The Día de los Muertos festival will be celebrated throughout the city of Phoenix, beginning on October 31 and ending on November 1.  This is a traditional Mexican festival that celebrates and gives honor to family and loved ones who have passed away.  This is a colorful and celebratory event and the Phoenix Botanical Garden is taking part in the celebrations.  All of the events at the festival are covered in the price of admission and many of the best Phoenix hotels can provide transportation to the garden.

These events will include story telling, music and song, art, and dance performances by some of the most well known Arizona artists and performers.  In the Mercado, the cafe on the grounds of the garden, traditional Mexican food will be served all day.  While death is the theme of the performances, they are also filled with social and political commentary, humor, sarcasm and life.  One group performing from 7 to 9 pm is the well known collection of artists that make up La Calaca Caberat.

This is a combination of theatre, dance, music and story-telling, educational as well as entertaining and is appropriate for the entire family.  The “calaca” is the image often depicted in Mexican art as the smiling, black and white faced skull.  The image is intended to allow people to accept death, and acknowledge rebirth and regeneration.  There is a richness to the culture and to the art of the traditions of the Mexican and Chicano artists and this is illustrated wonderfully in the skill and craftsmanship of  Zarco Guerrero and the choreography of Michelle Ceballos.

The traditional interpretations are set against the urban background of today.  Dancing Earth dance company will also be performing on the previous Friday, and the procession which signifies the end of the three day festival will happen on the 1st of November at 4:30 in the afternoon.  This promises to be a fun couple of days for all who attend, filled with food, fun, dance, music, and a few scary faces here and there.

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