West Valley Arts presents Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The event features traditional Mexican dance & musical  performances, traditional food, a beer garden, and a variety of complimentary hands-on activities for the whole family. Plus a chance to win prizes in our Catrina/Catrin dress-up contest!
West Valley Arts presenta el festival del Día de los Muertos. Habra bailes tradicionales de México, estaciones de comida y bebidas. También, habra actividades de diversión para toda la familia, una exhibición de arte reconociendo el significado de este día festivo.   ¡Vengan en su mejor disfraz de Catrina, habra premios para el mejor disfraz!

Day of the Dead - Día de los Muertos

Saturday, October 29, 2022
​$5 Tickets / Entradas
Kids / Niños 0-12: Free / Gratis 
Oct. 29, 2022  | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Utah Cultural Celebration Center
​1355 West 3100 South
West Valley City, UT  84119
Great Hall Stage
11:30 a.m. - Ballet Folklorico ECK   
 12:13 p.m. - Armando Solorzano
 12:30 p.m. - Mariachi Zavala
   1:45 p.m. - Latin Dance Heritage
   2:45 p.m. - Trio Los Charros 
   4:00 p.m. - Ballet Folklorico de Las Americas
   4:45 p.m. - Mariachi Los Cruzadores
   5:00 p.m. - La Calavera Catrina Contest
   5:45 p.m. - Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dance
*schedule subject to change without notice
Tickets available for purchase online at  West Valley Arts or in-person at the event.
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The Celebration Includes:
  • Traditional Community Altars
  • Art Exhibits & Vendors
  •  Traditional  Dance & Music
  • Complimentary Family Activities
  • The Catrina Contest 
  • Food & Drink
Las entradas se pueden comprar en internet  o en persona en el evento.
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 La Celebración Incluye:
  • Ofrendas Comunitarios
  • Exhibiciones de Arte y Vendedor de Arte
  • Música Tradicional  y Danza Azteca
  • Actividades Familiares  Gratuitas
  • El Concurso La Catrina  
  • Comida y bebidas
Interested in Volunteering? We need volunteers to help us with art activities, gallery docents, and greet patrons. Shifts are two (2) hours long. In exchange for your time, volunteers will be able to attend the event before or after their shift for free, as well as receive a complimentary ticket voucher for our upcoming shows or events. Spanish speaking ability is preferred, but not required. Apply To Volunteer Today >
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Thank You to Our Sponsors!

La Catrina / El Catrin Contest

West Valley Arts' annual La Catrina/El Catrin contest will be held in-person at the Day of the Dead celebration. 

West Valley Arts reserves the right to reject any participant whose costume is deemed to be inappropriate, or does not meet the Day of the Dead themed requirements. Gore, graphic violence, nudity, swearing, or other objectionable elements may be grounds for disqualification as determined by West Valley Arts staff. This is not Halloween. Leave your Halloween costumes at home.
El concurso anual de La Catrina/El Catrín de West Valley Arts se realizará en persona en la celebración del Día de los Muertos. 

West Valley Arts se reserva el derecho de rechazar a cualquier participante cuyo disfraz se considere inapropiado o no cumpla con los requisitos de la temática del Día de los Muertos. El gore, la violencia gráfica, la desnudez, las palabrotas u otros elementos objetables pueden ser motivo de descalificación según lo determine el personal de West Valley Arts. 

Gallery Exhibits

The Utah Cultural Celebration Center has multiple art exhibitions on view to coincide with our Día de Los Muertos / Day of the Dead Celebration. We encourage you to stop by and enjoy these annual exhibitions.

Day of the Dead: Made in Utah photo exhibit by Dr. Solórzano’s, University of Utah

On View: Oct. 17 - Nov. 3, 2022 ​
​Location: Plaza Gallery, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
​Free Admission
Dr. Armando Solórzano’s ethno-photographic exhibit documents many of the public Dia de Muertos exhibits throughout Utah, educating the public about the celebration’s background and history,  how it has been embraced by different community groups and organizations, and its evolution into the cultural and religious phenomenon it is today. 

In Search of Mexico: Tradition, Globalization, and the Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca photo exhibit

On View: Oct. 17 - Nov. 3, 2022 ​
Location: Crescent Gallery, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
​Free Admission, ​Ticket Entry Required on Oct. 29
This photo exhibit by Utah State University’s Dr. J. P. Spicer-Escalante visually explores the preservation of long-established Dia de Muertos cultural rituals alongside the globalizing impact of the U.S. holiday, Halloween.  
Alebrijes by Noemi Hernandez, Frida Moses and Zoe Moses 
​​On View: Oct. 17 - Nov. 3, 2022 ​
Location: Bridge Gallery, Utah Cultural Celebration Center 
​Free Admission, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ticket Entry Required on Oct. 29 
This traditional Mexican folk art explores the fantastical and whimsical animal creatures of our dreams and memories.   ​

Trajes Típicos Méxicanos: Crisol de Culturas / Mexican Traditional Dresses: Melting Pot of Cultures

On View: Oct 24 - Nov 3
Location: Bridge Gallery, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
​Free Admission, ​Ticket Entry Required on Oct. 29
The Consulate of Mexico in Salt Lake City and Ballet Folklorico ECK highlight the unique beauty of traditional Mexican dresses from of the states of Colima, Jalisco, Chiapas, Puebla and Oaxaca. 

Ofrendas / Altars at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center

On View: Oct 24 - Nov 3
Location: Celebration Gallery, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
​Free Admission,  ​Ticket Entry Required on Oct. 29
​An ofrenda/offering is an altar with a collection of objects placed on a ritual display during the annual Día de los Muertos celebration.

ARTrageous Educational Resources

In Person 
Our ARTrageous program brings K-12 art students together to experience the Día de los Muertos exhibits at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center.  Reservations required. Contact Susan to sign up today at susan.klinker@wvc-ut.gov or (801) 509-1972​
Online: ARTrageous Día de los Muertos Unit
This program brings the art, food, folklore, music, history, & Mexican cultural values related to Día de los Muertos into the classroom through short video presentations, lesson plans, & arts integration activities.
• What a Mexican Celebration of Death Teaches Us All About Life
• Culture & Science of the Monarch Butterfly
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​PAST EVENTS

In 2020 we offered a virtual event and waited until we could meet everyone in person again.
En 2020 ofrecimos un evento virtual y esperamos a poder reunirnos todos en persona de nuevo.
​Our annual Day of the Dead celebration, at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, was a terrific event. Over 5,000 people came out to enjoy the live music, food, drinks, crafts and other entertainment celebrating this sacred Mexican holiday that honors and remembers those who have passed on. We are already looking forward to next year!
Nuestra celebración anual del Día de los Muertos, en el UCCC, fue un evento estupendo. Más de 5.000 personas acudieron a disfrutar de la música, la comida, las bebidas, la artesanía y otros entretenimientos para celebrar esta fiesta sagrada mexicana que honra y recuerda a los que han fallecido. Ya estamos deseando que llegue el año que viene.