2024 Día de los Muertos Celebrations in Lake County, Illinois
By: Sam Ornig 10/24/2024
Celebrate Día de los Muertos, “Day of the Dead,” at the many events hosted in Lake County, Illinois this fall. Día de los Muertos originated in Mexico and is widely celebrated in Mexico, Central America and Mexican-American communities. It’s a multi-day holiday honoring deceased loved ones and welcoming their spirits back through feasts, parades, festivals, singing, dancing and more.
Join in on the celebrations and remember your loved ones at these Lake County Day of the Dead events happening this fall.
Find other fall events on the calendar.
Join the Waukegan Park District and Academia Cultural Xilotl for a free community Day of the Dead Celebration. Watch dance performances while enjoying the delicious pan de muerto, a traditional Day of the Dead food, and checking out altar exhibits. The celebration will also feature art and food vendors and sugar skull decorating workshops. For more information, visit WaukeganParks.org.
Saturday, November 2; 1-4 p.m. Admission: Free. Jack Benny Center for the Arts, 39 Jack Benny Dr., Waukegan.
Take the family out to see “Friday Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World,” a kid-friendly opera about the real-life friendship between Frida Kahlo and a young girl named Mariana. The opera is performed in a mix of both English and Spanish with accompanying materials in both languages. With opportunities to participate in the musical, the whole family will delight in this inspiring story about facing your fears and the power of friendship. Tickets are free. Recommended for grades 3-5. Get more details at JLCenter.CLCIllinois.edu.
Tuesday, October 29; 10 a.m. Admission: Free. James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.
The Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center is hosting its fourth annual Day of the Dead Celebration. Dress in your best Catrin/Catrina sugar skull costume and come see the traditional altars and Folkloric dancers. Crafts will be set up for children. Grab a delicious bite to eat at the food vendors on site while you peruse the altars and shop vendors. Learn more at RLBCivicCenter.com!
Friday, November 1; 6 p.m. Admission: Free; food and drinks available for purchase. Cultural & Civic Center of Round Lake Beach, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach.
Grab your friends and family for a spooky Día de los Muertos Paint and Sip! Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Brewing Company in Waukegan is hosting this fun event, filled with delicious food and drinks and a painting session by Marjie Geraci. This event raises money for the soccer and youth development programs that serve over 1,000 children each year. Celebrate Day of the Dead and support a good cause at the same time! Learn more about Nightshade and Dark on Facebook and stay tuned for more information!
Sunday, November 3. Admission: N/A. Nightshade and Dark's Pandemonium Brewing Company, 216 West Clayton St., Waukegan.
Experience the energetic quintet, Grupo Bella, in a colorful celebration of the Mexican Día de los Muertos traditions. Fronted by Grammy™-winning singer Vanessa Ramirez, Grupo Bella’s roots in mariachi music fuse with Latin American and American styles like Mexican pop, Huasteco, folk Boleros and more to create a unique performance. You won’t want to miss this — purchase tickets at JLCenter.CLCIllinois.edu!
Saturday, November 2; 7 p.m. Admission: $20 for general admission, $18 for seniors 65+/military, $10 for students. James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.
Test your spooky season knowledge at Beer Bazaar’s Trivia Night: Halloween and Día de los Muertos edition! This trivia night is extra special because a portion of the proceeds will benefit Mariposa Women’s Collective. Take your pick from Beer Bazaar’s extensive beverage selection and enjoy a beer, cider, kombucha or seltzer to fuel your gameplay. Trivia is free to play and you’ll have the chance to win prizes. Check out the menu and see more about Beer Bazaar at TheBeerBazaar.com.
Tuesday, October 29; 6:30 p.m. Admission: Free. Beer Bazaar, 107 Center St., Grayslake.
Bring the whole family out for a night of music, fun crafts and delicious food at the Día de los Muertos Celebration at the Hawthorn School of Dual Language. See the Facebook event for more information.
Monday, November 4; 6 p.m. Admission: Free. Hawthorn Townline Elementary School, 810 Aspen Dr., Vernon Hills.
Belvidere Mall and Tianguis Market-Lake County are partnering to host a vibrant Día de los Muertos event November 2-3. Check out vendor booths and Catrina sugar skull face painting while enjoying live music that will entertain the whole family. Be part of the community ofrenda (altar) — visit the offering wall on display in the mall's center court and share photos of your loved ones. Learn more about this event on Facebook.
