Event: All Souls Procession
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Date: Typically held on the first Sunday of November
Time: Evening (specific start times vary)
Admission: Free (donations encouraged)
Website: https://allsoulsprocession.org/
History
The All Souls Procession was founded in 1990 by local artist Susan Johnson as a way to honor her late father. Inspired by the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos and the desire for a public, inclusive space to grieve and celebrate life, the event quickly grew in popularity. Over the decades, it has evolved into a massive gathering, attracting more than 100,000 participants annually.
Unlike a traditional parade, the event is a participatory experience. Attendees create elaborate costumes, masks, and floats to honor their deceased loved ones. The procession culminates in the burning of a large urn filled with personal messages, prayers, and remembrances, symbolizing collective mourning and release.
Hauntings & Paranormal Elements
While the All Souls Procession is not necessarily a haunted event, it is deeply spiritual and often described as an ethereal experience. Many attendees report:
- A sense of unseen presences: Some participants feel as though they are truly accompanied by the spirits of their loved ones as they march.
- Unusual phenomena: Stories of mysterious lights, sudden temperature drops, and unexplained feelings of peace or sorrow are common.
- Encounters with the supernatural: Some believe that spirits momentarily manifest, especially near the large urn-burning ceremony, where names and messages are symbolically sent to the beyond.
Additionally, Tucson itself has several haunted locations, and the energy of thousands of people gathering in remembrance could be seen as a thin veil moment—when the boundary between the living and the dead is at its most fragile.
Personal Experiences
Many attendees describe profound emotional experiences, including:
- Feeling comforted by an unseen presence
- Hearing whispers or soft voices while walking in the procession
- Seeing shadowy figures or strange lights in the crowd
Others simply experience an overwhelming sense of connection and unity, as if the spirits of the deceased are walking beside them.
Paranormal Activity Rating: Medium
While the All Souls Procession is not a traditionally haunted event, its spiritual intensity and focus on the dead make it a powerful, otherworldly experience. Many believe it creates an opening for supernatural encounters or deep personal revelations.