Tens of 1000’s of persons are anticipated to converge on the West Aspect of city this weekend to participate in a beloved Tucson custom — the annual All Souls Procession.

The occasion began in 1990 as a
single efficiency piece by native artist Susan Johnson who was grieving
the passing of her father. Impressed by Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos
vacation, Johnson felt she ought to honor her father with creativity and
celebration. Over time it has developed right into a group celebration
in honor of departed family members. This occasion marks the thirty third yr of the procession.

En español: Todas las Almas caminarán por Tucson este fin de semana

There might be a collection of occasions from Friday night by way of Sunday night time hosted by Many Mouths One Abdomen, the non-profit arts collective that organizes the festivities.

Photographer
Kathleen Dreier has been concerned with the All Souls Procession since
2010 as a part of the media circle and have become the media director
two years in the past.

“This is among the largest gatherings within the
nation, if not the world, the place folks from all walks of life come
collectively to honor the family members who’ve handed,” Dreier mentioned. “Individuals
do come from everywhere in the world for the procession.”

She mentioned it’s an
alternative for folks to return collectively to mourn, honor and have a good time
family members, whether or not they’re relations, companions, or cherished pets.

“I noticed
somebody one yr with an indication that mentioned ‘lack of democracy’,” Dreier
mentioned. “It actually is a chance for folks to let go of issues as
effectively.”

In 2020, the procession did not happen as ordinary. The ceremony was livestreamed and befell in a managed area with nobody however performers and crew in attendance. She mentioned the 2021 procession was a smaller model
however nonetheless “beautiful and delicate and really valuable.” This yr, they’re
again in full drive.

There might be three nights of the Dance of the
Lifeless, which is a live performance collection that takes place on the MSA Annex within the Mercado San Augustin District. MarchFourth will carry out on Friday alongside Arts
Caravan and KULULULU – plus different friends are nonetheless to be introduced.
MarchFourth is a band that focuses on feels like jazz, funk and rock.
But it surely will not simply be musicians on the stage. A part of their act contains
dancers and acrobats. The live performance will start at 6 p.m.

The
second night time kicks off at 5p.m. with the Cacao Ceremony and an Ancestral
Liberation Ceremony. After that, attendees can get pleasure from distributors, native artwork
and yoga. The live performance will characteristic Shylah Ray Sunshine, an Algonquin
vocalist from Canada. Her fashion is R&B and neo-soul, filled with power
and energy. Poranguí, an improvisational reside looping artist, will even
be a part of the live performance. He blends cultural influences from Mexico, the United
States and Brazil.

The ultimate night time of Dance of the Lifeless will
start at 8 p.m. Santa Pachita will carry out dance music
with kinds like cumbia and salsa. Casa de los Muertos DJ’s could have a float at the back of the procession and head into the MSA Annex
on the finish to proceed the occasion.

On Saturday, the Procession of the
Little Angels will return to Armory Park. The family-friendly occasion is
designed to mirror the way in which youngsters grieve and keep in mind the
useless.

The children that attend can get pleasure from circus acts, theater, and
adorning their very own sugar skulls. The Purple Herring Puppet Firm will
be by the mask-making tables. Tales that Soar is a session throughout the
occasion the place there might be “performances of tales about dying and grief
collected from Tucson college youngsters and informed in their very own phrases.”

The
households attending are invited to hitch the sundown procession, which
might be accompanied by the St. Philips Compline Refrain.

The All Souls
Procession and Ceremony takes place on Sunday night. The procession will start to stroll at 6 p.m. The route begins simply on Grande Avenue simply south of Speedway Boulevard, turns left on to St. Mary’s Highway, then proper onto Bonita Avenue. Pedestrians will have the ability to take the Riverwalk route by exiting left from Bonita Avenue earlier than Congress Road. Floats and different who do not need to deal with the steps at Cushing Road will need to proceed on Bonita Avenue to Congress avenue to entry the finale web site between the Mercado San Augustin and the Santa Cruz River. Members will arrive on the Mercado District between 7 p.m.
and seven:30 p.m.

The Domo is part of the ceremony the place folks can
stroll throughout the stage and showcase their costumes. Dreier mentioned the theme
for this yr’s procession is “A Sandstorm is a Seedstorm.” The
sentiment is that cycles of dying and life are as previous as time, and that
there’s a robust relation between destruction and regeneration. Every
sandstorm will unfold seeds.

The finale will embrace music, acrobats, and fireplace dancers as a part of a celebration of
life. On the finish, Dreier
mentioned folks’s prayers and mementos might be positioned within the urn and set on
fireplace to ship them to the heavens.