As the heat dies down in October, The Presidio Museum kicks off its busy season with a celebration of Dia de los Muertos! “Dia de los Muertos” translates to “Day of the Dead,” and although it may sound scary, it is not meant to be spooky. Those who celebrate the holiday believe that at midnight on Oct. 31, the souls of all deceased children come down from heaven and reunite with the families on Nov. 1, and the souls of deceased adults come to visit on Nov. 2. Many families who celebrate the holiday create alters called “ofrendas” to attract the souls to their families. The altars include the deceased’s favorite treats and often have photos of them doing some of their favorite activities. Marigolds are also included as their scent will make the returning souls feel welcomed and happy. The holiday has gained fame in the U.S. since the release of the movie Coco.
As one of our goals is to share Mexican culture and history, the Presidio Museum invites your family to come and experience Dia de los Muertos with us!
Beginning Oct. 27, several altars created by local families and community organizations will be on display at the Presidio Museum. Although altars are traditionally taken down on Nov. 3, our altars will be on display through Sunday, Nov. 11 to provide more time for visitors to enjoy them. An altar honoring veterans will be included as an additional celebration of Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11. Participants are welcome to add their own memento or photo to this altar to honor veterans in their family.
In addition, a special Family Adventure Hour will be held Oct. 27 from 10:30 am to 12 pm that includes crafts of making paper flowers and Dia de los Muertos bottle caps and tin-smithing with a new skull template option. Participants will also enjoy champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate) and other Mexican treats.
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Many more exciting activities will be happening throughout the season at the Presidio Museum, including our November Living History Day on Nov. 10 honoring our veterans, and our special Luminaria Night celebration from 4-7:30 pm Dec. 7 and 8. For more information on these events, see our online event calendar at https://tucsonpresidio.com/event-created/.
Those wanting to visit often or attend several events at the Museum throughout the year should consider purchasing a Presidio Museum individual or family membership, offering not only free entry to the Museum, but also discounts on events and guest passes. For more information, click HERE.
The Presidio Museum is located at 196 N. Court Avenue in Tucson. Visit the website at https://tucsonpresidio.com/.
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