Buck Burn's fabulous addition to the 2016 Dia de los Muertos parade. Wonder what this year will bring??The Dia de los Muertos days of celebration will begin at 12 noon on Sunday, October 29, in Silver City's historic downtown. Market and Texas Streets will be the setting for art, music, food, activities for all ages and rememborances for those gone before.
2016 Dia de los Muertos parade on Bullard Street with colorful backdrop of the historical buildings.Starting at 12 noon, Javalena Coffee House will be hosting "Café Conversations" about death, end of life issues and what death means to you. Everyone is invited to join friends, family and community in this thoughtful conversation.
The big street celebration begins at 12:30 with art of all kinds including chalk art on the pavement, clothesline art and much more. This festive event continues on until 6 p.m. with food booths, crafts and lots of music too! New this year is an exhibit of rocks, hand painted and left by local folks, in the spirit of Dia de los Muertos and sure to bring smiles. It's just for the fun of it but there will be prizes! At the end of the day they will be hidden all around the town, for locals and visitors to find in the days ahead, theirs to keep or hide again.
From 1:30 until 3:30 the Silver City Museum is having an array of hands-on activities. You will also want to check out their gift shop while you are there. It has wonderful Dia de los Muertos items for gifting or keeping.
The annual Dia de los Muertos parade is the highlight of the day. It will begin at 3:30 and proceeds down Bullard street. This colorful parade is a unique and joyful happening with large and small monsoon puppets, non-motorized floats and always some special surprises! Volunteers are needed to carry themed banners and everyone is invited to just join in!
Throughout the afternoon music will be in the air. The variety of performances include those by Alycia Carillo, Oscar Pena, Angelica Padilla and Karlos Saucedo. Finishing the day in style is Mariachi La Plata with their award winning Mariachi music.
Diana Ingalls Leyba, coordinator for the days of Silver City Dia de los Muertos describes this annual event as "Building community at the intersection of art and tradition." That theme is reflected not only in the street celebration on October 29 but in the days and happenings through November 2.
Silver City Dia de los Muertos activities resume on Wednesday, November 1 with an Arte Chicano de San Vicente 2017 reception at the Silver City Museum from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Downtown galleries will have a gallery walk for 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Many of them have artfully designed ofrendas as well as special shows reflecting the Dia de los Muertos art and crafts. When darkness falls, stop by the Common Ground Gallery on Kelly Street. Paula Geisler will be showing her "Projections". It is all Dia de los Muertos themed and rather hard to describe. You just need to be there! And bring a lawn chair – you will want to stay awhile!
There will be a special performance by Angelica Padilla in the courtyard of the Silver City Museum. It is from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday November 2. The downtown art galleries will again have extended hours from 4 until 7 p.m. for your viewing and shopping pleasure. Galleries may have refreshments and other additional attractions .
The ofrenda procession begins at 5 p.m., November 2, at the Silver City Museum and winds its way through downtown giving recognition to the many colorful ofrendas shown throughout the community. It is a time for remembrance.
Throughout these days there is a special art exhibit at the Visitor Center. It is wonderful local art in the theme of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. Lyndia Radice's winning artwork will be displayed as well as others that were entered in this art competition.
This annual event is a joyful collaboration of many organizations; Silver City Art Association, Mimbres Regional Arts Council, The Arts and Cultural District,the Silver City Museum, the Green Chamber of Commerce and Silver City Mainstreet. Special thanks to Bright Funeral Home for being a sponsor. And a big thank you to the Town of Silver City, Raul S. Turrieta III, Hugh Epping, and Deb Cookingham for their support as well as all of the volunteers and parade participants. It doesn't happen without the hard work of many!
For more information and updates check out and "like" the Silver City Dia de los Muertos facebook page or contact Diana Ingalls Leyba at 575-388-5725.