November 4, 2013 / Modified nov 4, 2013 3:26 p.m.

All Souls Procession: Celebrating Cycle of Life

Annual rite unites participants, spectators in commemoration of lost loved ones; 40,000 take part.

allsouls wide spotlight1 40,000 took part in the annual All Souls Procession in downtown Tucson.
Yoohyun Jung

An estimated 40,000 people took part in Tucson’s 24th Annual All Soul’s Procession on Sunday.

The new route for the procession entered downtown Tucson from the north through the Sixth Avenue underpass and covered nearly two miles before culminating in the grand finale performance at Mercado San Agustin.

Participants typically dress in black and wear skull-like face paint, often carrying photos of deceased friends, relatives and pets.

Listen:

Photos from the procession:

allsouls groom spotlight The skeleton groom looks on as his bride (not pictured) prepares for the march.
Yoohyun Jung
allsouls candle spotlight A woman in a mask celebrates the souls of her father at the 24th All Souls Procession in downtown Tucson.
Yoohyun Jung
allsouls bagpipe spotlight Men dressed in Scottish bagpiper attire play joyous music as they pass the 6th Avenue underpass during the 24th All Souls Procession.
Yoohyun Jung
allsouls skeleton robot spotlight A robot skeleton leads a march of costumed people at the 2013 All Souls Procession down the 6th Avenue underpass.
Yoohyun Jung
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona