The Missoula Festival of the Dead made a comeback this year after being canceled because of cultural insensitivity around the celebration. This year it was brought back for its 31st annual celebration.
The celebration aimed to inform festival goers of the traditions of Dia de los Muertos. For the first time ever the event had an altar, where anybody was allowed to place a picture or memento of a passed loved one. They also had a food stand serving traditional foods.
The procession started at the X’s downtown and included the UM Band and the SnYelMn Salish drum group. The parade ended at Caras Park with a few more songs from the UM band and another community altar where you could add pictures and notes to passed loved ones.
This year they had a Guatemalan guest speaker that gave a presentation about the history and culture of Dia de los Muertos. They also had a cultural exhibit showcasing art as well as traditional foods being sold.
The 31st annual Missoula Festival of the Dead brought back the long held tradition in a respectful and culturally honoring service. Bringing guest speakers and educating Missoulians about the tradition of Dia de los Muertos helped move the festival forward, away from cultural appropriation and towards cultural appreciation.
The festival and procession have been a long standing Missoula event, now it has become an exciting experience for the community to grow and learn more about the traditions behind Dia de los Muertos.
