Dias de los Muertos Celebrations began in Silver City on Sunday, October 30

Festivities continue every day through Wednesday, Nov. 2

Photos by George Plant

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, an ebullient crowd enjoyed many Dias de los Muertos related activities centered around Market and Texas Streets in downtown Silver City.

Mariachi music filled the air, family history storytelling brought listeners and Market Street was lined with food and craft vendors. At 3:30pm a parade began on Pope Street, heading down Bullard, featuring large handcrafted Monsoon Puppets created in a program at Hidalgo Medical Services.

Monday, Oct. 31, features a talk by Western New Mexico University Professor Emeritus Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, beginning at 7 p.m. and followed by a performance by Ballet Folklorico de la Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez.

Tuesday features, beginning at 4 p.m. Mariachi Cato a Mi Tierra de la UACJ performing in the Silver City Museum Courtyard, followed by a ofrenda procession through downtown Silver City to Miller Library.

Wednesday finishes the festivities with a lecture on papel picado by Catalino Delgado, at 6:30 p.m. at WNMU Parotti Recital Hall. Delgado will be feted with an opening reception immediately following at the McCray Gallery, where her work will be displayed. A community ofrenda will be at the location. Delgado is the recipient of the 2015 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.