Central Avenue came alive with a vibrant celebration of Mexican heritage on Saturday, with its annual Dia de Muertos festival. The event, organized by the Central Avenue Betterment Association (CABA), drew thousands to celebrate the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday focused on honoring departed loved ones.

The day-long celebration featured an extensive program that began at 11:00 a.m. with face painting and continued through 9:00 p.m. with food vendors, art displays, traditional ofrendas (altars), and a classic car show.

The highlight of the evening was the nighttime parade, which featured more than 30 floats, fire dancers, Catrinas (elegantly dressed skeleton figures), and performers dancing along Central Avenue from 6th Street to 15th Street.

Throughout the day, volunteers painted the faces of hundreds of attendees with colorful calavera (skull) designs, while local vendors and restaurants offered traditional Mexican cuisine. Live entertainment ran from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. across four stages, featuring a diverse lineup of local talent.

The musical roster included performances by Vik Moral, Alvaro Villalpando, Eli Lugo, Pedro Chavira, Nena Zavala, Omar Cano, and Guadalupe Torres. The celebration also featured Mariachi Los Reales de Kansas City, a prominent local mariachi ensemble that regularly performs at major Kansas City cultural events including the Crossroads Music Fest and Fiesta Hispana.

CABA, a nonprofit community development association, serves the Central Avenue commercial corridor. Edgar Galicia, Executive Director of CABA, noted the growing enthusiasm for the event, stating that volunteers were “very excited and ready to celebrate in a phenomenal way” with many new participants joining this year’s festivities.