The annual El Día de los Muertos known as Day of the Dead festival was held last weekend in Mesa at the Mesa Arts Center.

El Día de los Muertos is a cultural traditional holiday that is celebrated every year throughout the Latino community.

In this festival, people gather together for a two-day festival that includes all types of different Mexican local food vendors, traditional art, music and live performances.

Northeast Valley News spoke with native Arizonan Rosa Torres, “It’s a time of the year I always look forward to, I celebrate and remember my loved ones who passed. I am Mexican and have always grown up celebrating the day of the dead and paying my respect to my loved ones,” Torres said

El Día de los Muertos traditionally starts October 28th and continues into the first week of November.  Every family pays their respect and tributes to their loved ones in all different types of ways. They celebrate the lives of the loved they have lost while respectfully enjoying the festivities.

As setting up the Altar is the most common tribute, families will typically gather together and have personal moments of placing photos of their loved ones with the use of different symbolizations including candles, arches, incense, flowers and memories close to the loved one and family members. The altar is also known as “Las Ofrendas”—a way to remember friends and family, as well as welcoming the souls of the dead back home.

The Mesa El Día de los Muertos festival hosted multiple small art businesses and one of them showcased was Nancianne Art by Nancy Johnson.

Johnson said this was her second year at the event and she talked about the meaning behind all the colorful artwork at her booth.

“Being in Arizona, I think with the culture and inspiration, I just love art and color.”

The holiday is known for unique and meaningful artwork such as colorful sugar skulls, papel picado and flower crowns that represent love and innocence.

As the celebration of El Día de los Muertos festival in Mesa came to a close the attendees gathered for live performances from the Mariachi Sones del Desierto.

The early evening brought singing and dancing but ended with a candlelight vigil to represent the motion of the departed spirits.