East Community Center came alive with color, music, and remembrance during this year’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration — a heartfelt collaboration with the Littleton Business Chamber (Latino Committee) and Latino clubs from Littleton Public Schools (LPS).
At the heart of the celebration stood the community ofrenda (altar), watched over by an impressive eight-foot Catrina inspired by Frida Kahlo. Families and visitors placed photos, flowers, and keepsakes to honor loved ones who have passed, while a nearby memory wall invited guests to share names and stories before making their way to the ofrenda. The result was a moving display of community connection and remembrance.
The event opened with a breathtaking performance by Danza Mexika, whose vibrant regalia and rhythmic drumming honored ancestral traditions and filled the center with energy and reverence. Following the dancers, the talented youth ensemble Corazón de Oro from the Colorado Youth Mariachi Program took the stage, filling the air with joyful melodies that had families singing and clapping along.
Guests also enjoyed professional face painting by Snappy Face Painting, where children and adults alike were transformed into colorful Calaveras and festive designs. Meanwhile, student-led arts and crafts stations offered hands-on opportunities to create and engage with a younger population.
No celebration would be complete without delicious traditional food. Cencalli Taqueria served warm bowls of pozole, Grande Station offered champurrado and mole, promotoras from Doctors Care and North Littleton Promise provided refreshing aguas frescas, and members of the Latino Business Committee shared homemade arroz con leche and pan dulce for dessert.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the volunteers who helped decorate the center and took on countless roles to ensure the event ran smoothly — the creativity and dedication made the day truly special. Special thanks to the Telluray Foundation, Littleton Business Chamber, Front Range Insurance, Blue Pebble Homes, NokBox, and the Binning Family Foundation for their support in making this community celebration possible.
The Día de los Muertos celebration was a true reflection of what makes East Community Center special — a place where culture, collaboration, and community come together to honor the past and celebrate the present.
