Honoring Our Loved Ones. Celebrating Our Culture. Strengthening Our Community.

For Latinx Immigrants of Iowa, Día de los Muertos is one of our most meaningful community traditions — a celebration of memory, identity, and cultural pride. What began as our organization’s effort to preserve Latino heritage in Iowa has become a statewide gathering that brings thousands of families together every year.

How Our Celebration Began

Our Día de los Muertos celebration began in 2019, when Latinx Immigrants of Iowa set out to create a culturally authentic and respectful space where immigrant families could honor their loved ones. The goal was simple but powerful: to keep our traditions alive for future generations, especially Latino children growing up far from their countries of origin.

As the event grew, community partners — including the Des Moines Public Library — joined our efforts and helped expand the celebration. Even with this collaboration, Latinx Immigrants of Iowa has always been the principal organization leading, designing, and preserving this tradition.

Over the past five years, our Día de los Muertos celebrations have welcomed an estimated 7,000 attendees, reflecting the deep cultural connection this event holds for Iowa’s Latino community.

Why We Use “Día de los Muertos” Instead of “Día de Muertos”

Both names are correct, but they carry different regional traditions and histories.

“Día de los Muertos” is the name most commonly used by Mexican and Latino communities in the United States.

It reflects the way many families have referred to the celebration across generations, especially among immigrants and Mexican-American communities.

It is also the term most widely recognized in U.S. cultural events, schools, museums, and community programs.

At Latinx Immigrants of Iowa, we choose “Día de los Muertos” because it honors the language, heritage, and lived experience of the Mexican immigrant community in Iowa. Using this name respects how many families here have kept the tradition alive, even far from home.

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve, uplift, and share Latino culture while building unity and understanding within our community. Through Día de los Muertos, we aim to:

Honor the memory of loved ones who have passed.

Celebrate Latino identity through our traditional practices.

Educate the public about the meaning, symbolism, and history of this celebration.

Create community among families of all backgrounds.

Highlight and encourage Latino leadership, art, and volunteerism.

What We Aim to Achieve

Every year, our celebration works to:

Preserve our traditions for the next generations in Iowa.

Provide a free, welcoming, family-centered event open to everyone.

Showcase traditional elements such as ofrendas, marigold flowers, papel picado, pan de muerto, champurrado, music, and community art.

Foster cross-cultural understanding, inviting people from all cultures to learn and participate.

Recognize the effort of volunteers, artists, and community leaders who bring this celebration to life.

A Tradition That Keeps Growing

What started as a small community gathering has grown into one of the most anticipated cultural celebrations in the region. Each year, more families, volunteers, sponsors, and partners join us in honoring our ancestors and preserving the beauty of our heritage.

For Latinx Immigrants of Iowa, Día de los Muertos is not just an event —
it is a reminder of who we are, where we come from, and the strength we carry as a community.