Take a drive to the tiny town of Tieton where a vibrant cultural tradition comes to life with a rich display of color, music, food and dance. Experience the traditions and significance of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and explore the quaint community of artists and makers in Tieton.
The Day of the Dead is all About Remembrance and Life
Unlike Halloween’s dark and spooky night of frights and mischief, Día de los Muertos celebrates the beauty of life in an explosion of color, love and remembrance. It originated thousands of years ago in Central America and has roots in both indigenous and Catholic traditions. At the center of the celebration is the importance of honoring and remembering the lives of loved ones who have passed, as opposed to mourning. Altars of remembrance, or ofrendas, are central to the celebration, lovingly created to honor loved ones and welcome their spirits back from eternal sleep to feast, drink and dance to music for just one night.
The three-tier altars are filled with offerings that reflect the life of the loved one, as well as traditional components representing the elements of water, fire (candles), wind (colorful paper banners) and earth (food, especially bread). You’ll also bright marigolds, beautifully made of paper, and colorfully decorated calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls). Sugar skulls are a common festive part of the celebration.
Join the Celebration
Today, Día de los Muertos has become a global event with its festivities, costumes, music, food and dance. Here in the Valley, you can experience the rich traditions at the annual Día de los Muertos Community Celebration, Altar and Exhibition in Tieton. Each year, Tieton Arts & Humanities and Mighty Tieton host the celebration and create a large community altar they welcome everyone to contribute to.
It all begins with an opening community celebration on Sunday, October 27, from 12 to 5 pm, with live performances, artists, a stunning gallery exhibit, music, arts and crafts activities, sugar skull decorating and a mercado featuring artisans and foods. The display includes a large memorial altar. Visitors can bring photos of loved ones, write messages, help decorate and bring candies or breads to make the altar a community celebration. The display also features exhibits about the sacred traditions, contemporary and traditional altars, sugar skull displays and a vibrant, traditional sandpainting by acclaimed Oaxacan artist Fulgencio. You can visit the gallery exhibit and alter on Fridays and Saturdays, November 1 to 16, from 12 to 5 pm or by appointment.
Explore the Town of Tieton
This small town just a short drive from Downtown Yakima, packs a lot into a few square blocks. While you’re there, tour the vibrant tile mosaic installations from Tieton Mosaic and check out the final day of The Art of Harvest at Boxx Gallery on October 27, an exhibit inspired by the fruits of the Yakima Valley’s agricultural roots. Another exceptional exhibit follows, beginning November 1. Gather over handcrafted coffee drinks and bites at North Town Coffee House. Savor traditional cultural flavors at local dining stops, make a reservation for farm-to-table dining at Nomad Kitchen, or raise a pint at one of the valley’s newest craft breweries, Shorthead Brewing. Take a look at more of the makers and top stops in Tieton.
Check out all the other things to do in the Yakima Valley when you visit.
Categorized in: Family Fun, History and Culture
