2nd Annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration

Celebrate Día de Los Muertos with PCHM through music, dance, storytelling, art, and crafts! Bring the entire family for a fun day with hands-on activities. No charge for kids!

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, discover the ongoing and evolving traditions of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the Pinal County Historical Museum’s 2nd Annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration! Bring the entire family to the museum on Saturday, October 15th, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (715 S Main Street, Florence, AZ). Dance to the music of Mariachi Nueva Era, enjoy Ballet Folklorico Del Sol’s dancing, and participate in several hands-on activities. Special guest Zarco Guerrero, a well-known performer, storyteller, musician, and artist, will also tell the story of Día de Los Muertos.

Día de Los Muertos is a highly celebrated and significant family holiday throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the Southwest. Dating back 3,000 years to the time of the Olmecs, it is a day when homage is paid to one’s ancestors with prayers, offerings of food, and the building of altars (ofrendas) to the beloved departed. Each region has its unique style of celebration. In Arizona, the annual Día de Los Muertos is a Celebration of Life.

Join Zarco Guerrero and his unique masked characters as they celebrate Día de Los Muertos with hilarious and moving storytelling. Among the characters making appearances are: the poetry-spouting “El Vato Poeta,” the flirtatious “La Comadre,” the clueless “Special Ed,” the wise “El Abuelito,” and other beloved roles that Zarco has created to express the humor and sadness of our lives. Musical accompaniment is provided by Carmen Guerrero. You will experience Día de Los Muertos traditions dating back 3,000 years in Zarco’s performance. Additionally, a special museum exhibit highlights Día de Los Muertos traditions.

Enjoy several hands-on activities for the entire family at this celebration, including coloring masks, paper crowns, candle wrappers, Día de Los Muertos facial stickers, rock art activity, pottery puzzles, and more! Local vendors will also participate in the festivities.

The 2nd Annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration is supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts. We sincerely thank the Arizona Commission on the Arts as well as support from the Pinal County Tourism Sponsorship Program, Happy Adobe, LB Cantina, Florence Copper, and EPCOR! All Día de Los Muertos participants will receive a 10% discount at LB Cantina on October 15th. Listen to Mariachi Nueva Era throughout the afternoon at PCHM (715 S Main St), LB Cantina (695 S Main St), and Happy Adobe (189 S Main St). Without this community and grant support, our Día de Los Muertos programming would not be possible.

Stay all day for Día de Los Muertos festivities, and experience Zarco Guerrero, Mariachi Nueva Era, and Ballet Folkorico Del Sol. Our packed performer schedule is listed as follows.
1:00 pm -1:30 pm Mariachi Nueva Era at PCHM (715 S Main St)
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Mariachi Nueva Era at LB Cantina (695 S Main St)
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Ballet Folklorico Del Sol at PCHM (715 S Main St)
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Mariachi Nueva Era at PCHM (715 S Main St)
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Día de Los Muertos Storytelling with Zarco Guerrero (715 S Main St)
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm Mariachi Nueva Era at Happy Adobe 189 S Main St
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Ballet Folklorico Del Sol at PCHM (715 S Main St)
4:30pm – 5:00 pm Mariachi Nueva Era at LB Cantina (695 S Main St)