About DODFest
"The day the dead return is not a day of mourning — it is a day of joyful reunion."
About ACLA
Founded in 2022, the Amarillo Council for the Latino Arts (ACLA) was created to empower Hispanic artists, expand access to the arts, and celebrate cultural expression across the Texas Panhandle. Our mission is to support local artists and emerging creatives while creating opportunities for the next generation pursuing careers in the visual, performing, and cultural arts.
Through public events, exhibitions, scholarships, and community partnerships, ACLA continues to strengthen Amarillo's creative economy while building spaces where culture, identity, and community come together.
Today, ACLA's initiatives attract audiences and artists from across the Texas Panhandle, Eastern New Mexico, Western Oklahoma, and beyond. In just a few years, ACLA has become a driving force for cultural arts in the region.
Cultural Authenticity
We work with community elders and cultural leaders to ensure our celebration honors authentic Día de Muertos traditions.
Community First
Local artists, vendors, and families are the heart of DODFest. In 2025, we featured 256 local artists across multiple disciplines.
Education & Access
Every aspect of the festival creates opportunities to share the history and meaning of Día de Muertos. ACLA is a registered 501(c)(3).
A Festival on the Rise
Attendance growth since 2023
Attendees in 2025
Local artists featured
Digital impressions
What began as a community vision in the Texas Panhandle has grown into one of the region's most impactful cultural celebrations — drawing attendees from across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, California, Florida, and beyond.
The Día de Muertos Tradition
Día de Muertos is a Mexican holiday observed on November 1–2, with roots in both pre-Columbian Aztec tradition and the Catholic observances of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
Far from being a morbid holiday, it is a vibrant, joyful celebration. Families believe that on these days, the souls of their deceased loved ones are able to return to the living world to visit, be nourished, and be remembered.
The iconic La Catrina figure — the skeletal Elegant Lady — was created by artist José Guadalupe Posada and popularized by muralist Diego Rivera. She has become the symbol of the holiday's spirit: that death comes for all of us, and should be embraced with elegance and humor.
Ofrendas (altars) are built in homes and cemeteries, adorned with marigold flowers, photographs, favorite foods, and objects meaningful to the deceased.
Festival Leadership
Join the Celebration
Whether you're honoring your own ancestors or discovering this beautiful tradition for the first time, DODFest welcomes you to Amarillo on Oct 24, 2026.