Clark County announces annual ‘Life in Death: Day of the Dead’ festival

Clark County Parks and Recreation announced the return of its annual “Life in Death: Day of the Dead Festival,” inviting residents to gather at the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center and Park on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 to honor deceased loved ones and celebrate Mexican cultural heritage.

The two-day, family-friendly event was scheduled to run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly at 3130 McLeod Drive. County officials announced that admission and parking would be free and open to the public, though organizers strongly encouraged attendees to use ride-sharing services due to limited on-site parking capacity.

Organizers designed the festival to offer an immersive exploration of Día de los Muertos traditions across the park grounds and community facilities. Outdoors, the event featured community ofrendas, or altars, decorated by local families, civic groups and artists competing for festival recognition.

Within the ofrenda area, officials arranged for an interactive public art installation titled “Forever in Our Hearts,” created by Las Vegas artist Stefano Kajatt, also known as Aplete, under One Sky Ally LLC. Inspired by collective memorial structures at Burning Man, the temporary installation was designed to let visitors scan a mobile QR code, upload personal photographs and project real-time visual tributes onto a heart sculpture accompanied by synchronized lighting and music to memorialize loved ones and companion animals.

Inside the center’s gallery, the event showcased the juried “Life in Death Exhibit 2026,” curated by Las Vegas artist Jamie Zepeda, whose own artwork blends Mexican folk art with Western influences. The exhibition featured original works centered on remembrance and heritage created by dozens of artists, alongside supplementary artwork in the Hall Gallery scheduled to remain on display through Nov. 19. Clark County Public Arts also scheduled an exhibition reception for Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:05 p.m. on the outdoor stage.

Main-stage entertainment planned across both evenings included live performances by traditional Mexican dance troupes, mariachi groups and theatrical performers. The program also included traditional calavera readings, featuring satirical poems written to fondly celebrate both the living and the dead. In addition to performances, the grounds were set to host an artisan craft market, regional food sales, face painting and interactive art workshops for families.

County administrators directed residents seeking information on altar registration and event schedules to contact Clark County Parks and Recreation at 702-455-7340 or visit the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center website. Inquiries regarding county public art programs were directed to the Clark County Public Arts Office at 702-455-8685 or by email at [email protected].