From AmigosNAZ staff reports
FLAGSTAFF — Amid unseasonable warm weather, the 2016 Celebraciones de la Gente got to an auspicious start with families lining up to take part in a sugar skull workshop before heading to attend dance and musical performances at the Museum of Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 22.
The sugar skull workshop was presented by members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, which is a partner in the 13th annual celebration at the museum.
The public then had the opportunity to see a performance in Branigar Hall by Danza Guadalupanas de Matachines de Flagstaff, who also performed in the Jaime Major Golightly Historic Courtyard.
The ever popular Mariachi Sol Azteca from Tucson returned to Celebraciones this year, providing its mix of mariachi education and performance on Saturday, with members also performing that evening in the Jaime Major Golightly Historic Courtyard for the event’s first evening viewing of the altars for the general public.
Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff also performed on Saturday, returning Sunday.
A variety of Heritage Insights Lectures were also presented Saturday, including the presentation “Dia de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life and Death” by Arizona Humanities Scholar Elena Díaz Björkquist; “Macaws, Chocolate & Turquoise: The Southwest, Meso-American Connection” by Anthropologist Dr. Ben Nelson and graduate researcher Christopher Schwartz; “Legends of Love” by award-winning author and storyteller, Stella Pope Duarte; and Los Recuerdos del Barrio I” by Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces member Delia Ceballos Muñoz.
The public also had an opportunity to purchase jewelry, folk art, pottery and other items from more than a dozen artists, several from New Mexico, as well as a variety of Mexican food, Mexican hot chocolate and pan dulce during the day and during the evening program from Archuleta Catering.