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Northwest Hispanic Families Prepare To Celebrate The Day Of The Dead

Aurora Peña-Torres stands in front of a sand carpet painting made to honor the dead at the Mighty Tieton art incubator. She's preparing for a Day of the Dead celebration Sunday.
Anna King
/
Northwest News Network
Aurora Peña-Torres stands in front of a sand carpet painting made to honor the dead at the Mighty Tieton art incubator. She's preparing for a Day of the Dead celebration Sunday.

For some, death isn’t spooky or scary like Halloween. Hispanic families across the Northwest are preparing to celebrate the Day of the Dead.

At the Mighty Tieton art incubator in Tieton, Washington, near Yakima, Aurora Peña-Torres is busy getting ready for groups of dancers, food vendors, bands and even horses. She hopes young Hispanic children growing up in the states will connect with their culture this weekend.

“[On Día de los Muertos we] talk about our loved ones and the stories of what they did, how much they love us,” Peña-Torres. “What did they bring to the family, with music and candles. It’s such a wonderful celebration of life by celebrating death.”

Last year around 600 people showed up for the vibrant celebration here. There will be altars for people to place pictures of their loved ones, a special sand carpet painting and a special musical art installation for people to check out.

The Mighty Tieton uses an old fruit cold storage warehouse as an art incubator for worldwide artists.

The annual Day of the Dead celebration is this Sunday from 12-5 p.m.

Copyright 2016 Northwest News Network

Anna King calls Richland, Washington home and loves unearthing great stories about people in the Northwest. She reports for the Northwest News Network from a studio at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. She covers the Mid-Columbia region, from nuclear reactors to Mexican rodeos.
Anna King
Anna King calls Richland, Washington home and loves unearthing great stories about people in the Northwest. She reports for the Northwest News Network from a studio at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. She covers the Mid-Columbia region, from nuclear reactors to Mexican rodeos.