An annual celebration of Día de Muertos in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin will be returning for its third year, co-hosted by Driftless Curiosity and the Mexican Folk Art Collective. “Driftless Region’s Día de Muertos Celebration: A Mexican Cultural and Educational Event” will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, 1-7 p.m., at Keewaydin Farm located at 15270 Haucke Ln. in Viola, WI.
Día de Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is an important tradition in Mexico that honors departed loved ones through festivities and remembrance, along with traditional practices such as decorating ofrendas, altars adorned with traditional elements, and sharing in food and community.
This event for the Driftless Region hopes to reflect that in the free, one-day outdoor event. There will be chances to learn about and engage in Mexican folk art, food, community, and traditions as a collective ofrenda will also be constructed throughout the event. That collective ofrenda will honor women activists and victims of femicide, and attendees are welcome to bring photos or meaningful items of beloved women in their lives who have passed to place with the community ofrenda. 
The Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance group will be providing entertainment with dances representing both pre-Hispanic and Mexican traditions. There will also be a collaborative fashion show with professional make-up and body paint by artist Julian Correa, and artist Julieta Zavala featuring her exhibition of Catrina dresses.
Other highlights of the event include hands-on learning in creating corn husk flowers, painting a community mural, bilingual storytimes, and tortilla making with nixtamalized corn dough. A collaborative exhibit of three life-sized paper mache Catrina and other works from the Mexican Folk Art Collective will also be featured before being put on display in La Crosse, at the Pump House Regional Arts Center Gallery from Nov. 1-4.
There will also be a newly added bilingual cultural immersion workshop and puppet show by Semilitas. Musical entertainment is covered as well with Braided Janes, a three-piece Latin alternative band from Chicago whose lead singer, Jessica Rodriguez, will be performing wearing a folk art fashion design collaboratively made by Julieta Zavala and Jaqui Almaguer.
This event going into its third year has been recognized by the Consulate of Mexico in Milwaukee as one of the more authentic and unique celebrations they have been involved in and they will be sending representatives to attend this year as well.
To learn more, visit the Driftless Curiosity page for the Día de Muertos event here.
