Día de los Muertos Celebration & Concert
Friday, October 23, 2026 | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
James E. & Beverly Rogers Student Center
Outdoors on the Plaza & Ballroom
Admission: Free for all ages
Registration: Registration is highly encouraged
Event Location: The event will be held on the Plaza in front of the Rogers Student Center (RSC). All guests are asked to please check in at the check-in tent near the scorpion statue upon arrival.
RSVP
We look forward to celebrating with you at this year’s Día de los Muertos Celebration & Concert.
Event Details
Nevada State University and the City of Henderson have partnered for a vibrant and heartfelt Día de los Muertos Celebration and Concert. This tradition, rooted in Latin American cultures, honors the lives of those who have passed while embracing the joy, color, and music that remind us life is to be celebrated.
The evening will feature stunning altars (ofrendas), artwork, traditional dance, and a special concert performance by Las Cafeteras. Tickets are not required for guest admission, but registration is highly encouraged.
The RSC Plaza is an outdoor space with limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s ample standing room, but keep in mind the surface is concrete, so you might want to dress comfortably.
Know Before You Go: Costume masks that cover the entire face are prohibited for adults 18+.
You can always get the most up-to-date information on this page; check back regularly for more updates.
Featuring
Las Cafeteras
Mariachi Plata
Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco
Peso Neto
Luis Valera-Rico
Ashley Vargas
Las Cafeteras
Las Cafeteras have taken the music scene by storm with their infectious live performances and have crossed many genres and borders along the way. Their electric sound & energy have taken them around the world playing shows from Bonnaroo to the Hollywood Bowl, WOMAD New Zealand to Montreal Jazz and beyond! Born and raised East of the Los Angeles River, Las Cafeteras are remixing roots music as modern-day troubadours. They are a sonic explosion of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes that document stories of a community seeking to ‘build a world where many worlds fit.’
Las Cafeteras honor the past by using electrifying traditional instrumentation like the 8-string Jarana, 4-string Requinto, Quijada (donkey jawbone) and Tarima (a wooden platform). Las Cafeteras sing in 5 distinct languages: English, Spanish, Spanglish, Love and Justice…and they believe everyone understands at least one of those languages. They have performed in the good company of Mexican icons Café Tacuba, Natalia LaFourcade, Lila Downs, Gypsy Kings, Colombian superstar Juanes, Hip-Hop artist Common, Los Angeles legends Ozomatli and Los Lobos, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and many more.
This project is supported in part by Creative West which receives support in part from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Mariachi Plata
Mariachi Plata is the premier collegiate mariachi ensemble in the United States, proudly representing the College of Southern Nevada (CSN). Composed of talented student musicians from CSN’s mariachi program and fine arts music curriculum, the group has earned national recognition for its excellence and dedication to tradition.
Mariachi Plata strives to set the standard for collegiate mariachi, inspiring and leading the Las Vegas mariachi community. Their musicianship, passion, and achievements make them role models for aspiring mariachi students, embodying CSN’s mission to empower students and communities to achieve, succeed, and prosper.
Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco
Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco is a Las Vegas-based organization that focuses on the education and preservation of Mexican culture and tradition through folk dance. Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco was established in 2012 as an expansion group to Ballet Folklórico Sol de Rancho. As dancers began to graduate, they realized they were more like a family than a class and wanted to remain together, sparking the idea to create a new community group in Las Vegas. With the love of dance, the determination to provide an avenue for recent graduates to continue dancing, and the dedication to our art, the members of Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of our lives.
Peso Neto by Luis Valera-Rico
Peso Neto by Luis Valera-Rico is reminiscent of an ofrenda or altar utilized during Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The large-scale steel sculpture pays homage to Mexico’s rich heritage and is a celebration of Mexican-indigenous and Spanish colonial architecture.
This public art exhibition is a collaboration between the City of Henderson and Nevada State University’s Office for the Arts and Thalia Dondero Gallery.
Peso Neto is on view from dawn to dusk in the Plaza at Nevada State University from September 22, 2026 – October 23, 2026. Keep yourselves and the sculpture safe. Please do not climb.
Sculpture Location: Peso Neto is on view on the Plaza in front of the Rogers Student Center (RSC).
Ashley Vargas, Clark County Poet Laureate
Ashley “Ms. AyeVee” Vargas is an award-winning Afro-latina Literary Artist from Las Vegas & the 2024-2026 Clark County Poet Laureate. She has been recognized by NPR & the US Congress for advancing the cause of literacy & extraordinary literary achievement. In 2022 Ms. AyeVee was an official TEDx speaker for Las Vegas.
Parking
Parking on campus is free and readily available. For the most convenient access to the Plaza, we recommend parking in the Kasner Academic Building (KAB) East Lot or the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Lot. However, you’re welcome to park in any open space across campus. For details on parking locations and directions, please refer to the campus map.
Bike Valet
Enjoy free bike valet service for Club Ride* members (also free/no membership required for children under 18). Your bike will be securely parked and monitored while you enjoy the celebration. Valet ticketing will be provided.
Nevada State University is conveniently located just off the Harry Reid Union Pacific Railroad (UPPR) Trail, making it easy to bike stress-free.
*Club Ride is a free rewards program from the RTC. Members log their trips, like biking, walking, riding the bus, or carpooling, using the Club Ride app to earn discounts and chances to win $10, $25, and $50 gift cards in monthly raffles.
Sign up at ClubRideLV.com to start earning rewards today. If you have any questions about the Club Ride program or need further assistance, please contact ClubRide@rtcsnv.com.
Special Accommodations
Please reach out to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at (702) 992-2180 or drc@nevadastate.edu to request accommodations for yourself or any attendees who need them, including special seating for individuals requiring sign language interpreters. All requests must be made by noon on October 16. Failure to contact the DRC by this deadline may result in insufficient time to secure the necessary accommodations.
Partners
This event is brought to you in partnership with
Sponsors
This project is supported in part by
Community Resource Corner
Do not miss the opportunity to connect with local community organizations!
Food & Refreshments
A variety of local food vendors will be onsite offering delicious food and refreshments for purchase. Explore the participating vendors below and enjoy a bite while taking in the festivities!
