Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Mesilla and Doña Ana hosting Día de los Muertos celebrations

MORE EVENTS:Halloween | Non-Halloween or Dia de los Muertos events

LAS CRUCES – October is coming to a close which means local communities will be celebrating Día de los Muertos.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a three-day Mexican holiday where the souls of the dead can briefly return to visit their living relatives. It is believed that the gates of heaven open up at midnight on Oct. 31, allowing the souls of children to return to the land of the living for 24 hours. The souls of adults can return on Nov. 2.

People celebrate by setting up ofrendas, or ages, in their homes with photographs of their loved ones, candles and cempasuchil, or marigolds. Food and items that meant something to the deceased can also be added. Public offers are also common, where anyone who wants to can include photos of their loved ones.

Here are some events scheduled in and around Las Cruces:

Rincon de Mesilla

The Mesilla business, at 2488 Calle de Guadalupe, will be hosting Day of the Dead celebrations over Halloween weekend, ahead of the actual holiday. From Friday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 30, Rincón de Mesilla will be open from 8 am to 9 pm serving pozole, tamales, Mexican hot chocolate and pumpkin pie, along with their regular menu.

They will also be offering face painting and a costume contest. Use your creativity to dress up as a skeleton.

Historic Mesilla Plaza

After two years away because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Calavera Coalition will be back on the Mesilla Plaza this year for Día de los Muertos. Starting at 8 am Friday, people can begin setting up their ages throughout the plaza. Registration is not required. Art vendors will be open for business from 2 to 8 pm Friday and will be available the rest of the weekend.

Festivities will be from 10 am to 8 pm Saturday. An opening ceremony is scheduled for noon, featuring soloist Linda Goff. Aztec Dancers and Grupo Valle del Sol Folklorico will perform during the afternoon.

Sunday celebrations will be held between 10 am and 5 pm with music and dance performances throughout. Mesilla businesses and restaurants will also be open to visitors over the weekend as usual.

A procession will be led to the cemetery Nov. 2 at sundown.

Village of Dona Ana

The Doña Ana Village Historic Preservation Committee is hosting its annual Día de los Muertos fiesta Saturday, Nov. 5 in the historic plaza and De La O Visitors Center, 5393 Cristo Rey St. From 2 to 9 pm, people can enjoy live music from La Lucha, food trucks, vendors, games and a costume contest.

Ofrendas can be set up on the plaza between 11 am and 1 pm that day. All are welcome to contribute.

correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct entertainment at the Doña Ana Día de los Muertos fiesta.

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Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, [email protected] or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

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