MIKIZTLI: Dia de los Muertos PHX Festival

MIKIZTLI: Dia de los Muertos, Phoenix's largest Dia de los Muertos festival, celebrates its 11th year on Sunday, October 30 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Steele Indian School Park. Presented by Cultural Coalition, this year's MIKIZTLI [mee-kish-tlee] is a free event, bigger than ever, with more musical performances, colorful masked characters interacting with attendees, art vendors, food trucks, and the event's largest community altar or ofrenda. Families of all ages will enjoy cultural performances, arts and crafts activities, delicious food, and art vendors, and the events signature sunset procession led by "Las Flacas", the 8-foot-tall animated skeleton puppets, that kicks off a celebration dance party with live music by QVLN and Orkesta Mendoza!

Different from other more commercialized Dia de los Muertos events, MIKIZTLI is known in the Valley as a truly authentic cultural celebration. Each year, attendees are encouraged to bring photographs of their loved ones and gifts or offerings to add to the community altar. The event concludes with a traditional candlelight procession from the community altar, in which attendees are welcome to join and remember their loved ones who have passed.

Spotlighting the connection between indigenous cultures throughout the Americas, MIKIZTLI will feature performances by Danza Mexica, Indigenous Enterprise, local native artists, giant puppets, Quetzalli Ballet Folkorico, Mariachi Rubor, with a finale performance of global cumbia beats by Arizona's own internationally known musicians QVLN and Orkesta Mendoza!

Cultural Coalition has curated this inclusive event to welcome people of all ages to be a part of this cultural tradition of remembering those who have passed and celebrate this indigenous ancestral heritage. Visit diadelosmuertosphx.com or facebook.com/culturalcoalitionaz for more information and updates to the schedule of performances.