By O’Dell Isaac

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College offers an opportunity to celebrate life — and to remember those who have passed on — during the Día de Muertos celebration this weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Fine Arts Center will be transformed into a community celebration space filled with art, music, dance and community offerings, college officials said.

The Día de Muertos festival, which traditionally celebrates deceased loved ones by inviting their spirits to briefly revisit the world of the living, is meant to be a joyous occasion and not a mournful one, according to event spokeswoman Moni Hernandez.

“It’s not just about people passing away,” Hernandez said. “It’s about celebrating their lives, and being able to continue to love them even though they are gone.”

The celebration is Mexican in origin, but its aim is nearly universal, Hernandez said. When a person dies, the love of their friends and family members remains. Dia de Muertos offers people a creative outlet to express that love.

“The festival has Hispanic roots, but the idea of connecting (with a departed loved one) reaches across different cultures,” Hernandez said. “Last year, it was interesting to see so many people who weren’t Hispanic at the event, and a lot of them dressed up in theme for the festival. That was awesome to see.”

The festival is growing by leaps and bounds, officials said. In 2024, more than 3,200 people attended the celebration, shattering the previous record of roughly 800.

“It’s something that is growing exponentially, and that’s pretty exciting,” said Colorado College spokeswoman Alexa Gromko.

Some of the highlights will include a community “ofrenda,” a collective altar to deceased loved ones. Visitors can contribute photos, candles, flowers and other nonreturnable items to the offering, officials said.

“Día de Muertos is significant to many people,” Hernandez said. “A lot of them will build altars in their homes, with pictures of their loved one. The ofrenda is open to the community, so anyone can bring a picture and add it to the altar.”

The ofrenda will include objects from the museum’s permanent collection as well as an installation by Colorado-based artist Cal Duran.

The festival will include mariachi music and traditional “folklorico” dance performances by Ballet Folklorico de Barajas as well as Ritmo y Sabor Hispano, a student dance group from Harrison High School. There will also be a costume parade, a mercado (Spanish for “market”) where artisans will sell handmade and crafted cultural wares, and food vendors offering authentic cuisine.

“Día de Muertos is a celebration of love, remembrance and cultural pride,” Hernandez said.

“It’s become the Fine Arts Center’s largest annual celebration, and a true reflection of how art and tradition can bring our community together. Each altar, community table, performance and smile reminds us that our stories live on through the creativity, connection and the community we share in Colorado Springs.”

Other Día de Muertos-themed events include a Day of the Dead Sound Bath concert in Ivywild on Saturday, and the 13th annual Noche de Muertos celebration on Nov. 7 at Rockledge House in Manitou Springs.