Eagle County Coalition Unites for Vibrant Day of the Dead

Aspen —The air in the Eagle County Fairgrounds on the first Sunday of November didn’t smell like autumn decay. It smelled like roasted chilies, warm corn masa, and the thick, bitter sweetness of hot chocolate. The ground was packed with people, a sea of colorful rebozos and denim jackets, all moving toward the same thing: a long, winding line for pozole. If you’ve ever wondered how a small, non-profit coalition manages to pull off an event that feels like it belongs in a major city, this was the answer. It wasn’t just money; it was muscle memory.

Kelly Jimenez, the Hispanic community coordinator for Speak Out Reach Out, explained that the effort started four years ago when every organization was running its own separate event. "We wanted to collaborate as a team so there wouldn't be different events," she said, noting that the following year they joined forces to create a single, unified experience. "We wanted to create an event that was special for Latinos."

That collaboration brought together Mountain Youth, Reconnected, Mountain Pride, Youth Power, and My Future Pathways. The result was a program that shifted slightly each year to keep the energy fresh. This year, the stage belonged to traditional Mexican music and the ballet folclórico ‘México en la Piel.’

Alma Escalante, the artistic director of the group from Aurora, noted that her six invited dancers were part of a larger troupe of 28 members who travel far to share their talent. The group had just finished a performance in Denver and was headed to Boulder the next day, but they made time for Eagle County. On the fairgrounds floor, their costumes — vibrant, hand-embroidered, and heavy with history — caught the late afternoon light. They performed pieces representing Jalisco, Nuevo León, Chiapas, and the "Iguana" dance from Guerrero. You could feel the rhythm in your chest before you heard the castañets click.

Sponsorship made the scale possible. CORE Transit provided items for the altar, while Vail Health and MTech Mechanical served as primary sponsors. But it was Food Truck La Diosa that kept the crowd fed, offering a discount to the non-profit. The pozole was rich and hot, served alongside traditional aguas frescas. And then there was the pan de muerto.

If you look closely at the bread, you see why it’s more than just a dessert. The circular shape represents the cycle of life and death, a symbolism that has remained intact since pre-Hispanic times. There is no single recipe for it, but the form is universal. It sits on paper plates in hands that are cold from the November wind, a small, warm anchor in the afternoon.

The event also featured La Catrina, that elegant traditional figure who symbolizes death and social strata. Her presence is a reminder that in the face of mortality, we are all equal. It’s a concept that feels heavy in theory but light in practice when you’re standing in line with your neighbors, sharing a cup of chocolate and watching dancers spin across the fairgrounds.

The Vail Daily reported on the event, capturing the community’s effort to preserve culture in a region that often feels transient. The fairgrounds, usually reserved for county fairs and agricultural displays, transformed into a space of heritage. The noise was a mix of Spanish and English, laughter, and the clatter of plates.

As the sun dropped behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the dirt and gravel, the last of the attendees lingered. The smell of chocolate hung in the air, mixing with the crisp mountain breeze. It wasn’t just a party; it was a declaration that this community belongs here, rooted in history and sustained by the simple, shared act of breaking bread.