Leavenworth to celebrate Día de los Muertos with dance, music and tradition

LEAVENWORTH —  A festival celebrating Día de Muertos will return for its third year at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts on Nov. 1. 

The Día de los Muertos festival, organized by Norma Ramirez of Danzas Multiculturales, will be a mix of free and ticketed events celebrating culture and tradition.

Between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., the festival will be free and open to the public, featuring music, face painting and more. Mariachi will be performed on the Snowy Owl patio from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., a Katrina Parade and Ofrenda will be held inside the Canyon Wren Recital Hall. A Catrinas Contest and Altar de Muertos Contest will have prizes for the top three winners of each category; contestants can register for free on the Danzas Multiculturales website. Food provided by Tacos Chava, La Chaparrita, and Copacabana Snacks will be available for purchase.

The event will feature two ticketed performances by Danzas Multiculturales. The two performances are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and tickets are $25 for an adult, and $15 for a student.

Danzas Multiculturales is a local dance company that specializes in traditional folk dances from across Mexico, and has performed extensively across central Washington, including at Fiestas Mexicanas and other events in Wenatchee. The company is led by Ramirez, an accomplished local dancer and choreographer, and is made up of dancers from Chelan and Douglas Counties.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday of pre-Hispanic origin, in which those living remember and honor family and friends who have passed away or gone on ahead.

Tickets and more information about the event can be found by visiting icicle.org.