Saturday, November 2-Sunday, November 3; Noon-6 p.m. Belvidere Discount Mall, 2059 Belvidere Rd., Waukegan.
Gather with the Highland Park community for a day of music, dance, crafts and food for Día de los Muertos. Mariachi Sirenas will play live music and Ballet Folklorico Tayahu will perform traditional dances. You can also get your face painted to look like a sugar skull! Everyone is welcome to bring photos for the community ofrenda (altar) to honor their lost loved ones. Visit pdhp.org to learn more about this celebration.
Saturday, November 2; 1-3 p.m. Admission: Free. Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave W, Highland Park.
The Warren-Newport Library in Gurnee invites you to help build a community ofrenda for Día de Muertos. The ofrenda, or altar, will honor lost loved ones. Bring photos of the deceased and decorate frames to put them in to add to the altar. The Brushwood Center will also provide a beautiful cempasúchil (marygold) flower craft for participants. This event is for children and adults of all ages. For more information, visit wnpl.info.
Wednesday, October 30; 6-7:30 p.m. Admission: Free. Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Rd., Gurnee.
Mickey Finn’s welcomes the Nic Barnum Band back for a Day of the Dead concert! The Nic Barnum Band will play two sets, the second set featuring all Grateful Dead music. Order some tasty food and drinks and rock out to great music this Day of the Dead! For more details, visit Facebook.com.
Saturday, November 2; 8:30-11 p.m. Admission: $5 cover charge. Mickey Finn's Brewery, 345 North Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville.
Tour Wauconda and area businesses at Main Street Outfitters’s annual Day of the Dead Bike Ride. Adult riders of all skill levels will spend the day on their bikes hitting local bars and restaurants dressed in their best costumes. The day starts with Bloody Marys at the pre-party at Main Street Outfitters, continues on through Wauconda and will end back at MSO for Pauls’ Famous Chili. T-shirts are available for purchase. Don’t forget to bring your party attitude! Learn more on Facebook.com.
Sunday, October 27; 1 p.m. Admission: Free; T-shirts available for purchase. Main Street Outfitters, 513 S. Main St., Wauconda.
Explore your culinary talents while honoring Día de los Muertos with a cooking class at The Joyful Gourmet in Libertyville. You’ll leave with new skills and a full stomach after learning how to craft a traditional Day of the Dead breakfast, complete with pan de muerto (a sweet bread), champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate) and a refreshing “Xec” salad featuring jicama, assorted citrus and a hint of chili. To reserve your spot and learn more information, visit TheJoyfulGourmet.com.
Saturday, November 2; 9-11 a.m. Admission: $50 per person. Registration required. The Joyful Gourmet, 542 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville.
Dining
One of the many ways to Día de los Muertos is through traditional Day of the Dead food. Favorite foods and drinks of the deceased are placed on the ofrenda, or altar, as an offering to their spirits. One of the most iconic Day of the Dead foods is the sugar skull, which is actually not eaten and only used as an offering. Sugar skulls are placed on the ofrenda to represent the souls of the departed. Pan de muertos is another recognizable Day of the Dead treat, a sweet bread topped with sugar and decorations to represent the deceased. Other common Day of the Dead foods include tamales, Mexican hot chocolate, chapulines and so much more!
Visit one of Lake County’s authentic Mexican and Central American restaurants this fall to get a taste of some of the popular Day of the Dead foods and beverages.
Catrachos Restaurant in Waukegan
Catrachos Restaurant serves made-from-scratch Honduras cuisine. With authentic Honduran foods like baleadas, catrachas and pastelitos, Catrachos Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
330 S. Green Bay Road, Waukegan.
La Mera Mera Taqueria
La Mera Mera Taqueria’s delicious elite tacos are made using original recipes from the southeast Pacific side, central and northern regions of Mexico. La Mera Mera is known for its unique, fresh and flavorful food. Try some of their famous tacos, tortas and margaritas!
1428 S. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville.
El Puerto Mexican Restaurant in Fox Lake
Enjoy scenic views of the Chain O’Lakes while eating some of the best Mexican food in Lake County. Visit by car or boat and make sure you order one of the award-winning margaritas.
200 N. Forest Ave., Fox Lake.
For more ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Lake County, click here. For your guides to everything spooky and festive this season, click here.
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