Nevada State Museum’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration opens in Carson City this week
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 11/01/2022 - 3:28pm
Event Date:
Repeats every day until Sat Nov 05 2022 .
November 4, 2022 (All day)
November 5, 2022 (All day)
In collaboration with Western Nevada College and Visit Carson City, the Nevada State Museum presents a free Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. This also includes free admission to the museum.
El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday that pays tribute to the lives of loved ones who have passed on. Widely celebrated in Mexico and the American Southwest, celebrations can now be found throughout the United States due to its universal theme of remembrance, honor, and love.
Special memorials, or altars (ofrendas), are set up to honor departed loved ones, often containing items that were unique to them. Photos, food, symbols of their hobbies, and bright yellow flowers are customary items.
Since 2006, the Nevada State Museum has presented this Day of the Dead event to the community. “El Dia de los Muertos is right in line with our mission of celebrating and understanding the natural and cultural history of Nevada,” said Nevada State Museum Director Josh Bonde.
Complete with a sacred altar display, traditional music, folk dancing, and food, the annual community celebration is one of the museum’s most highly anticipated events of the year.
The alters are created by local community members, which will be creative and traditional. The altar presentation is scheduled to be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4 in the Dema Guinn Concourse inside the museum. There will also be a museum-sponsored community altar so that the public can participate in remembering departed loved ones with personal ephemera.
A full day of activities will take place on Saturday, November 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Nevada State Museum with performances by traditional Mexican dance and music troupes, exhibits, food, and crafts.
Children of all ages can enjoy craft activities featuring colorful flowers and sugar skulls, predominant symbols of the festival. Children's activities also include face painting and a photo booth.
El Día de los Muertos celebration traces its roots to the time of the Aztec people in Central America and was later influenced by cultural and religious practices brought by the Spanish. Pan de muerto (bread made for this celebration) is abundantly displayed during the festival. Sugar skulls (calaveras) are decorated, and fancy paper cut-outs (papel picado) add color to homes, tables, and altars.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, November 4, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.: Altar presentations with music and traditional refreshments.
Saturday, November 5, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Traditional crafts, music, and dance. A food truck will serve from a location on Curry Street (behind the museum).
Official event sponsors are:
Visit Carson City
Western Nevada College
Nevada State Museum
Carson City Downtown Business Association
Western Nevada Materials
Juan’s Mexican Grill
Centro Market
