Pay offering to year 3 of Dia de Los Muertos Ogden downtown celebration this Friday
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- A traditional Latin dancer performs during a past year’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration at Union Station in Ogden.
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- A community altar at a past year’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration at Union Station in Ogden.
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- People gather at the community altar during a past year’s celebration of Dia de Los Muertos at Union Station in Ogden.
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- Nurture the Creative Mind hosts year three of Dia de Los Muertos this Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at Union Station in Ogden.
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- The third Dia de Los Muertos celebration in Ogden happening this Friday night, Oct. 29, 2021, will have live music, dancing, a car show and craft market, community altars, food and more at Union Station.
Photo supplied
A traditional Latin dancer performs during a past year's Dia de Los Muertos celebration at Union Station in Ogden.
This Friday is the third annual Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration of life and death at the historic Ogden Union Station from 6-9 p.m. with live music, food, local artwork, ofrendas (Spanish for offerings), a car show, craft market and more presented by Nurture the Creative Mind.
The event started in 2019 after a conversation earlier that year, said Amir Jackson, director of NCM, which wanted to recognize and celebrate Hispanic culture, as it represents a large portion of the Ogden population.
“I wanted to be a part of the committee because I attended the first year and felt that it was such a long overdue celebration for our Ogden community,” said OWATC Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Estefani Perez-Lopez. “Not only was it a much-needed celebration, but it felt magical as well — it was beautiful to see people of all different backgrounds coming together to learn about and celebrate a tradition that exemplifies the blending of cultures (indigenous and European/Spanish).”
Since their first year, the committee’s intent is “to remain authentic, be respectful to tradition, celebrate culture, educate the community, be inclusive and build a legacy.”
This year’s celebration, led by Jackson and funded in partnership with Nurture the Creative Mind, Union Station Museums, Ogden City and Ogden City Arts, is assisted by Lane Montoya, incoming director of Dia de Los Muertos Ogden and co-owner of Wimpy and Fritz.
Photo supplied
A community altar at a past year's Dia de Los Muertos celebration at Union Station in Ogden.
“We recruited a great lineup of food vendors, all hand-chosen for their awesome food and service. I know the community will love Bombdilla, Chrurro’mazing, Churro Del Norte and, of course, Wimpy and Fritz will be there too,” he said.
The indoor and outdoor festivities include keynote speaker Leon Araujo Sr., owner of Coffee Links Coffeehouse in Ogden, ofrendas from 12 local families, a community altar, craft market, car show by Firme Image Car Club, and artwork by local contemporary artist Richard Ramos, urban artist Alex Cervantes, traditional Mexican artist Ayne Velazquez and designer Natalie Blair.
A lineup of live Latino music and dance begins at 6:30 p.m. with Rumba Libre, Groupo Clave and Ballet Folklorico’s Danza y Color.
All community members are encouraged and welcomed to get involved. “Bring an offering for the community altar, visit one of the many vendors, get some food and dance your heart out,” Jackson said.
It is the event committee’s intent to grow the celebration into one of Utah’s premiere events.
Photo supplied
People gather at the community altar during a past year's celebration of Dia de Los Muertos at Union Station in Ogden.
They said, “One of the most beautiful aspects of this event is its ability to unify. We have all lost a loved one, and this is an opportunity for us to honor and celebrate their lives together, as a community.”
Limited edition Dia de Los Muertos Ogden T-shirts are currently available for purchase at Coffee Links Coffeehouse on 287 Park Blvd.
For more information, visit the Facebook event page: facebook.com/events/521225789156020
Nurture the Creative Mind hosts year three of Dia de Los Muertos this Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at Union Station in Ogden.
The third Dia de Los Muertos celebration in Ogden happening this Friday night, Oct. 29, 2021, will have live music, dancing, a car show and craft market, community altars, food and more at Union Station.