Halloween, Día de Muertos, and November 2025 Community Events

Fall colors were on display around Sheldon Lake at City Park in Fort Collins on Oct. 22.
© 2025 Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

*Autumn is in full force in Fort Collins, as seen near downtown on Oct. 24.*
*© 2025 Kat Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins*

Día de los muertos and other community events abound in November! Here are a few.

Oct. 28-Nov. 4 Día de Muertos celebration. Monarch butterflies in the Butterfly House, ofrendas (altars) in the Community Room, and Nov. 1 family memory workshop ($35) (see details below) at the Gardens on Spring Creek. Admission $10.50-$12.50 or free for members.

“Visit the Butterfly House at The Gardens to enjoy hundreds of monarch butterflies (mariposas) and cempazúchitl – Mexican marigold flowers. It is believed that the scent and color of marigold petals help guide the spirits of the departed back to the world of the living during Día de Muertos.”

Native American Heritage Month: Celebrating Native American Authors at Poudre Libraries

Día de Muertos Family Memory Workshop, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 1. $35

“In this reflective workshop, participants will respond to themed prompts inspired by the Mexican celebration of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), exploring personal stories centered on family, tradition, food, celebration, and memory. You’ll have the opportunity to write, share stories in community, and honor your loved ones by contributing to a mini altar (ofrenda). “

Oct. 30 KRFC 88.9 FM SNL-Themed Halloween Party: “Live from Fort Collins, It’s KRFC!” at The Agave Room. $88.90

“KRFC 88.9 FM invites you to an unforgettable night of music, dancing, and local flair—infused with the comedy and charisma of Saturday Night Live. Join us for “Live from Fort Collins, It’s KRFC!” as we celebrate Halloween Eve with a costume-filled party blending live entertainment and radio charm.”

Oct. 31 Brave New Wheel Halloween Party at The Lyric, 8 p.m. $12 presale, $15 day of show. DJs, dancing, costume contest.

Oct. 31 “In advance of the annual AISES Powwow, there will be a preview on the Lory Student Center Plaza [at Colorado State University] from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. The public event will feature drumming and dancers in powwow regalia. Frybread will also be available for purchase on LSC Plaza.”

Nov. 1 AISES Powwow at CSU in honor of Native American Heritage Month

“Native American Heritage Month at Colorado State University starts in November with the AISES Powwow, a long-standing public celebration that brings together Indigenous and campus communities.

“Throughout the month, the celebration – open to everyone – will feature a keynote talk by a world champion Native American hoop dancer, a movie screening and culinary experiences.

“The AISES Powwow – set for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 – will feature powwow dancers, drumming, food, vendors and more. The social and cultural gathering brings together Indigenous people as well as non-Indigenous guests to honor Native cultures and traditions.

“The powwow is organized by the CSU student chapter of AISES – Advancing Indigenous Peoples in STEM – a national group focused on increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.”

Nov. 1 BIPOC Alliance Día de Muertos Community Celebration in Old Town Square, Noon to 6 p.m. “Celebrate Día de Muertos in Old Town Square in Fort Collins. We transform the stage into a giant Altar to honor those who have passed.” Free

Nov. 1 Black Footed Ferret Feeding, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. “Come see our very own wild black-footed ferrets, the most endangered mammal in North America! Join us in the Natural Areas Exhibit to learn about the conservation work being done to return black-footed ferrets to the wild, from the national captive breeding program to new advances in cloning from our partners at US Fish and Wildlife. They will also feed the black-footed ferrets their weekend meal during this presentation. Parental discretion is advised. Museum admission is not required to attend this event, but space is limited.”

*The Comedy Fort marquee reads “COMING SOON: Nov. 1 Ali Sultan, Nov. 6 Phil Hanley, Nov. 9 Moms Unhinged*.
Tix @ ComedyFortCollins.com”

Nov. 1 Ali Sultan: Special Taping at The Comedy Fort, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $20. Ages 21+ only.

“Ali Sultan saw his first stand up comedian when he moved to America from Yemen at the age of 15. He grew the desire to go on stage, but first he needed to learn English. Ali is the first professional Yemeni American comedian to be featured on Television when Kevin Hart hand picked him to perform on Comedy Central’s Hart of The City. His album “happy to be here” debuted at #2 on iTunes and can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, Sirius Xm and has over 700k streams on Pandora.”

Instragram abuelita_guille “This year at our annual Dia de Muertos at @stodgybrewing
we’re going to make things extra traditional: Our first Calaverita Literaria poetry contest!”

Nov. 1 Dia de Muertos Ofrenda Comunitaria (Community Altar) and Spiced Stout Release, by Stodgy Brewing in collaboration with Abuelita Guille Hot Sauce. Free event, beer and food available for purchase.

Enjoy a traditional Day of the Dead event with a community altar and free sugar skull face painting. Bring images of your loved ones (family, friends, pets, etc.) that have passed on, a sample of their favorite foods, and/or marigolds to place on the community altar. Las Catrinas food truck will serve food for purchase from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Concurso de Calaveritas Literarias: write a witty, funny poem about a person and their encounter with death. Requirements: Must rhyme, funny not cruel, Spanish or English, No AI. Due Oct 29 to bebo@abuelitaguille.org or @abuelita_guille (Instagram). Will be shared publicly Nov. 1 at the Stodgy Brewing event.

Example:
Mike’s always with his coffee,
never stopping for a rest,
La Catrina came to take him,
but he stayed to chat, no less.

How to write literary calaveras for Día de Muertos | Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/fall-ideas/how-to-write-literary-calaveras-for-dia-de-muertos/

Nov. 7 First Friday Art Walk. We Were Never Meant to Disappear by Liz Ortiz, through Nov. 25. Cornerstone Gallery at the Masonic Temple.

