PRESENTED BY U.S. BANK

October 17-18, 2025

Join us at the Día de Muertos and Latin Festival—a two-day event honoring Latin American culture for families and neighbors to come together in remembrance and support. The plaza transforms into a colorful world of Día de Muertos with Denver-based artist Cal Duran’s larger-than-life calaveras (skeletons), papel picado lining the walkways, and a community ofrenda (altar) where everyone is invited to place their offerings.

Friday begins with Lo que La Tierra Abraza / What the Land Embraces, an exhibition by Juan Fuentes that uplifts the voices of local immigrants, followed by a candlelight vigil with traditional Aztec dancers. On Saturday, the Arts District comes to life with hands-on workshops, face painting, live music, and the largest artisan market hosted to date.

This festival is a moment to recognize and give thanks for the many contributions of the local Hispanic and Latin community members, whose traditions, hard work, and creativity help make Breckenridge and Summit County such an extraordinary place to live, work, and play. Above all, the celebration is about togetherness—honoring loved ones, sharing culture, and strengthening the connections that make us a vibrant and welcoming community.

Programs are presented in partnership with Summit Foundation, US Bank, Summit County Government, and Breckenridge Grand Vacations and produced in association with Chicano Heritage Arts Council and Mexican Cultural Center.

“I believe that everyone has ancestors that have honored this earth. That death is a universal journey we all take. That in every culture there’s a ritual for honoring our ancestors. I believe that inside of us is the knowledge of our ancestors.”

–Cal Duran

PRESENTADO POR U.S. BANK

OCTUBRE 17-18, 2025

Acompáñanos en el Festival de Día de Muertos y Cultura Latina—un evento de dos días que honra la cultura latinoamericana en el corazón de Breckenridge, donde familias y vecinos se reúnen para recordar y apoyarse mutuamente. La plaza se transforma en un colorido mundo de Día de Muertos con las calaveras monumentales del artista de Denver, Cal Duran, papel picado adornando los pasillos y una ofrenda comunitaria donde todos están invitados a colocar sus ofrendas.

El viernes inicia con Lo que La Tierra Abraza / What the Land Embraces, una exposición de Juan Fuentes que eleva las voces de los inmigrantes locales, seguida de una vigilia con velas acompañada por danzantes aztecas tradicionales. El sábado, el Distrito de las Artes cobra vida con talleres interactivos, pintacaritas, música en vivo y el mercado artesanal más grande organizado hasta la fecha.

Este festival es también un momento para reconocer y agradecer las numerosas contribuciones de los miembros de la comunidad hispana y latina local, cuyas tradiciones, esfuerzo y creatividad ayudan a hacer de Breckenridge y el Condado de Summit un lugar extraordinario para vivir, trabajar y disfrutar. Por encima de todo, la celebración trata de la unión: honrar a nuestros seres queridos, compartir cultura y fortalecer los lazos que nos convierten en una comunidad vibrante y acogedora.

Los programas se presentan en colaboración con la Fundación Summit, US Bank, el Gobierno del Condado de Summit y Breckenridge Grand Vacations, y se producen en asociación con el Chicano Heritage Arts Council y el Centro Cultural Mexicano.

“Creo que todos tenemos ancestros que han honrado esta tierra. Que la muerte es un viaje universal que todos emprendemos. Que en todas las culturas hay un ritual para honrar a nuestros ancestros. Dentro de nosotros está el conocimiento de nuestros ancestros.”

–Cal Duran

EXHIBITION

JUAN FUENTES: LO QUE LA TIERRA ABRAZA/ WHAT THE LAND EMBRACES

OCT 17 - JAN 4 • OLD MASONIC HALL

FRIDAY, OCT 17

Opening Night + Exhibition Reception

Old Masonic Hall

5pm • Doors open • DJ • Refreshments
6pm • Artist Talk
7:30pm • Candlelight Vigil + Aztec Dance with Grupo Huitzilopochtli

SATURDAY, OCT 18

ARTS DISTRICT CAMPUS + RIDGE STREET ARTS SQUARE • 12:30-5PM

12:30–1pm • Blue River Plaza: Grupo Huitzilopochtli Performance/Processional + Cal Duran Artist Talk
1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm • Randall Barn: Ojo De Dios • Register on-site at start time
1–5pm • Robert Whyte: Pan De Muerto Decorating • Drop in availability
1–5pm • Fuqua Livery Stable: Papel Picado Workshop • Drop in availability
2pm, 3:30pm • Old Masonic Hall: Photo Workshop with Exhibiting Artist Juan Fuentes • Register on-site at start time
2pm, 3pm, 4pm • Quandary: Muertos Mini Formas • Register on-site at start time

LATIN MARKET • RIVERWALK CENTER • 1-5pm

1–2:30pm • Sugar Skulls Decorating
1–5pm • Paper Flower Making
1–6pm • Facepainting
2:30pm • Dance Workshop with Grupo Huitzilopochtli
3:30pm • Dwende Flamenco and Tres Tumbao

LATIN DANCE NIGHT • RIVERWALK CENTER • 6-9:30PM

6-8:30pm • Food by La Perla
6:30pm • Performances with Grupo Huitzilopochtli, Summit Colombia Dance and Chihuahua-Honduras Folk Dance Group
8pm • DJ Erick

Artists + Performers

Grupo HuiTzilopOchTli

The Mexican Grupo Huitzilopochtli has been in the Denver area for 40 years and was formed under the direction of Capitan Raul Chavez a 5th generation danzante from Mazatlan Mexico.

The Aztec Dance Grupo Huitzilopochtli has created a special Aztec show, based on Aztec mythology, to celebrate Día de Muertos. The dancers perform the Battle Dance which features two Aztec warriors.  When one of the warriors perishes, his soul is greeted by another soul who leads him to his next life in the Aztec underworld of Mictlan, where the dead dwell. The sequence ends when the souls who reside in Mictlan perform the Día de Muertos Dance.

Dwende Flamenco

Dwende Flamenco offers a captivating blend of powerful dance and soulful Spanish music, striking the perfect balance between visual artistry and musical depth. With rhythmic footwork, expressive guitar, and

passionate performance, this one-of-a-kind act will mesmerize guests and transport them to the heart of southern Spain—an unforgettable highlight of the night, rich in culture and emotion.

Musical arrangement: guitar, cajon, flamenco dancer, vocals.

TRES TUMBAO

Cuban trio TRES TUMBAO brings a vibrant rhythm, infusing the atmosphere with infectious energy and charm. Showcasing a lively repertoire of popular Latin hits—ranging from boleros and son to timeless tropical classics—they’ll get guests moving and smiling, perfectly setting the tone for a night full of celebration and dancing.

Musical arrangement: guitar, congas, latin percussions, vocals.

Chihuahua-Honduras Folk Dance Group

Chihuahua-Honduras Folk Dance Group, dedicated to promoting cultural dance in our community. Our goal is to inspire and revive our culture through dance, fostering creativity and personal development, and celebrating cultural diversity through dance.

CAL DURAN

Cal Duran is a Queer, Two Spirit, Indigenous, mixed blood, Latine, Manito, Mestizo, Chicane, Indian artist and arts educator from Colorado. He has roots that bridge India, Mexico, and sovereign Indigenous nations and explores his hybrid identities through parallels found in myth, religion, and ritual. For Duran, art is a portal to his Indigenous ancestors—the artisans, craft-makers, star-makers and dream-weavers who paved the way.

Duran has exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the Denver Metro area and beyond. Recently, he created a room at Meow Wolf Denver, honoring his ancestors and the Indigenous tribes of Colorado and the Americas. Duran is currently working on installations for Día de Los Muertos at the Colorado History Museum, Denver Art Museum, and Denver Botanic Gardens.

Juan Fuentes

Juan Fuentes is a photo-based artist born in Chihuahua, México, and raised in the Northside neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. His kinship to the barrio is evident within his photography, installations, and community projects, which explore intimate stories of everyday life of immigrants and Chicanos in the U.S.

Fuentes has exhibited at various institutions and galleries including Denver Art Museum, History Colorado Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Museo de las Américas, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, RedLine Contemporary Art Center, etc. His photographs are also part of the permanent archives and collections at the University of Colorado Boulder, Regis University, Denver Art Museum, History Colorado Center, and the Abarca Family collection housed by the Latino Cultural Arts Center.

Primarily working with still images, his work also expands into installation, murals, books, film, and archives.