CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne came alive today with vibrant Día de los Muertos celebrations, as community spaces like the Laramie County Library, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and the Wyoming State Museum hosted events honoring the Mexican and Latino tradition. Across the city, residents joined in to commemorate loved ones who have passed, showcasing a rich blend of art, music and culture.
According to the Laramie County Library website, Día de los Muertos is not Halloween; it is a sacred holiday celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 across Latin America and beyond. This year, the library’s event featured folkloric dancers, tissue paper flower crafting and Lotería, all dedicated to creating a joyful atmosphere of remembrance.
The library also displayed ofrendas, or altars, created by staff, offering visitors a glimpse into personal tributes made to honor the dead.
“We are helping to celebrate this holiday with our Mexican and Latino community. We have always wanted to participate but not compete; now we can participate as a part of the festivities without competing with them,” Abby Rowswell, youth services events librarian, said.
At the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, visitors encountered towering La Calavera Catrina statues throughout the gardens and enjoyed traditional Mexican treats from local vendors like Queso’s Kitchen. Children engaged in marigold art projects and painted terra-cotta pots in the Paul Smith Children’s Village, adding their own touches to the festivities.
“We love the flowers, and we try to outdo ourselves each year with the displays,” Scott Aker, director of the Botanic Gardens, shared. “This is definitely the most fun event we do here.”
Throughout the morning, performances added energy and movement to the celebration. Como La Flor dance group performed at 10:30 a.m., followed by Las Angelitas Unidas y Los Rayos del Sol at 2 p.m., bringing traditional dances to life and immersing spectators in the cultural legacy of Día de los Muertos.
The Wyoming State Museum also joined the celebration, beginning with an early ofrenda de danza (dance offering) at 9:30 a.m. and a Capitol City Car Club cruise. Families gathered to make paper cup lanterns and colorful papel picado to take home as decorations for their own altars.
The museum also taught children how to decorate sugar skulls, or “calaveras,” a staple of Día de los Muertos celebrations, along with explaining the role of the monarch butterfly migration in Mexican beliefs. Performances from Las Angelitas Unidas y Los Rayos del Sol and El Grupo Como la Flor throughout the day brought history to life, adding depth to the festivities with traditional music and dance.
In a shared tradition rooted in both Indigenous and Spanish customs, Día de los Muertos combines the reverence of Catholic rituals with an honoring of life and death. According to the National Museum of the American Latino, while the holiday is particularly significant for Mexico and Central America, its popularity among Latinos in the United States has grown, reflecting the evolving landscape of cultural celebration.
With events spanning the library, the Botanic Gardens and the Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne’s Día de los Muertos festivities offered residents a meaningful, hands-on experience with this ancient and enduring tradition. Community members embraced the day to honor their loved ones, connect with one another and share the beauty of the holiday’s unique cultural heritage.
The day’s events, from crafting and dance to flavorful treats, highlighted both remembrance and joy, creating an immersive celebration that continues to grow in Cheyenne each year.
