 7, 5 to 9 p.m
CHAC Gallery, 40 West 7060 West 16^th Avenue, Lakewood
The Youth Art Show dedicated to Day of the Dead opens November 7 at CHAC in 40 West, where it runs through November 22.

First Friday Dia do Los Muertos
Friday, November 7, 5 to 10 p.m.
Denver Arts Society, 734 Santa Fe Drive
The opening reception for this exhibit with original artwork by 150 Colorado artists will include Enchanted Face Painting by Eva, along with performances by Surasteros, Alexa Luevano, Aztec Dancers, Grupo de la Como La and Naked Dawn. And there will be DJs in the Tree House: Zobain, MOOSGH, eSonny Masicampo and Austin & Ryan.

Dia de Los Muertos at Art District on Santa Fe Celebration and Processional
Friday, November 7, 6 to 10 p.m.
CHAC Gallery, 834 Santa Fe Drive
Day of the Dead festivities in Denver wrap up with the annual processional along Santa Fe Drive on the First Friday of November.

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