Florida Day of the Dead Celebration

Florida Day of the Dead Celebration: Mexican tradition and giant puppet spectacle

Florida Day of the Dead Celebration is a cultural brand linked to Puppet Network, dedicated to celebrating the Day of the Dead in Florida since 2010. Its offering combines the recreation of authentic traditions of the Mexican holiday with a unique theatrical component: parades of participants dressed as skeletons who animate giant puppets. The organization presents itself as a free, family-friendly signature event for South Florida, with a fifteen-year track record.

A fifteen-year journey and international recognition

The celebration has been held for fifteen years, with milestones such as the tenth-anniversary edition in 2019, which drew more than 30,000 participants. Throughout its history, the event has received mentions on international and national lists, including those of Travel Channel, Lonely Planet, Tripping, USA Today, LA Times, Thrillest, My Modern Met, Afar Magazine, ABC Television, Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, New Times, and Modello USA. The organization itself attributes accolades such as "America's Best DOTD Celebrations" or "Top 10 DOTD Festivals in North America" to these outlets.

Event components

The celebration's program is built around three main elements:

• Folklorico Stage: the festival's centerpiece, which has showcased more than 150 performers presenting indigenous and folk dance and music traditions from Mexico and throughout Latin America. It is complemented by Latin food trucks, sugar skull face painting, and craft booths.
• Skeleton Processional: a participatory spectacle in which people dressed as skeletons animate dozens of giant puppets between 7 and 18 feet tall, created by Puppet Network and the Puppet Guild of South Florida. Volunteers receive training from professionals to handle the puppets during the parade.
• Ofrendas Exhibitions: altars of remembrance that bring together photographs, flowers, personal objects, food, and candles in memory of the deceased. Puppet Network has taught workshops for community members to design their own altars over fifteen years.

Booking performances and event services

Following the end of production of the large event in Fort Lauderdale, announced in July 2025, Puppet Network continues to operate under the Florida Day of the Dead brand. Its services include consulting for events nationwide, performances with more than fifteen giant skeletons, curation of Ofrendas exhibitions, and leading puppet fabrication workshops throughout Florida during the months of September and November. The organization also promotes authentic, free, family-friendly cultural events in partnership with the Mexican Government and the Consul General, which include Day of the Dead festivities in Florida.

Funding and institutional backing

The project has received partial funding from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, on the recommendation of the Broward Cultural Council. The organization thanks its community partners and sponsors for their support throughout its history.

Team and origins

Jim Hammond is the executive producer and founder of Florida Day of the Dead Celebration, as well as the owner of Puppet Network. Puppet Network's headquarters was destroyed by a flood two years before the 2025 announcement, a circumstance that led to the decision to stop producing the large event in Fort Lauderdale.