Dating back to the Aztecs of Mexico, Día de Muertos (often translated as Día de los Muertos) is a day for families to gather and remember their loved ones who have died. These celebrations include altars with photos and offerings, and often festivities at cemeteries.
Locally, you’re likely to see brightly colored skull candy, painted skull faces and pan de muerto (a traditional Day of the Dead bread). If you’re looking to get around the city and suburbs this year to learn about Día de los Muertos, there is plenty to do.
This article was recently updated Oct. 16, 2024, by Chicago Parent’s Audience Development Coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding Día de los Muertos events to the ChicagoParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best Día de los Muertos events. Questions? Please reach out to kari@chicagoparent.com.
Día de los Muertos Events at National Museum of Mexican Art
Sept. 20-Dec. 8, 2024
- Address: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Día de Muertos, Living Presence (Sept. 20-Dec. 8): Día de Muertos, Where the Past Is Present, is dedicated to Ray Patlán. He was a Chicago muralist and painter who died in April. See close to 70 works from the museum’s permanent collection.
Día de los Muertos Xicágo (Oct. 26): Guests can enjoy ofrendas created by community members, live musical performances, art activities and a large illuminated ofrenda projected outside of the museum. Bring your own photos.
Día de los Muertos Events at Back of the Yards Branch
Oct. 15, 22, 26, 29, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Back of the Yards Branch, 2111 W. 47th St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Day of the Dead Crafts / Manualidades para Día de los Muertos (Oct. 15, 22): Ages 6-plus can create crafts at Back of the Yards Branch to prepare for Day of the Dead.
Day of the Dead Celebration / Celebración del Día de los Muertos (Oct. 26):
All ages can join the library, community partners and neighbors to celebrate the Day of the Dead with poetry, music and food. See the Danza Azteca Xochitl-Quetzal dancers, check out the community altars and learn about the holiday. Bring your own photos for the altar.
Sugar Skulls Workshop / Taller de Calaveras de Azúcar (Oct. 29): Ages 6 and up can decorate a sugar skull for a loved one or special pet who passed away.
Latinx Art Series
Oct. 16, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Chicago Ridge Branch, 6348 S. Archer Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 10-18 can explore traditional and contemporary Dia de Los Muertos crafts. They’ll create picture frames on Oct. 16. Registration required.
Day of the Dead Nichos / Día de los Muertos Nichos
Oct. 19, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Albany Park Branch, 3401 W. Foster Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-13 can create a nicho, which is a handmade shadowbox. They can be used to honor a loved one on Day of the Dead.
Sugar Skull Decorating Workshop: Honoring Día de los Muertos
Oct. 21, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Humboldt Park Branch, 1605 N. Troy St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-plus can enjoy a sugar skull decorating workshop. All materials will be provided. Bring a photo of a loved one that passed away. Registration required.
Día de los Muertos Events at West Lawn Branch
Oct. 22, 23, 28, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, West Lawn Branch, 4020 W. 63rd St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Teen Craft Tuesdays: Día de los Muertos Picture Frames (Oct. 22): Ages 13 and up can bring a photo and create Día de los Muertos picture frames. All materials will be provided. Registration required.
Painting for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (Oct. 23): Ages 6-12 can create a colorful pumpkin for Halloween and their own alebrije for Dia de los Muertos. Materials will be provided.
Sugar Skulls / Calaveras de Azúcar (Oct. 28): Ages 6-12 can come out to West Lawn Branch to decorate a sugar skull and watch Coco.
Sugar Skull Decorating: Honoring Día de los Muertos
Oct. 23, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Dunning Branch, 7455 W. Cornelia Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 10-plus can enjoy a sugar skull decorating workshop. All materials will be provided. Bring a photo of a loved one that passed away. Registration required.
Dia de los Muertos Story Time
Oct. 24, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Lozano Branch, 1805 S. Loomis St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6 and under, along with their caregivers, can enjoy a Day of the Dead Storytime and craft.
Sugar Skull Painting
Oct. 24, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Walker Branch, 11071 S. Hoyne Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-13 can create a sugar skull calavera from clay at this event.
Mitote Dia de los Muertos in La Ronda Parakata at Burnham
Oct. 26, 2024
- Address: Burnham (Daniel) Park, 1200-5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a family-friendly event to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. There will be ancestral Aztec Dance, music, crafts and more. For all ages.
Day of the Dead 5K Walk/Run
Oct. 27, 2024
- Address: Heritage Park, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling
- Cost: $25-plus/ages 13 and up, $15-plus/ages 12 and under
Participate in a 5K run/walk to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Enjoy music and entertainment along the course. Also, the post-race celebration will have live music and food. Registration required.
Día de los Muertos Events at Harold Washington Library Center
Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Día de Muertos ¡EN VIVO! (Day of the Dead LIVE!)(Oct. 29-Nov. 1): All ages can enjoy a musical journey to celebrate Día de los Muertos.
Día de los Muertos Bilingual Story Time and Craft (Oct. 31): Ages 0-5 along with their caregivers can enjoy an English and Spanish storytime along with a fun Día de los Muertos craft.
Kids Create: Day of the Dead Skeleton Craft
Oct. 29, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Canaryville Branch, 642 W. 43rd St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 3-13 cam enjoy a relaxed art activity exploring a different art medium each session. This session they will create a Day of the Dead Skeleton.
Día de los Muertos Events at Austin-Irving Branch
Oct. 30, 31, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Austin-Irving Branch, 6100 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Día de los Muertos Celebration (Oct. 30): Families with children ages 13 and under can celebrate Día de los Muertos with a movie, stories and crafts. Registration required.
Día de los Muertos Celebration: Film Screening Coco (2017) (Oct. 31): Families with children ages 13 and under can join Austin-Irving Branch for a showing of Coco (2017).
Day of the Dead Designs
Oct. 31, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Douglass Branch, 3353 W. 13th St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 10 and up can create a Day of the Dead sticker using the vinyl cutter at Douglass Branch.
Paper Banner Craft for Dia de los Muertos
Oct. 31, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Richard M. Daley Branch, 733 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Create a paper banner or papel picado in celebration of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. For ages 11-plus.
Sugar Skull Decorating
Oct. 31, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Legler Regional Branch, 115 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6 and up can help decorate sugar skulls. Royal icing and skulls will be provided.
Dia De Los Muertos at Kelvyn
Nov. 1, 2024
- Address: Kelvyn (William) Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $5
Ages 5 and up can enjoy a Dia de los Muertos celebration with music, crafts, games and a community ofrenda.
Dia de los Muertos at Marquette
Nov. 1, 2024
- Address: Marquette (Jacques) Park, 6743 S. Kedzie Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a family-friendly Day of the Dead celebration honoring the lives of loved ones that have passed away. There will be performances, community resources, games and more.
Dia de Muertos Celebration at Piotrowski
Nov. 1, 2024
- Address: Piotrowski (Lillian) Park, 4247 W. 31st St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a Dia de Muertos Celebration that features learning through cultural exhibits.
Grab and Go: Day of the Dead Luminaries
Nov. 1, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, South Shore Branch, 2505 E. 73rd St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 13 and up can stop by South Shore Branch to pick up a mini lantern kit for Day of the Dead. Available while supplies last.
Carrera de los Muertos
Nov. 2, 2024
- Address: Historic Pilsen Neighborhood, Chicago
- Cost: $58-plus/timed,
This annual race takes place in Chicago’s historic Pilsen neighborhood. There will be a post-race festival that includes music, dancing, food, costumes and more. The untimed event is sold out.
Celebration Dia de los Muertos
Nov. 2, 2024
- Address: Time Out Market Chicago, 916 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with a storytime with Mirabel, a live mariachi band, a DJ, face painting and more.
Day of the Dead Paint Party / Fiesta de Pintura del Día de los Muertos
Nov. 2, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Sherman Branch, 5440 S. Racine Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 8 and up can paint a sugar skull on canvas and learn about Día de los Muertos. Registration required.
Day of the Dead Skull Mask
Nov. 2, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Blackstone Branch, 4904 S. Lake Park Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-13 can create a colorful paper plate mask at Blackstone Branch. All materials will be provided.
Día de los Muertos Celebration
Nov. 2, 2024
- Address: The Preserve of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave. West, Highland Park
- Cost: Free
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with music, art projects, face painting and dancing. Bring a picture to the event.
Celebrate Day of the Dead with VillArte
Nov. 3, 2024
- Address: Chicago Public Library, Little Village Branch, 2311 S. Kedzie Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-13 can check out the altar for Day of the Dead and participate in art activities presented by VillArte.
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