6th Annual Celebraciónes de la Gente

The 6th Annual Celebraciónes de la Gente is October 23-25, 2009. 2009 information is posted as soon as it is available, but the 2008 information is here to give you an idea of what the festival is all about.

Festival Schedule

Whether it's art, fun, education, music, dancing or a combination, there's something exciting happening all day long!

Schedule is subject to change.  Final schedule is available at the festival.

Both Days
Saturday, October 24
Sunday, October 25

Celebraciones de la Gente is produced in partnership by Nuestras Raices and offers Latin American indigenous and folk music, documentary filmmaking, Aztec stories, mask making, ballet folklorico, family altars, and graffiti mural art by local artists. The holiday Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead may have originated in Mexico from the Olmecs as many as 3,000 years ago and been passed to other cultures such as the Toltecs, Maya, Zapotec, and Aztec. The continuity of life and memories of ancestors are celebrated and invitations are made to departed souls to return. This is not a time of mourning. Instead, candles and marigolds, sugar skulls and colorful paper banners, and dancing and music all warm the heart. Nuestras Raices is a local grassroots organization dedicated to promoting Mexican/Mexican American/Hispanic cultures in our area. Its name means “Our Roots” and its members are Hispanic pioneer families of Flagstaff from the 1800s.

All Day Activities – Both Days

• Creative Corner for Kids

• Graffiti Art Mural by Southwest Eclectic Artist Association

• Ofrenda Display with Nuestras Raices

• Community Altar

• Artists and Demonstrators

• Trappings of the American West presentation by Tony Florez, Western Art Collector

Saturday, October 25
9:30 a.m. Bamboo Flute Making Workshop with Martin Espino
10:30 a.m. Sugar Skull Demonstration and Workshop
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Papel Picado Workshop
11:30 a.m. “Ofrendas and Dia de Los Muertos” by Nuestras Raices
12 p.m. Ballet Folklorico de Colores
12:30 p.m. “Immigration: Rhetoric or Resolution” by Dr. Miguel Vasquez
1:00 p.m. Lupe Anaya and La Llorona Storytelling
1:30 p.m. Graffiti Art Presentation by Southwest Eclectic Artists Assn.
2 p.m. “Sounds of Ancient Mexico” by Martin Espino
2:30 p.m. “Yours, Mine, and Ours—Exploring Our Roots”by Rose Diaz
2:30 p.m. “A Piñata for Pepita” Puppet Show
3 p.m. “Masks and Music of Dia de los Muertos” by Zarco and Carmen Guerrero
4 p.m. Santa Cruz River Band

Sunday, October 26
9:30 a.m. Bamboo Flute Making Workshop with Martin Espino
10:30 a.m. Sugar Skull Demonstration and Workshop
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Papel Picado Workshop
11 a.m. Lupe Anaya and La Llorona Storytelling
11:30 a.m. “Immigration: Rhetoric or Resolution” by Dr. Miguel Vasquez
11:45 a.m. “Sounds of Ancient Mexico” by Martin Espino
12 p.m. Familiar Mexican Root Music by Los Compadres
1 p.m. Santa Cruz River Band
1:30 p.m. Graffiti Art Mural by Southwest Eclectic Artists Assn.
2 p.m. “Ofrendas and Dia de Los Muertos” by Nuestras Raices
2 p.m. Ballet Folklorico de Colores
2:30 p.m. Rose Diaz—“Yours, Mine, and Ours–Exploring Our Roots”
2:30 p.m. “A Piñata for Pepita” Puppet Show
3:45 p.m. “Masks and Music of Dia de los Muertos” by Zarco and Carmen Guerrero
4:30 p.m. Closing Ceremony