Families flocked to the Mesa Arts Center over the weekend for the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival. The Mesa Arts Center created a community celebration that included a community altar, live music and dance, arts and crafts.

Scattered throughout the Mesa Arts Center campus were Dia de los Muertos-style vendors offering a variety of merchandise and art. There was also a breathtaking display of shrines created by local artists. The Community Altar was created by Kyllan Maney and Lauren Lee and everyone was encouraged to leave offerings by their loved ones. Near the altar an educational poster explained what the alter was about and what the variety of offerings meant. The Mesa Arts Center provided multiple demonstrations including ceramics, glassblowing, blacksmithing and jewelry making. I loved being surrounded by the sounds of the Mariachi and other live music that was performed.

We spent our weekend at the Bookmans Family Activity Area where we offered free sugar skull and ceramic skull pendants to the children and students. Art students and volunteers created over 1,500 hand-made sugar skulls so that families could enjoy bringing home a one-of-a-kind art piece to remember the festival. With our support the sugar skulls were free for kids and only $1 for adults. We also raffled off a basket that contained Bookmans Sugar Skull merchandise and a $50 gift card. Our newly-created Bookmans Sugar Skull wooden tokens were a hit with attendees of all ages and will make great souveniers and craft additions.

Festivals at the Mesa Arts Center are always an incredible experience and we cannot wait until the Mesa Arts Festival where we will return for more free, family-friendly fun. For more pictures of the event, please visit our Flickr page.