Denver|Local Event
Denver Public Library hosts La Llorona Festival in tribute to Dia de Los Muertos
Event Details
The Denver Public Library's 5th annual La Llorona Festival will take place at the Hadley Branch Library (1890 S. Grove St., Denver, Co.) on Sat. Nov.1st from 2-4 pm in tribute to Dia de Los Muertos.
The free family-friendly event, sponsored by the Chicano Humanities Arts Council, MSU Denver Journey Through Our Heritage, and Colorado Folk Arts Council, features a mesmerizing array of storytellers who recount tales of the legendary Weeping Woman known as La Llorona.
Host Charlene Garcia Simms, a well-known Southwest genealogist, has brought together some of the state’s most well-known storytellers to explore the mysterious world of the woman behind the myth. “ We are doing this to highlight the extraordinary contributions of our cuentistas. Preserving these tales helps us honor an art form that adds a rich cultural presence to who we are as a people.” Said Garcia. “As we celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, these storytellers pass on our tradition of oral history and help ensure a way families can continue to cherish this art form for a lifetime.”
La Llorona Festival 2025 highlights some of the state’s most celebrated cuenteros. Featured storytellers include film maker/ flute player Amaurante Montez of Ancient Future Films, joined by Denver native, Karen Gonzales author of The Mystery of La Llorona and Mister Llorón and Kristopher Garcia-Simms ( writer/ filmmaker) and author of Red Moon Night: An Epistolary Telling of One Family’s Encounters with La Llorona: Adding to the impressive line-up is educator and renown storyteller Esther Acosta, Nadia Rendon (Denver Public Library Program Manager of Language Services), Sherry Coca Candelaria famous for her re-enactment of La Llorona & acting career at Su Teatro, and others..
Free and open to the public-Family Friendly