Tlaquepaque will be holding its 12th annual Día de los Muertos celebration from Saturday, Oct. 28, through Wednesday, Nov. 1, which will give attendees greater flexibility to see returning favorites, such as the Marigold Mural Project. Live entertainment will be offered only on Saturday.

“We’re encouraging folks who don’t want to deal with traffic, who don’t want to deal with big crowds, who want to enjoy, take their time [and] walk around and look at things without insanity, without mayhem. That’s why we’ve extended it for five days,” general manager Wendy Lippman said.

“Known also as ‘Old Souls Day’ in Mexico, Día de los Muertos is a millennial-old holiday to celebrate lost loved ones,” the press release for the event stated. “Originally based on the beliefs of the ancient Aztecs, this joyful celebration continues around the world. Our new format includes exquisitely-curated, color-filled altars and large-scale installations on display throughout Tlaquepaque.

“Come to see Tlaquepaque’s streets, patios and fountains magically transformed.”

Building altars in remembrance of the dead is a major component of Día de Muertos. “Altares de ofrendas” are associated with the Nahua, Totonac and Zapotec peoples, each of whom have their own type of altars and related customs.

“On the altars, you’ll find the photos of those that have passed,” Lippman said. “Then, oftentimes, we do all the elements of the altars that are traditional. That would be like the marigold butterfly [that] signals and helps the spirit, the soul, find its way back over from where they are to come back to visit us. The water is so that they can clean and be themselves when they get here. Oftentimes, we leave out their favorite foods so they can get nourishment and satiation.”

Attendees are encouraged to leave their own offerings to their deceased loved ones at the altars. The returning Marigold Mural Project with artist Lovejoy will give visitors an opportunity to paint a message on a 26-foot-long altar to the departed daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“She’ll be manning the mural, and she’ll create a template,” Lippman said. “Then people can come and paint anywhere on that mural wherever they want. It’s another way of expressing yourself. Lovejoy’s there, she mans it, she’ll have all the paints and brushes. We always put up panels from the past four [years]. So if you painted two years ago, you can go find it. Or you can walk through it and enjoy it because it’s amazing that by the end of [the event], it will be full. I never think it’s going to get done. But it always does and it’s always amazing.”

Tlaquepaque will also host two small markets on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring Arizona-based artists in Day of the Dead costumes. Calle Independencia will host surrealist painter Emma Gardner, multi-media artist Elizabeth Gerstner and pastel artist Joanna Agostinelli.

El Picaflor will feature Day of the Dead products from the Andes, alongwith Wellzona CBD, the Marigold Mural Project and face painting.

A dozen different themed altars will be set up throughout the grounds. Their themes will range from a pink mermaid by Oak Creek Brewery and a huge installation of Frida Kahlo to a “seven-foot spirit animal” and a larger-than-life skull coming out of the ground. The altar locations will be mapped on Tlaquepaque’s website and a QR code to the map will be posted on the grounds during the event as well.

Lippman stressed that people should plan ahead if they are attending due to parking issues. They will have a free trolley running from the Uptown parking lot at 260 Schnebly Road to Tlaquepaque from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

\“I love the altars and creating the themes for the altars, because it is very time-consuming, and it is a collaborative effort with a small team,” Lippman said. “Mountain High Florist is the florist we work with, so it’s not just candles, water and things like that. We put a lot into it with the florals and using all kinds of different materials. They are true works of art and quite spectacular. It’s a cultural event, it’s an educational event. It’s fun. It’s very positive and it’s colorful, and people have a good time and like to be a part of it.”

Saturday, Oct. 28 Music Schedule

Chapel

• David Mills, guitarist, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Eric Miller, guitarist, 3 to 5 p.m.

Patio del Norte

• Gypsi Kahuna, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Danza Azteca Callpulli Tonantzin, 2 to 3 p.m.

• Urban Electra, electric string trio, 3 to 5 p.m.

Patio de las Campanas

• Gaetano, flamenco guitarist, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Ritmo Latino band, 3 to 5 p.m.

• Free sugar skull decorating, 1 to 4 p.m.

Patio de las Rosas

• Foxy Kashska, guitarist duo, 2 to 4 p.m.

Tlaquepaque North

• Saith, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Ballet De Colores Folklorico, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.