Día de Muertos at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center — Nov. 1–2

Halloween is Friday. The weekend after it, Colorado Springs families have a genuinely good option: the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College is hosting a Día de Muertos celebration on Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2. It's a two-day community cultural event with programming designed for families, and it's at one of Colorado Springs' most accessible cultural venues.

Event Details

The celebration takes place at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, located at 30 W. Dale St. in Colorado Springs.

Saturday, November 1 runs from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM MT. Sunday, November 2 runs from 4 PM to 8 PM MT.

Programming across both days includes live music and performances, hands-on cultural activities for families, a children's costume parade, and broader community cultural programming. Registration is requested through the Fine Arts Center's website at fac.coloradocollege.edu/events/dia-de-muertos. Admission is free or low-cost; check the FAC website for current pricing before you go.

What Día de Muertos Is

Día de Muertos — observed November 1 and 2 — is a Mexican tradition that honors people who have died. It's not a Mexican version of Halloween; it's a distinct tradition with its own history, symbolism, and practice. The holiday draws from both Indigenous Aztec traditions and the Catholic observances of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which fall on the same calendar dates.

The imagery associated with Día de Muertos — marigolds, sugar skulls, ofrendas (altars with photographs and offerings), and calacas (skeletal figures) — represents a relationship with death that is celebratory and communal rather than fearful. Families create ofrendas at home and gather to remember people they've lost, often with food, music, and storytelling.

For Colorado Springs families, the Fine Arts Center event is an opportunity to experience that tradition through a community program designed to be welcoming and educational. The children's costume parade and hands-on activities make it accessible for younger kids who may not have any prior context for the holiday.

Why It's Worth Planning For

The first weekend of November tends to disappear quickly. Halloween is Friday, and many families find themselves without a plan for Saturday and Sunday. The FAC Día de Muertos event fills that weekend with something that's culturally substantive, family-friendly, and centrally located.

It's also a natural transition point. After two weeks of Halloween-focused content, events, and preparation, Día de Muertos offers a different way to continue engaging with themes of memory, community, and the change of seasons — one that many Colorado Springs families, especially those with Latin American heritage, may find personally meaningful.

The Saturday afternoon timing (12:30 PM to 4:30 PM) works well for families with younger children. The Sunday evening option (4 PM to 8 PM) works better for older kids or families who want a longer evening program.

What's Next

Día de Muertos at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center runs Saturday, November 1 (12:30–4:30 PM MT) and Sunday, November 2 (4–8 PM MT) at 30 W. Dale St. Registration is requested at fac.coloradocollege.edu/events/dia-de-muertos. Check the FAC website for current admission pricing. For a full calendar of November family events in Colorado Springs, visitcos.com updates its events listing regularly.