Three Columbus high school seniors are organizing a Día de los Muertos celebration set for Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus. The event, built around free children’s activities, live music and folkloric dance, doubles as a senior project for its young organizers.
Columbus Signature Academy New Tech students Nuvia Herrera, Abby Lopez and Michelle Vargas coordinated the celebration, with students enrolled in Spanish classes also pitching in, according to The Republic. The students are hoping to turn out a crowd that matches the scale of their ambitions. “This event started years ago when someone decided to do it as their senior project,” Lopez said. “This year, our goal is to make it big and hope a lot of our community goes.”
What's on the Schedule at The Commons
Entertainment will include free kids’ activities, live music by Catedral Nortena, and performances from singers Gabriela Velzez, Monste Valencia and Natalie Cantu, per the same report. Folkloric Ballet by Macehuani is also on the bill, and food will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
The celebration has drawn financial backing from six local organizations: First Financial Bank, Duke Energy, Toyota Material Handling, Heritage Fund, Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation and Future, the article notes.
A Festival With a Rocky Recent History
The Día de los Muertos festival hasn't always run smoothly. The event went on hold for a few years because of the pandemic and because of costs, according to earlier reporting from The Republic. That same coverage described last year's festival as its eighth, and noted that the celebration has featured ofrendas, dance, music and student poems in past years.
Wednesday's lineup follows that same pattern of blending cultural tradition with student involvement, though this year's organizers are leaning on the senior-project structure to carry the torch forward. Lopez's comments suggest the students see this year as a chance to rebuild momentum after the celebration's interrupted stretch.
Other Local Observances This Season
A Green Lawn Cemetery Day of the Dead celebration features displays, cultural performers, vendors, food and music, according to Columbus on the Cheap.
