Tucson, Arizona

====All Souls Procession Weekend====
[[File:TPPL Day of Dead float, 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Day of the Dead float, Pima County Public Library, 2009 procession]]
The [[All Soul's Weekend|All Souls Procession]], held in early November, is one of Tucson's largest festivals. Modeled on the Mexican holiday [[Day of the Dead|Dia de los Muertos]] (Day of the Dead), it combines aspects of many different cultural traditions.<ref name="Westerman-2011">{{cite book|last=Westerman|first=Kim|title=Explorer's Guide Tucson: A Great Destination (Explorer's Great Destinations)|year=2011|publisher=The Countryman Press|isbn=978-1-58157-909-3|pages=38–39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ZJIayduy-EC&pg=PT38|access-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120193902/https://books.google.com/books?id=0ZJIayduy-EC&pg=PT38|archive-date=January 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The first All Souls Procession was organized by local artist Susan Kay Johnson in 1990 and involved 35 participants; by 2013, participation was estimated at 50,000.<ref name="MobileReference-2007">{{cite book|last=MobileReference|title=Encyclopedia of Observances, Holidays and Celebrations|year=2007|publisher=MobileReference Series|pages=198–199|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VhTa1Eiq7oC&pg=PT198|isbn=978-1-60501-177-6|access-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120030837/https://books.google.com/books?id=5VhTa1Eiq7oC&pg=PT198|archive-date=January 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Herreras">{{cite web|last=Herreras|first=Mari|title=All Souls, All Community: Tucson's heart exposes itself every All Souls Procession|url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/all-souls-all-community/Content?oid=3902713|work=Tucson Weekly|access-date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107025047/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/all-souls-all-community/Content?oid=3902713|archive-date=November 7, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Procession, held at sundown, consists of a non-motorized parade through downtown Tucson featuring many floats, sculptures, and memorials, in which the community is encouraged to participate. The parade is followed by performances on an outdoor stage, culminating in the burning of an urn in which written prayers have been collected from participants and spectators.<ref name="Herreras"/><ref name="Regan-2009">{{cite web|last=Regan|first=Margaret|title=To Mourn and to Honor: The All Souls Procession enters its third decade of helping Tucsonans deal with death|url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/to-mourn-and-to-honor/Content?oid=1519884|work=Tucson Weekly|access-date=November 13, 2013|date=November 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113195613/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/to-mourn-and-to-honor/Content?oid=1519884|archive-date=November 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The event is organized and funded by the non-profit arts organization Many Mouths One Stomach, with the help of volunteers and donations from the public and local businesses.<ref name="Herreras"/>