WHAT: Día de los Muertos: NoCo Tour (Self Guided)

WHERE: Greeley, Sterling, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont Creative Districts

WHEN: On display Oct. 15-Nov. 22 (Various finish dates may apply)

COST: FREE , self guided, some locations require reservations

Recorrido del Día de los Muertos del Norte de Colorado (En Español)

Denver Botanic Gardens’ annual celebration of Día de los Muertos extends to the Northern Colorado Creative Districts this year, which will welcome several large colorful nichos created by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero. This marks a continuation of the Nichos Art Exchange Project, a community art initiative in partnership with Northern Colorado Creative Districts. The nichos – which served as the centerpiece for the 2016 Days of the Dead exhibition at Denver Botanic Gardens – will be decorated by Creative District committee members, community members, and local artists in each city.

Visitors and citizens are encouraged to celebrate Día de los Muertos with this self-guided tour through Northern Colorado Creative Districts. Experience these colorful community altars to celebrate Día de los Muertos in an easy regional driving tour created to stitch together the creative communities of the region.  Each community has several nichos as part of their communities Day of the Dead celebrations, they are located in various accessible locations including museums, libraries and community centers.  Seeing the nichos along this tour is a great socially distanced and accessible activity for families, visitors and citizens who wish to learn more about the holiday and share in the celebration and remembering of those we have lost.  

LOCATIONS:

FORT COLLINS

Thanks to our Fort Collins partner: Poudre River Public Library. See all the additional activities and events in Fort Collins to celebrate the Día de los Muertos holiday. CLICK HERE

GREELEY

LONGMONT

LOVELAND 

  • Loveland Public Library– 300 N Adams Ave, Loveland, CO 80537 (Created by Latinos Unified in Community Students, viewing  Monday-Thurs 10am-6pm; Fri-Sat 10am-5pm and Closed Sundays) – (970) 962-2665
  • Loveland Museum– 503 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO 80537 (Created by Heart and Sol, Advanced tickets required. Reserve tickets online at https://www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/ or call (970) 962-2410.)

STERLING

  • ES French Hall Atrium, Northeastern Jr. College 100 College Avenue, Sterling, CO  80751 (Viewing Mon-Thurs  8 a.m.- 9 p.m., Friday  8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Created by: The Holguin family and the NJC students and community) information at (970)571-7179 or sterlingcreativedistrict@gmail.com

We invite you to participate in Día de los Muertos and explore our Northern Colorado Creative Districts through a self-guided tour of our NoCo nichos! Use the map HERE to plot your route. Take time to observe how each community has decorated their altars, and reflect on how you can remember and celebrate your loved ones.

DAY OF THE DEAD

Every year, on November 1 and 2, people across Latin America and the United States commune with their deceased loved ones during Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. At the heart of the celebration is the altar—a multi-tiered, ritual platform where offerings, or ofrendas, for the dead are placed.  

To welcome their loved ones, families gather to make ofrendas using elements that hold symbolic meaning. Each ofrenda is unique and personal, allowing each person to celebrate in the manner most meaningful to them. Traditional elements often include candles and flowers, while more personal elements may include photos and favorite foods of those who have passed. 

NICHOS and OFRENDAS

Today, another element of Day of the Dead are nichos, hand-made tin boxes constructed to display lovingly crafted scenarios. Traditionally, nichos are a component of an altar. An altar may have several nichos displayed in it, and those nichos may contain a variety of ofrendas to honor a loved one.

As we work through the unique challenges of COVID-19, nichos are being used in a slightly different context – as a means to provide space for altar displays and ofrendas in a way that allows us to celebrate the beauty of the holiday in a socially distanced and safe way.

These nichos and altars were filled by the Northern Colorado Creative Districts, their community partners and citizens of each city. As you view the community nichos, you may recognize elements that hold traditional symbolic meaning. Other elements are unique and particular to the loved ones(s) being remembered. 

Artist Armando Silva explores the meaning of the nicho – (video produced at the Ceasar Chavez Cultural Center by the Greeley Creative District)


You can learn more about each Northern Colorado Creative District below:

The Northern Colorado Nichos Art Exchange Project is presented in partnership with the Denver Botanic Gardens and these creative districts:


The Fort Collins Nichos Art Exchange Project participation is made possible through funding from: