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Altars for Dead, Poems
for Living Needed for Competition Nov. 1 and 2
Organizers
of Clark County’s Life in Death Festival are seeking contestants for
the Ofrendas and Calaveras competitions during the
annual festival, created to honor El Dia de los Muertos,
or “Day of the Dead,” in Mexican culture. The
festival is set for 5 to 9 p.m.
Nov. 1 and 2 at the Winchester Cultural Center and Park,
3130 S. McLeod Drive.
Traditionally,
Ofrendas, or "offerings," consist of altars
erected by friends and family to honor those who have
died. For the Life in Death Festival, organizations,
businesses and families are encouraged to create an
ofrenda reflecting their group or culture. The altars,
which are not to exceed 16 feet high or 16 feet wide,
will be located in the park and can be decorated with
food, drinks and items, except weapons, cherished by the
deceased. During the festival, a group representative
must be present at the altar to answer questions and
safeguard the ofrenda.
Space
reservations end after Oct. 15. The winners will be
awarded $500 for first place, $300 for second place and
$100 for third place.
Emerging
and amateur and professional writers and satirists are
encouraged to participate in the Calaveras,
or "skulls," verse-writing competition. The
witty epitaphs written for living friends, family
members and celebrities are created and delivered with
humor. The calaveras must be a minimum of four lines and
a maximum of 40 lines in either English or Spanish.
Deadline for calaveras entries is Oct. 12.
Calaveras
winners will receive $100 for first place, $75 for
second place and $50 for third place. The writer's name
and address should be included with the verses and
mailed to the Winchester Cultural Center at 3130 S. McLeod Drive,
Las Vegas, NV, 89121.
In
addition to the contests, the festival offers indoor and
outdoor performances, workshops in crafting a sugar
skull, a craft area for children and an art exhibit.
This is a free event, with minimal charges for some
attractions.
Those
interested in reserving space or additional information
on the festival can call Irma Wynants at 455-7029.
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