Saturday & Sunday, November 1 and 2
Life in Death Festival: Day of the Dead in Las Vegas
Winchester Cultural Center and Park
For more information call Irma Wynants at 455-7340.
5– 9 p.m. • Free
Clark County Parks and Recreation will present Life in Death: The Day of the Dead in Las Vegas, a two-day festival featuring displays, an art exhibit, performances, craft sales and food vendors at Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S McLeod, on November 1 and 2 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The event will explore cultural traditions relating to the Mexican holiday of El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead.) The festival will feature many ofrendas, altars built by families and other groups in memory of deceased relatives or other beloved individuals. The ofrendas are elaborate works of art, detailed and sometimes huge. They will be displayed outdoors in Winchester Park, and prizes of $500, for the most traditional, best them and most creative ofrenda will be awarded.
Performances in the park each day will feature Mexican dance troupes and readings of calaveras (skulls), which are satirical poems, usually humorous, written to commemorate people who are still alive. They treat the menace of death with good-natured humor and offer a chance to poke fun at prominent people. Judges will award calavera prizes of $150, $100 and $75.
Authentic Mexican crafts will be offered for sale and a variety of food vendors will be available, and there will be free samples of the special Day of the Dead bread which is made only once a year, as well demonstrations of traditional embroidery. Children's activities and workshops on basquet making,sugarand clay skulls decorating will also be offered free of charge.
The gallery will feature an exhibition of various artis. The exhibit opens on October 29 and will be on display through November 21.
Traditional Mexican folkloric dance performances by well-known local groups Ballet Mexicano de Martha Luevanos, Viejitos de Uren, Matachines of Zacatecas and Juarez, Purepecha Song and Dance by Huares de Aranza, Grupo Folklorico Perla Tapatia, Mexico Vivo, Izel and Xyachimal will be held in the park both days. Two popular local bands Mariachi Nayarit and Mariachi Colima will perform at the beginning of each day.
For more information call Irma Wynants at 455-7340.
MOVIES being shown at the festival
Food for the Ancestors (Documentary) is a culinary-history exploration of Days of the Dead, Mexican traditions and ancient ways of life that still exist there. All of these seen through Mexican cuisine. The program is set in the state of Puebla because it is also a place where the contrasts between new and old are vividly seen. Puebla, also, might be Mexico's greatest culinary state, for it was here that the greatest of all Mexican dishes was born, mole poblano. It's also a place where some of the most ancient prehispanic foods are still eaten --- insects such as the much beloved chapulines (grasshoppers). Showing November 1 &2 at 3 pm Free
MACARIO (Movie)
Macario is a 1960 Mexican film directed by Roberto Gavaldón and starring Ignacio López Tarso. It was the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in a Foreign Language. The film is adapted from the novel The Third Guest by B. Traven,
Poor, hungry peasant Macario longs for just one good meal on the Day of the Dead. After his wife cooks a turkey for him, he meets three apparitions, the Devil, God, and Death. Each asks him to share his turkey, but he refuses all except Death. In return, Death gives him a bottle of water which will heal any illness. Soon, Macario is more wealthy than the village doctor, which draws the attention of the feared Inquisition. Showing November 1&2 at 5 pm Free