West Cook News

The Village of Oak Park, in collaboration with various community partners, is set to host the 2024 Día de Muertos event on Saturday, November 2nd. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scoville Park, located at 800 Lake Street.

This free community gathering aims to engage the Latine communities in Oak Park and River Forest while honoring ancestors through a Celebration of Life. The festivities will begin with a performance by Mariachi Sirenas, Chicago's first all-women mariachi group, at 10 a.m. Following this, Omeyocan Dance Company will present an Aztec dance performance at 11 a.m., and Ramon Marino will perform Trova music at noon.

Food vendors will be available in the plaza between Scoville Park and the Oak Park Public Library at 834 Lake Street. Attendees can expect offerings from local favorites such as Taco Mucho, Tacos '76, Spilt Milk (Pan de Muerto), Amerikas (hot chocolate and churros), and Quesadilla La Reyna del Sur (Mexican Vegetarian Cuisine).

Additional activities include face painting, sugar skull decorations, Latine vendors, and community resource booths. Organizations interested in hosting a resource table are encouraged to contact the Village Clerk via phone or email.

Officials emphasize that Día de Los Muertos is distinct from Halloween. While Halloween focuses on mischief and fright, Day of the Dead celebrates life with color and joy on November 1-2—a time to honor deceased family members respectfully. This tradition has roots in Aztec, Toltec, and Nahua cultures where mourning is seen as disrespectful; instead embracing death as part of life's cycle.

Central to this celebration is the Ofrenda—an altar meant to welcome spirits back into the living world adorned with offerings like water, food photos marigolds/cempasuchitl candles made for remembrance purposes.

The Oak Park & River Forest communities will also join together from October 27th through November 3rd creating meaningful Ofrendas across town fostering togetherness while celebrating loved ones' lives under Alma Martinez's leadership who founded Dia De Muertos here highlighting Mexican culture richness strengthening bonds annually through these traditions

For more information about both events visit their Facebook Group page dedicated specifically towards them: "Día de Muertos In Oak park And river forest."