El Festival de las Veinte Flores: Day of the Dead Celebration

All festivities will take place on Sundays, October 24th, October 31st and November 7th, from 1p.m. - 5p.m. throughout the museum.

"El Festival de las Veinte Flores: Day of the Dead Celebration". This year's festival will offer visitors the unique opportunity to explore the cultural elements and continued traditions of this special holiday. All festivities will take place on Sundays, October 24th, October 31st and November 7th, from 1p.m. - 5p.m. throughout the museum.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has been celebrated for hundreds of years and this event will provide a unique platform for socio-cultural exchange and will nurture a greater understanding of our area’s history through presentations by various guest lectures, arts and crafts, music and artistic performances. "El Festival de las Veinte Flores" will also showcase the artistic talent of community members who will display their own Altares (altars) during the festival.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities for "El Festival de las Veinte Flores" click here or call IMAS at 956-682-1564

Admission

Admission to "El Festival de las Veinte Flores" is FREE for IMAS Members and included in General Admission for non-members: $7 Adults, $5 Seniors/ Students (w/ID), $4 Children (ages 4-12).

The Closing Festivities on November 7th will offer FREE General Admission to the public.

Event Title

Although it seemed natural to name our festival "Day of the Dead", the title used, (El Festival de las Veinte Flores) highlights the educational aspect that will be present throughout all event activities, guest lectures, music and artistic performances.

The Marigold flower, otherwise known as cempasuchitl in Spanish, is commonly used to decorate the altars displayed during the Day of the Dead Celebrations. Marigolds symbolize the earth and the brevity of human life. The term cempasuchitl derives from the Pre-Colombian language of Nahuatl (pronounced: na-walt) and when translated directly to Spanish means veinte flores or twenty flowers.

Schedule

Please see the festival schedule below, which highlights all activities, performers and guest speakers for "El Festival de las Veinte Flores".

Sunday, October 24th – Opening Festivities

• Welcome by IMAS Executive Director, Joseph Bravo
• "Contemporary Day of the Dead Imagery in Art" lecture by local artist Paul Valadez
• Music by Orgullo Mexicano
• "Papel Picado" in the Art Studio
• "Creating Color" in the Science Lab
• Food provided by Gorditas Doña Tota & De Alba’s Bakery

Saturday, October 30th

• Food provided by Mrs. G's Taco’s

Sunday, October 31st – Festivities continue…

• Opening Reception for the Community Altares
• "Day of the Dead Celebrations in Oaxaca, Mexico" lecture by Virginia & George Gause
• Music by Jarocho Group
• Story time
• "Tissue Paper Flowers" in the Art Studio
• "Sugary Science" in the Science Lab
• Food provided by Gorditas Doña Tota & De Alba’s Bakery

Sunday, November 7th – Closing Festivities

• "Dia de los Muertos: A Cultural Arts Overview"lecture by professor Rachael Brown
• "Jose Guadalupe Posada" lecture by professor Ben Martinez & Juan Saenz
• UTPA Mariachi & Folclorico
• Ensamble la Mision
• McAllen Art Ballet
• Photobooth
• Face Painting
• Story time in S.O.S. (Science on a Spere)
• "Paper Doll Catrina" in the Art Studio
• "Acids and Bases with Posada" in the Science Lab

• Jason's Deli
• Gorditas Doña Tota
• De Alba’s Bakery
• Mucho Mexico Bakery
• Gorditas Doña Tere
• HEB Grocery

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