The streets of downtown Longmont were bustling Saturday with music, skulls and Mexican culture as the city held its annual Day of the Dead Festival.
The longest-running Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, celebration in Colorado is in its 24th year of bringing the Mexican holiday with face painting, local Latin cuisine, performances and remembrance of family members lost.
Nearly 6,000 people attend the free, one-day festival every year. The actual Mexican holiday falling on Nov. 1 and 2 — according to the Longmont Museum, who hosts the event.
“It’s just fun for the family. It’s just the community coming together to celebrate,” Alejandro Rodriguez, the event coordinator for the Longmont Museum said, as dancers donned sugar skull face paint and moved to traditional music behind him.
“Why is it the biggest Day of the Dead festival in the state? I really couldn’t tell you why Longmont. …