A Holiday Celebrated in Mexico

Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican/Mexican-American traditional holiday celebrated on the night of October 31st, and continuing through November 1^st and November 2nd in which families remember their loved ones who have passed on with an altar, food, music, and togetherness.

What does Día de los Muertos Look Like?

During these days in October & November, families will craft homemade offerings/altars or “Ofrendas” in which photos of deceased loved ones, delicious foods, belongings, and decorations are placed in memory of those loved and lost. The legend is that our loved ones who have passed return to these Ofrendas to celebrate life with the living.

Where Can I Celebrate?

Día de los Muertos is a wonderful time for you to craft a homemade altar of your own. However, if you would like to participate in a public version of an Ofrenda in the Bowling Green area, you are more than welcome to join in on our festivities.

Slideshow of Images from the 2023 & 2024 Installations of the KFP Community Ofrenda on WKU’s campus; photos taken by Camille Maria Acosta

All About the 2025 Kentucky Folklife Program Community Ofrenda

This year, the Kentucky Folklife Program will be hosting a Community Ofrenda from Wednesday, October 22nd through Saturday, November 1st, 2025 at the Kentucky Museum on Western Kentucky University’s Campus.

During the hours that the museum is open (9:00 am to 4:00 pm CST – Wednesdays through Saturdays) community members are invited to visit the Ofrenda and learn more about Día de los Muertos and how communities grieve.

The Ofrenda itself will contain items, photographs, and belongings of passed on family members and/or pets from Kentucky community members. As the month of October grows, so will our Community Ofrenda.

Would I Be Able to Loan an Item Commemorating a Family Member or Pet for the Ofrenda?

You can absolutely loan an Item for the KFP Community Ofrenda! In fact, we encourage you to do so. Here are some examples of items you can donate to the altar for the entirety of October:

• Photographs of family members and/or pets who have passed on (can be in any medium – framed, printed paper, etc.)
• Items that belonged to family members and/or pets who have passed on (favorite mug, bowtie, video game controller, necklace, stuffed plushies, etc.)
• Fake Food that reminds you of your deceased loved one (traditionally, real food is used to adorn the altars however, due to restrictions, we are only accepting fake food items such as toy food, or even fully cleaned food containers such as coffee cans or glass Coke bottles, etc.)
• Sugar Skulls or Calaveras
• Fake Flowers or Flower Petals
• Papel Picado

If you would like to loan an item for this Ofrenda, please email: camille.acosta@wku.edu

Thank you so much, and we hope to see you at the Kentucky Museum this October!