“We Were Never Meant to Disappear is a 21-year retrospective and deeply personal solo exhibition by Liz Ortiz, founder of Mad Hare Press. Spanning two decades of previously unseen artwork, across graphite, ink, paint, photography, and printmaking. This exhibition becomes both archive and altar. It offers viewers an intimate journey through memory, resilience, and reclamation.

“With quiet strength and fierce clarity, Ortiz’s work confronts cultural invisibility, generational disconnection, and the lived complexity of navigating a predominantly white community as an Indigenous Latina woman. Each piece, whether old or newly created, honors her heritage, affirms the worth of her existence, and disrupts the comfort of erasure with presence.”

Nov. 11 Veterans Day breakfast at Fort Collins Senior Center, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Free

“Enjoy a morning of food, song and patriotism to celebrate those who have honorably served our country. Presented by the Kiwanis Poudre Golden K Club of Fort Collins and the City of Fort Collins Recreation Department. Posting of the colors begins at 8 a.m. with service songs to follow.”

*The Thanksgiving Play* event flier. Scan QR code for tickets.

(POSTPONED due to illness) Nov. 14 and 15 The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse, presented by In Living Colored at FoCo Cultural Enrichment Center. Talkback after each performance. All voices heard. Complimentary snacks and beverages. Children welcome. Scan QR code for tickets. $15

“Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally “woke” teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month.” – Samuel French

Nov. 14 For The Love of Strangers variety show emceed by Dr. Cori Wong. Theme: “On Failure.” 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Visit Fort Collins. $10 suggested donation. Only two more shows! Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. See list of events at Dr. Cori Wong’s calendar.

Nov. 14-15 The Wizard of Oz at The Lincoln Center, presented by Fort Collins Children’s Theatre. $24-$35.

“Join FCCT’s multigenerational cast as they follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. In this tale, young Dorothy Gale travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the Land of Oz to discover the magic of knowing the power of home! Friday night’s show will include an ASL interpreter.“

Through Jan. 24 “Clay Metamorphosis: From Mud to Modern,” Global Village Museum. “The Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures welcomes you to explore, learn, and connect with world cultures. Whether you’re planning your visit, have a question, or want to get involved, we’re here to help!” $3-$7.

*WE ARE FORT COLLINS display for Día de Muertos at Old Town Library, Poudre River Public Library District. Visit poudrelibraries.org for event calendar. Kat Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins*

Groom and bride stand atop the Día de Muertos altar at Old Town Library, Poudre River Public Library District.
Visit poudrelibraries.org for event calendar. Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

*First Fridays 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 2 to 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Learn more at focomasonic.com/cornerstone-gallery*

*Free and open to the public. Learn more at focomasonic.com/cornerstone-gallery*

Nov. 18 Keynote and performance: Tony Duncan

In addition to the powwow, CSU’s Native American Cultural Center will be hosting a keynote conversation with Tony Duncan, a five-time world champion hoop dancer ranked among the top 10 in the world. This conversation is in collaboration with RamEvents.

The keynote and performance is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the Lory Student Center Theatre.

Native American hoop dancing is a traditional and symbolic dance form that serves as a cultural expression and storytelling art. It is often performed at powwows, festivals and cultural gatherings.

Duncan received the Native American Music Award for Artist of the year in 2013. He also has toured nationally and internationally with pop-star Nelly Furtado.

Representation in Film, TV, Media, and Music

*Good Fortune,* written and director by Aziz Ansari, features a diverse cast
including protagonists portrayed by Ansari *(Master of None)* and Keke Palmer (*Nope*).
Photo Credit: © 2025 Lionsgate, Garam Films, Oh Brudder Productions, Keep Your Head, and Yang Pictures.

Review by Katherine Valdez

There’s nothing subtle about Good Fortune, written and directed by Aziz Ansari, starring Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Keanu Reeves, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, and Ansari himself.

And that’s part of the charm.

In this Los Angeles-based social satire, “a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist. (IMDb)

The film hits you over the head with its message: Not everyone is thriving in this capitalist society of ours; we need to remember our humanity, have compassion for one another, and work to change things. Ansari captures perfectly the plight of Arj, an out-of-work documentary filmmaker who takes odd jobs through a handyman app and sleeps in his car: “I did everything I was supposed to do, and nothing’s working out.”

Reeves is delightful as a naive, low-level angel who becomes bored with his assignment: “Texting and Driving.” He’s saving hundreds of lives but yearns to tackle bigger projects, like helping desperate souls find an appreciation for life.

He has some of the film’s best lines, like “I used to be a celestial being, and now I’m a chain-smoker” after his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), demotes him from angel to human and he ends up as a restaurant dishwasher, living from paycheck to paycheck.

Keke Palmer and Seth Rogen round out the pitch-perfect quad of lead actors. Rogen’s character is a more calm (and financially successful) version of his character Will on the hilarious series Plantonic.

Palmer’s Elena is particularly compelling; she works at a big box hardware store and tries to organize coworkers to unionize for safer working conditions and better pay and benefits.

Carla Hay, a reviewer featured on The Cherry Picks, said, “There’s some salty comedy, but the core of Good Fortune is sweet sentimentality. The movie takes a broader sociopolitical look at economic inequalities than the more individual-oriented Trading Places.”

If you’re in the mood for laugh therapy as well as deep thoughts, Good Fortune is a great way to spend 1 hour and 37 minutes at the cinema. Playing now at The Lyric.

Read about the controversies surrounding Ansari and where he is today.

Another film with a diverse cast that is also highly recommended:

One Battle After Another. “When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.” (IMDb)

In a Cherry Picks highlighted review Christina Newland writes, “One Battle After Another is a film about legacy, about fathers and daughters, about the fight against an all-too-real American government hellbent on white supremacy, militarism and oppression.”